“Australia in Australia is as hard as the Indian team in India.” That was Proteas captain Faf du Plessis’s declaration upon arrival Down Under earlier this week.
And for those who cannot grasp the enormity of Du Plessis’s statement, a quick look back at South Africa’s crushing 3-0 defeat to Virat Kohli’s men last November that left the previous World No 1 Test side mentally scarred is a timely reminder.
Winning a Test series in Australia is the Holy Grail for many a cricketer. It is a distinction that not even some of the world’s greatest like Imran Khan, Sachin Tendulkar and Allan Donald were bestowed with during their celebrated careers.
But it is also not an impossible task. Especially for the Proteas. They have scaled the Everest of world cricket on two consecutive previous tours. Not since the Caribbean legends of the 1980’s has any team gone to Australia and left with the treasure twice in succession.
In 2008-09 they fashioned an extraordinary 2-1 series win which confirmed the status of the side led by that supreme captain Graeme Smith. The victories came in the first and second Tests, with both feats requiring something extraordinary. At the Waca in Perth, it required a record-breaking 414 run chase before a tiny left-hander from Strandfontein – a coastal community next to Mitchells Plain - playing in only his second Test vanquished the mighty Australians in their own coliseum the following week with an exhilarating 166 at the MCG.
The 2012 triumph was less convincing, but equally dramatic with yet again a replacement taking centre stage. In 2008 it was JP Duminy for Ashwell Prince. Now it was the turn of Du Plessis, who ironically replaced the injured Duminy. A stonewalling act for the ages from Du Plessis (110 not out from 376 balls) saved the second Test in Adelaide before the coupe de grace was delivered by the senior pros Hashim Amla (196), AB de Villiers (163) and Dale Steyn (7/112) the following week in Perth.
The distinctive trait in all of these feats was the immense confidence every South African player had in his own ability and that of his teammates.
“It all comes down to belief,” says former Proteas spinner Paul Harris, who was part of the victorious class of 2008-09. “We believed that we could beat the Aussies. That’s first and foremost. We went to Australia a stable team. We had played together for about two or three years without any changes. The only change that came about was when JP came in unexpectedly for Ashy P. But JP had been with us for that same two years. He instantly knew his role and the magnificent way he performed spoke volumes for what the team culture was all about.
“Duncan Fletcher and Jeremy Snape were also part of our management team. It was very clever for Mickey (Arthur) to bring them on board for they brought a different set of skills to the table. Snapey was always very positive. Always had good things to say around the boys. There was nothing negative coming from inside the changeroom. Fletch ….. he just had an undying hatred of the Aussies and wanted to beat them at all costs and was determined to help us prepare in the best possible way.”
Although primarily labelled a “defensive” spin bowler throughout his Test career, Harris had an essential role on that tour of Australia. The home side’s batsmen are habitually aggressive and were intent on targeting the spinner in the Proteas attack. But due to Harris’s consistency, he frustrated the Australians, especially middle-order batsman Andrew Symonds, and duly made telling breakthroughs over the course of the three-match series.
Equally, Harris’s contributions lower down the order with the bat were invaluable. None more so than in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. With South Africa pinned firmly against the ropes on 184/7 in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 394, it was Harris – coming in at No 9 - that knuckled down with Duminy to pave the path to history with a gritty 39 off 67 balls.
“As a lower-order we really worked hard on our batting on that tour. The balance of our side with six batsmen and the wicket-keeper Mark Boucher meant that we had to contribute down there. It was essential. Fletch through a million balls at us. He got out his tennis racquet and just hit bouncers at us, toughening us up for what the Aussies were going to throw at us. Steyntjie was brilliant too with his 76 after me,” Harris exclaimed.
“In Australia the lower order must contribute with the bat. Guys coming in at No 8, 9, 10 … even 11 … cannot just throw their wickets away. Every run in Australia is vital and everybody must contribute. The guys must realise that, but there’s enough players in that side who have won in Australia already to know what needs to be done to be successful.”
Du Plessis’s 2016 charges are not nearly as grizzled as Smith’s previous two brigades. The captain himself is only leading in his second Test series as a stand-in for De Villiers. Add rookies like Kagiso Rabada, Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock to the pot in addition to uncapped spinners Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj and there’s a very green look to this record-seeking Proteas squad.
But Harris is not perturbed by this situation though. Instead, he believes the experience the team does possess is worth its weight in gold.
“There’s enough old heads within that group. Guys who have good memories of playing in Australia. Faf, JP, Dale, Hash, Morne … these guys don’t know what’s it like to lose in Australia. They’ve never experienced that. They only know about winning in Australia. They will take that confidence and belief on the field and it will rub off on the youngsters,” Harris explained.
“Our bowling attack is the key. If they are on form they could cause real trouble for the Aussies. There has been a lot of talk around KG already. But that could be a big mistake to rev up a guy who bowls 150 km/h. He’s got really broad shoulders and won’t mind all the talk. Our attack is definitely the key and we could see something special.”
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