Australia vs South Africa, 1st Test – AUS vs SA Cricket Match Preview, Prediction, Where To Watch, Probable XI And Fantasy XI Tips

In a top of WTC Table clash, Australia are set to take on South Africa in the 1st Test at The Gabba.

AUS vs SA 1st Test: Match Preview:

Australia are currently sitting atop the WTC points table while South Africa are in the 2nd spot at the moment. Australia further widened the gap with a dominating 2-0 victory against West Indies at home recently. South Africa would desperately need to win this series and stay in contention for the WTC finals ahead of Sri Lanka and India. South Africa have not lost a test series against Australia since 2008 as the Proteas bowlers would look to exploit the pacy and bouncy conditions provided by Australian pitches. 

Opener Usman Khawaja has been the top scorer for Australia in Tests this year, with 1,066 runs in 9 matches at a fascinating average of 82.00. Khawaja has already smacked 4 centuries and 5 fifties in 2022. Marnus Labuschagne on the other hand, currently the #1 ranked Test batter, is in impeccable form and has scored 927 runs at an average of 61.80 this year. Steve Smith, Travis Head and David Warner will constitute a strong batting unit.

While Australia will miss their ace pacer Josh Hazlewood in the 1st Test, either of young pacers Scott Boland and pace sensation Lance Morris will get a chance. Boland has 14 wickets to his name in 3 matches this year while Morris is yet to make his debut. Spinner Nathan Lyon has been the top wicket-taker for Australia this year with 39 scalps in 9 matches, while captain Pat Cummins has also been among the wickets with 28 wickets in 8 matches. Mitchell Starc has registered 27 wickets this year and it will be a challenge for the Proteas batter to take this Australian bowling unit in their familiar conditions. 

For South Africa, captain Dean Elgar has been the top scorer in Tests this year with 546 runs in 9 matches, while Keegan Petersen has scored 399 runs this year. The batting order also included Temba Bavuma, Sarel Erwee, Rassie van der Dussen along with wicket-keeper Heinrich Klaasen/Kyle Verreyne. The South African batters would have to face a tough challenge in order to keep their WTC final hopes alive. 

The Proteas bowling department will be led by ace bowler Kagiso Rabada, who's also South Africa's top wicket-taker this year with 37 scalps to his name in 7 matches. Marco Jansen will shoulder the pace bowling department with Rabada as the young pacer has picked 32 wickets this year in 6 matches. Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj will form the bowling department along with Rabada and Jansen to take on Australian batting in a crucial series for WTC.

AUS vs SA 1st Test: Match Details

• Date – Satruday, December 17, 2022
• Time – 05:50 AM IST
• Venue – The Gabba, Brisbane

Today's Match Prediction: Who will win today's cricket match? AUS vs SA 1st Test

Riding on good form and momentum added to home conditions, Australia will start off as favourites to win the 1st Test against Sri Lanka. 

AUS vs SA Head-to-Head:

• Total – 98
• Australia – 52
• South Africa – 26
• Draw – 20

AUS vs SA 1st Test: Where to Watch?

The Test series between India and Bangladesh will be broadcasted by Sony Sports Network while it will be broadcasted digitally on the OTT platform Sony LIV app. 

AUS vs SA 1st Test Team News:

There are no new injury updates from either team as of now. 

AUS vs SA 1st Test Probable Playing XI:

• Australia – David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon
• South Africa – Dean Elgar (c), Sarel Erwee, Khaya Zondo, Temba Bavuma, van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Rabada, Ngidi, Nortje, Gerald Coetzee

Also Read: Roston Chase Picks Up His All-Time XI, Includes 3 Indians

AUS vs SA 1st Test Fantasy XI:

• Wicket-keepers – Kyle Verreyne
• Batters – Dean Elgar, Steve Smith (vc), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne (c), Sarel Erwee
• All-rounders – Keshav Maharaj, Cameron Green
• Bowlers – Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi