Batting collapses have long been the achilles heel of the Australian Test team, but captain Michael Clarke admits they could be par for the course in South Africa.
Clarke says low scores are likely during the three-Test tour, predicting the world’s top two bowling attacks to dominate proceedings on wickets conducive to movement and pace.
In 2011, when Clarke last led a campaign to South Africa, Australia were humiliated in Cape Town to be 9-21 and ultimately all out for 47.
And even despite Australia’s recent 5-0 Ashes whitewash, batting remains an issue.
The top order repeatedly stumbled in the first innings of matches and the No.1 and No.2 bowlers in Test cricket – Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn – will fancy their chances on home soil starting on February 12.
However, Clarke hardly seems concerned.
If this Test series is a fast bowling gun fight, the skipper staunchly believes he carries the bigger weapons in Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle.
And rather than be haunted by the all-out 47, Clarke said the more-relevant statistic was the way his team fought back to win an epic second Test in Johannesburg and maintain their record of having never lost a series in South Africa since reunification.
“That Test is rarely spoken about, but that’s one of the greatest Test wins of my career,” said Clarke before departing Sydney on Wednesday.
“The batting line-up showed when we won that Test when we probably shouldn’t have, the character and courage of the players that went on that tour.
“I think (the all-out 47) is conditions, to be honest.
“When conditions are conducive like that to fast bowling and you’re playing against, at that stage, the best fast bowling attack in the world, that can happen.
“This tour will be no different. You’ll see if the wickets are conducive for fast bowling, with two very good fast bowling attacks, you’re going to see some low scores. It’s going to be an extremely tough challenge for both batting units.”
Clarke made it abundantly clear that Australia feel at home in South Africa.
The wickets and weather conditions are similar to what the players experience in Australia and, unlike the packed houses England were forced to contend with this summer, the comparatively small crowds in South Africa won’t be anywhere near as intimidating.
When asked about the form of the world’s No.1 Test nation when they beat India a couple of weeks ago, Clarke let the mind games begin.
“I didn’t watch one ball of that series, to be honest. I couldn’t even tell you the result. Did they win that series?” Clarke queried.
The skipper successfully managed to get inside the heads of England, and it’s clear that confidence isn’t a problem for Australia at the moment.
Clarke promised the aggressive brand of cricket which decimated Alastair Cook’s side will be maintained for Graeme Smith’s Proteas.
Shaun Marsh (calf) and Jackson Bird (back) have stayed behind to prove their fitness, but Clarke wants the pair available to be picked for Australia’s only warm-up match starting February 5 in Potchefstroom.
Bird bowled well in the nets on Tuesday and Wednesday and is expected to be passed fit.