There is so much more that goes into what makes a cricket team, or any sporting team" good or bad at any given moment than just the names of the players on paper. That 2018 SA series is probably the best possible example of that, because the self-destruction that team went through had very little to do with the quality of the team on paper.
Who were the players playing when Australia was winning series in RSA? You are comparing completely different subsets of players. Using last series is a good metric cause of common players.
Or maybe the quality of that team is overrated? They had also lost to SA at home in 2016.
Alastair Cook
Smashed on the flatter tracks. Gabba was a lot closer and one-two innings here and there and the result would have been different.
The quality of the Lehmann/Smith team is certainly overrated. But the change in leadership is a far more important consideration than the individual names, especially because most of what went wrong on that tour was down to poor leadership first and foremost.
So that's it? You're hung up on my assessment that Australia would more likely win in RSA than India? Who here thinks I was being unreasonable? You also said you disagreed with my use of the term "similar". I already explained what I meant by that. I said both India and Australia would have "similar" up and down away series ie they'd win, lose and draw some. Again, who here thinks this take is unreasonable??
Yes.
Good. Aside from those three changes it doesn't make any sense at all to change anyone else.
India has a chance to win in South Africa ?? this year
So this was your issue all along, that India would lose a few more series than Australia? Wow. Now imagine if I threw England in the mix. Hell I'll do it
And that's reasonable. Something our good friend doesn't seem to comprehend.
Most teams with decent attacks - which is most of them - should back themselves against SA at this present juncture. They are a total mess right now. It's not just the batting - the entire side seems totally dysfunctional right now. Nortje aside, the bowlers were unacceptably poor in Australia over the summer in a way that the scoreboards don't quite convey. Granted some of that is a credit to the way Head and (yeah I know) Warner put pressure on them, but still. That first over by Rabada at Melbourne still sticks in my mind.
Same words were said when India toured SA last time too. And then they did those 2 chases in the 2 tests against the Indian bowlers who suddenly went toothless.
That's true but something seems to have broken in SA cricket in the intervening period. They're a significantly diminished side even if the names are mostly the same. It could just be as simple as Elgar being only good at home, though.
Marco Jansen had emerged from nowhere. SA wouldn't have won that series without him and ..his 7 foot height on those sub 200 pitches!
No. You said Aus was likely to win in SA and Ind likely to lose. My argument was they have the same chance.