A strange, but appetizing contest

South Africa's cricket history can clearly be defined by four separate periods - the first when they were a fledgling Test nation for a good part of 60 or more years (1900-1960), the second between 1960 and 1970 when they promised so much but were cruelly cut short because of the nation's apartheid policies that led to a ban, the third between their readmission in 1992 and 2007, when Australia's galaxy of stars retired, providing other teams with a chance to rise to the top and the fourth between 2008 and 2014 when they have oscillated between the sublime and ordinary but stayed on top of their game a lot more often. In the seminal, much chronicled series just before their ban in 1969-70, Ali Bacher led South Africa trounced Bill Lawry's jaded Australian side 4-0 with Barry Richards, Graeme Pollock and Mike Procter demonstrating just what the Test cricket world was going to muss in the next decade or so. It is a fascinating exercise when one tries to simulate West Indies-South Africa Tests in the 1970s. Perhaps the Proteas would have been the only ones to stand up to the mighty Caribbeans in their pomp. Time to move on though to reality.

Ever since they were readmitted to the fold in 1992, South Africa have consistently remained one of the top three teams. Both home and away, they have been a force to reckon with. In ODIs too, they have played an exciting brand of cricket only to disappoint when it matters the most by falling at a crucial hurdle in global tournaments. That a team of South Africa's ability has only a solitary trophy (Champions Trophy 1998) to show for its efforts is unfortunate. However, to this day, the onea team South Africa have never quite managed to dominate has been Australia. Be it luck, ability, Shane Warne, South Africa's legendary 'choke-ability' or a combination of all these, the Proteas have never quite been able to master the men from down under. Perhaps even more surprising is the fact that their only two series wins against Australia came only recently (2008-09 and 2012-13). South Africa are yet to win a single home series against Australia since 1992 but have in the meanwhile crushed every other team at least twice in home series.

They have had a few memorable moments though. In Sydney 1994, they clawed back from the dead in near Aussies fashion to clinch a thriller by five runs with Fanie de Villiers picking up six wickets in the Australian second innings. As has been the case almost every time, they were unable to hold on to a series lead and the contest ended 1-1. In the subsequent series in South Africa, Steve Waugh and Greg Blewett batted the hosts out of the match in Johannesburg and Mark Waugh followed up with a stunning century in Port Elizabeth to lead Australia to a two-wicket win. Shane Warne, who picked up 12 wickets in the SCG defeat in 1994, was already proving to be a nemesis for South Africa. He ended his career with 130 wickets against South Africa, a tally second only to his Ashes haul of 195 wickets. This period between 1993 and 1998 was South Africa's best chance to upstage Australia. For the next ten years, they virtually had no chance against an all-beating unit that broke every possible team record in Tests.

Steve Waugh took over from Mark Taylor in 1999. His reign started rather inauspiciously with defeat in Kandy and a 2-2 draw against a Brian Lara inspired West Indies team. But the joy for opponents was short-lived. Waugh's deadly team had a stellar batting line-up and boasted one of the finest bowling attacks in the game's history. Add to it the presence of Adam Gilchrist, one of the most destructive wicketkeeper-batsmen ever. Surely, no team stood a chance against this outfit. South Africa maybe? Not quite, actually.

In the 2001 series in Australia, South Africa were swamped 3-0 by the Aussie juggernaut. In the return series in South Africa, Adam Gilchrist was in spectacular form scoring a double century in Johannesburg and a brilliant 138 in Cape Town. Ricky Ponting too began his love affair with the South African bowling attack with a superb match-winning fourth-innings century in Cape Town as Australia chased down a massive 334. South Africa salvaged some pride with a win in the third Test in Durban but the writing was clearly on the wall. They could not think of winning against this team for a few more years at least.

Their fears were well and truly justified in the 2005-06 series. While they did manage a draw in Perth, they were thrashed in Melbourne and Sydney. The MCG defeat must have been the most painful for they let Australia off the hook from 248/9 and conceded a century stand for the last wicket between Mike Hussey and Glenn McGrath (not joking!!). In the final Test in Sydney, Graeme Smith gambled to eke out a win and declared in both innings. A stiff target of 288 was made to look shockingly inadequate by Ponting as he scored twin centuries in his 100th Test, a fantastic feat for a batsman at the peak of his prowess. In the follow-up series in South Africa, the Aussies won 3-0 and sealed the triumph with another close win in Johannesburg. South Africa's inability to win the crucial moments & contests was on show yet again. On the same tour, however, the hosts created a record by chasing down Australia's massive 434 to win the Johannesburg ODI to take the series 3-2.

How long could this extraordinary dominance last? Surely, Australia v South Africa had to be a tighter match-up thatn it was proving to be. With the retirement of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist, Australia were definitely not the same again. An aging and injury-hit team took on the Proteas in a three-Test series in Australia in 2008-09. Despite conceding a big lead in the first innings in Perth, the visitors stunned one and all by chasing down 414 to take a 1-0 lead. Dale Steyn's superb spell in Melbourne combined with a fantastic rearguard fightback brought another win and a 2-0 unassailable lead. This was SA's first ever series win against Australia since readmission. Australia fought back to win the third Test and take the momentum into the series in South Africa. A tired South African team was not on top of the game and went down rather meekly 2-1 giving Ponting the much needed boost after the demoralising loss at home.

Australia's decline continued steadily in the next 2-3 years and they went on to lose the Ashes in England and at home. They came up against South Africa once again in an abridged (two Test) series in 2011. A seesaw first Test in Cape Town saw the Aussies take control after Michael Clarke's stunning 151 when they bowled the hosts out for just 96. In response though Australia folded for just 47 after being perilously placed at 21/9 at one stage. SA completed an eight-wicket win and started firm favorites in Johannesburg. But not for nothing are Australia the team to beat in any situation. They stormed back to square the series with a two-wicket win chasing a competitive target of 310. In the series in Australia in 2012, Faf du Plessis rescued SA from certain defeat in Adelaide before the visitors' pace bowlers and batsmen set up a big win in the final Test in Perth.

How does one define this strange contest? For years, the teams have seemed even and capable of producing thrillers at will. They actually have done so too in both Tests and ODIs. Australia dominated for a few years and looked unbeatable. Even during their fall, Australia have always managed to find their mojo when it comes to matches against SA. SA, on the other hand, were near invincible against other teams at home but have struggled to close the door on Australia. Mentally, they have been second best. In recent times though, South Africa have proved to their fans that they can play an almost Aussie brand of cricket - relentless, aggressive and exciting. With Australia coming in on the back of their stunning 5-0 win in the Ashes, the stage could not have been set better for yet another crackerjack contest. And this time, the odds on it being a mighty close one are rather high.