Heroes and Villains

In the opening title sequence of Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith, as the words of the yellow prologue disappear into the galaxy, there reads a very strange line referring to the ongoing Clone Wars: There are heroes on both sides. I have never quite been able wrap my head around that idea. There are heroes on both sides. How can you possibly have a hero on the side of the bad guys? A hero on side that you're not barracking for; the side that you want to be against? Well, after watching the stalwart efforts of Faf du Plessis and Peter Siddle on the final day of the 2nd test between Australia and South Africa in Adelaide, I think I can safely say I'm one step closer to understanding that very curious notion.

Though I must admit, I still don't quite consider the likes of General Grievous, Count Dooku, Chancellor Palpatine or Anakin Skywalker my heroes, I can definitely see how there were heroes on both sides in Adelaide. The result was only a draw, but Australia threw absolutely everything they had at the Proteas, and the Saffies clung on as if their lives depended on it. Faf du Plessis was one such hero, batting for more than seven and a half hours for his beloved country. Peter Siddle was another, giving his side a sniff when they had all but been snuffed out; bowling more overs (63.5) than any Australian in a test match since the great Glenn McGrath sent down 77 in Barbados in 1999. Then there was Jacques Kallis, batting on one leg for two vital innings, and David Warner, counter-attacking his way to a hundred on the first day when wickets were tumbling around him. And it's so easy to forget the efforts of the two opposing captains; the fast and flashy Michael Clarke with a flawless flowing double in the first innings, and the dogged, workman like Graeme Smith with a gritty fighting ton in response. Yes, there were heroes everywhere; there was no side that didn't deserve not to win, and so no side did. One of the most beautiful and truly wonderful things about test cricket.

Despite the series still hanging in the balance at nil-all going into the final test, Australia has definitely had the best of it so far. They have outplayed the South Africans for a majority of the series, though not forgetting a few little wobbles here-and-there. So why is it that I hold such grave fears for the WACA?

First of all, I fear the fitness of the Australian side - the quick bowlers, to be precise - and the risks that will have to be taken to fill the void. James Pattinson is down and out again, and Peter Siddle, despite what he says, must be feeling the pinch after his epic efforts in Adelaide. Ben Hilfenhaus also shouldered a massive workload in the City of Churches, and is definitely not bowling anywhere near to his full potential. So how are we going to take 20 wickets in Perth, without leaking an unassailable number of runs in the meantime? There is no Ryan Harris, in my opinion Australia's best bowler, to turn to. Mitchell Starc is still very much a rookie, and surely still in white-ball mode after reaching such great heights in the T20 world cup and Champions League. Josh Hazelwood and John Hastings, both brought into the squad to cover for the fatigued Siddle and Hilfenhaus, are not yet ready for the step-up into test cricket.

And Mitchel Jonshon. Mitchell Johnson. Hero, or villain? The name that strikes so much hope, and yet so much fear in my heart. The name that opposition batsman love to face, and yet hate to face at the same time. The most overrated, and yet the most underrated bowler of modern times. He's like your first love as a smitten teenager; he treats you so badly but you just want - no - you need to run back to him. Mitch is no doubt the ultimate X-factor. The highest-stakes, risk-reward player in the game. He has the ability to win you, or loose you the game in one spell of bowling. So what do we do with him? I have no answer. If he plays, Australia will either concede 500+ runs and loose the game by a big margin, or win inside two and a half days. Is that a risk the selectors are willing to take? I just don't know.

There is one last thing that I want to mention here. The ghost in the machine. That voice, ever in the back of the minds of all cricket-loving Australians. It whispers Punter. It calls for Ricky's head. Some want the great hero of Australian cricket for so many years, gone. Others want him to have yet another one-last-chance. We all know it has to happen one day. But the day Ricky Ponting leaves test cricket will not be an easy one to fathom. I have no doubt that Ricky wants to stay on to the Ashes next Year, and fight for that little urn one last time. That's just the way he is. The ultimate competitor. But has he gone too far? Has he and the selectors put the best interests of the team behind them, to focus on his personal glory? Or does he truly believe he is still the best man for the job? One has to believe the latter. Either way, surely his time is nigh. In my humble opinion (and don't get me wrong, I love Punter as much as any Australian cricket fan), I really think the Perth test should be his last. For the betterment of the team; for the future. Sri Lanka are touring in the New Year for three tests. With all due respect to the Sri Lankan bowling attack, they are not Dale Steyn, Vernon Phillander and Morne Morkel. I just think that there will be no better time than the Boxing Day test against Sri Lanka to introduce Ricky's long-term replacement to test cricket. Whether that's Usman Khwaja or Phillip Hughes is a question for another day. But I really believe that if neither of them are batting at four come Boxing Day, the side will suffer for it in the near future.

So there you have it. Who will be in the side come the WACA test on Friday? How will it all pan out? Who will be the heroes and villains in the test which will decide what has been one of the most gripping test series played in Australia for many a year? Let me know your thoughts!