Greatest Test series' of the modern era
With five of the six matches decided on the last day, 14 centuries scored, five five-fors taken by the bowlers, and a great well of memories created by the two teams, the back-to-back Test series between Australia and South Africa made for two of
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
AFP
With five of the six matches decided on the last day, 14 centuries scored, five five-fors taken by the bowlers, and a great well of memories created by the two teams, the back-to-back Test series between Australia and South Africa made for two of the greatest Test series' of the modern era, writes Stuart Hess on iol.co.za.
Australia found out that they didn't need so many old hands to remain successful, that in fact their domestic cricket was strong, certainly with regards batsmen and fast bowlers, and that they will continue to be close to, if not at, the top of the Test tree for the foreseeable future ... South Africa will know that to dominate the way Australia did for a decade is not easy. After winning in Australia, it was felt that with a side with so many young players in so many important positions - Hashim Amla at three, JP Duminy and AB de Villiers in the middle order, and Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel as fast bowlers, they could start to define their own era of dominance.
On iafrica.com Dan Nicholl reports back from Newlands after four days of Test cricket that saw a triumph of good over evil, a welcome appearance of Smurfs, and further confirmation that Ricky Ponting is far more deserving of the moniker liberally applied instead to his team-mate Peter Siddle throughout the series.
In the South African-based Times Alex Parker calls Australia's series win one of the best in Ponting’s reign as captain.
Australia are indeed a new, young side, but it’s clear the depth of talent in Australian cricket is enormous. A couple of injuries and defeats left South Africa scrambling for ideas. Australia, on the other hand, turned to a seemingly bottomless pool of talented cricketers and within weeks turned their fortunes around. In a flash one had the feeling that some of the new boys — Philip Hughs and Marcus North foremost among them — will be playing Test cricket for some time.
Nishi Narayanan is a staff writer at ESPNcricinfo