Proteas Expect Tough Australia Test Series As Simon Harmer Warns Of Fierce Battle

South Africa are bracing for a hard-fought Test series against Australia when the sides meet for the first time since the Proteas defeated them in the World Test Championship final. The Proteas completed a memorable victory at Lord’s last season to claim the five-day global title. Experienced spinner Simon Harmer believes Australia will be determined to respond when the three-match series begins on Friday.

Proteas Expect Australia To Come Out Fighting

The Proteas are expecting Australia to bring the same resilience that has made them one of the toughest teams in Test cricket.

Harmer said the two sides share a similar ability to fight through difficult situations and remain competitive until the final moments. He expects the world’s top-ranked Test side to arrive determined to make amends for last year’s defeat.

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“They (Australia) have that never-say-die attitude and they fight to the end, which I think is quite a similar trait to South Afrcans. We’re resilient and we probably do our best when our backs are up against the wall,” Harmer said on Wednesday.

Harmer pointed to the Proteas’ victory in the World Test Championship final as proof that South Africa can overcome expectations. He said Australia had been widely expected to win before the Proteas found a way to secure the result.

“I think that was for the world to see in the World Test Championship final. tt was almost a foregone conclusion that Australia were going to win that game, but the team found a way to get through it and to get the win, so I’m sure Australia want a bit of revenge from that loss, and I expect them to come out firing and being competitive.”

Proteas Confident Despite Fast-Bowling Injuries

The Proteas head into the series having lost just one of their last 15 Tests, with that defeat coming against Pakistan in Lahore last year. A growing injury list among their fast bowlers has forced changes to the attack. South Africa will instead rely on their available seamers and a strong spin group featuring Harmer, Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy.

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\The hosts also have recent momentum after winning the preceding ODI series 2-1. Harmer, who specialises in first-class cricket, hopes South Africa can carry that confidence into the opening Test. The match gets under way on Friday.

Proteas Warn ODI Success Will Not Decide Test Series

The Proteas will not read too much into Australia’s performance in the ODI series, according to Harmer. South Africa won the three-match series 2-1, but he stressed that the longer format presents a completely different challenge. Australia will also have a different group of players available for the Test matches.

“Based on the one-day series, they (Australia) probably didn’t play it as well as they wanted to, but I think Test cricket is a completely different kettle of fish,” Harmer said.

“I think there is also a different set of personnel that come into their Test setup, so we can only focus on what’s there and there are not too many transferable players into the Test setup from the one-day setup… so we’re expecting them to play well.”