By Fakir Hassen, IANS,
Johannesburg : The Australians will fight back hard to save face in the remaining two games after South Africa scored a historic win in the first cricket Test at Perth Sunday, said former Proteas paceman Fanie de Villiers.
“Watch out for Melbourne and Sydney, because the series is not won yet. As great as the victory in Perth as, it is the only place where I would put money on a South African victory,” De VIlliers told the Afrikaans daily Beeld here.
“(The WACA) is the one pitch (in Australia) which suits the South Africans and which was exceptional for batting until the last day. In Melbourne and Sydney, it will be a different story, because there the pitches will crumble as the tests progress.
“It is then that (the Aussies) will be dangerous with a spinner like Jason Krejza, who has shown that he can win a test on his own by taking 12 or more wickets,” he added.
De Villiers said he did not believe that the pitches on which the last two Tests would be played would give an advantage to the South African fast bowlers: “That is where the spinners will play a key role.”
De Villiers said the Australian bowling attack has become weak after years of having it easy with players like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
On Australian captain Ricky Ponting remarks that even if South Africa won at Perth, they could not claim to be No.1, De VIlliers said: “Where have you ever heard in your life that an Aussie captain even thought about the possibility that his side could lose a game on home ground?”
“Despite this, I believe the Australians will fight back hard (with) an uphill battle for (the South Africans) to win the series. It’s not going to be easy,” De Villiers said.