Survival of the fittest in the west

Match facts

Shane Watson returns at a key moment for Australia © Getty Images

November 30-December 4, WACA ground
Start time 10:30 (02:30 GMT)

Big Picture

Spent. Exhausted. Drained. Cooked. Though most commonly applied to Peter Siddle, these words were also accurate enough descriptions of players on both sides at the end of an epic draw in Adelaide. A mere three days later Australia and South Africa are at it again, on a ground and a pitch likely to offer up a result after two stalemates in the first two Tests. Australia's captain Michael Clarke has already labelled the match a 'grand final', while Dale Steyn spoke for the tourists when he conveyed their desire not to slink away from Australia with the No. 1 ranking still in their possession via the back-door of three draws.

Australia's challenge appears the most pronounced. Having thrown all they possibly could at South Africa across the first two Tests they have nothing to show for it but injuries and a creeping fatigue across most of the squad. This means the bowling attack that has strived so hard in Brisbane and Adelaide will have a decidedly different look at the WACA ground. Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc can both be expected to play, while only one of Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus seem likely to join them in the middle. Shane Watson's return from a calf problem is welcome, but it remains to be seen how well grooved he is for a Test match having played only one first-class fixture - in which he was injured - since April. Then of course there is the matter of Ricky Ponting's cloudy future. Clarke has the job ahead of him to keep his team focused and efficient despite their trials.

South Africa, meanwhile, can style themselves as the boxer who has sat on the ropes and allowed their opponent to punch himself out before launching a definitive counter in the final round. While they lack the depth of bowling reinforcements Australia may call on, the return of Vernon Philander from a back niggle and the extra day and a half of rest afforded by Faf du Plessis' magnificent rearguard in Adelaide suggest this will be a fresh enough attack to zing the ball around in Perth. Jacques Kallis remains an outside chance of playing as a batsman, having done so well under considerable duress in the second Test. A more accomplished and seasoned side entering this series, the tourists will hope to show their somewhat flat displays up to this point are not a true reflection of their worth.

Form guide

(Most recent first)
Australia DDWDW
South Africa DDWDW

In the spotlight

One of the more pointed reactions to Ricky Ponting's poor Adeliade Test match was the posting of a Youtube video overlaying his first innings dismissal to Jacques Kallis across a Ponting endorsement for Swiss vitamins. No-one was more troubled by the sight of Ponting being bowled twice in the match than the man himself, and he has discussed his future with the selectors ahead of the Perth Test. Everyone around the Australian team dearly wants Ponting to find the runs that will guarantee him a spot in the Ashes next year, but all admit that the window for him to find them is closing fast. The scene of Ponting's first Test match, against Sri Lanka in 1995, may also be the setting for his last.

Operating at something slightly less than top gear for most of the first two Tests, Dale Steyn has so far endured one of the leanest series of his compelling career. Perth will provide an answer to whether Australia have blunted him effectively or whether Steyn has been saving his silver bullets for the series decider. The left-handers Ed Cowan, David Warner and Michael Hussey have helped curb Steyn's effectiveness, and the return of Watson to the top three may actually encourage the fast man's outswinger. In Steyn's own opinion his greatest asset is durability, and he has the chance to prove it by bowling with greater vim in Perth than anyone else to have slogged through the whole of the series.

Team news

Shane Watson is guaranteed to return and Mitchell Johnson is also expected to be included for his first Test in a year. Peter Siddle is pressing hard to be included and Nathan Lyon may carry the drinks.

Australia (possible) 1 Ed Cowan, 2 David Warner, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Josh Hazlewood.

Faf du Plessis may earn a promotion in the batting order after his Adelaide heroics, while Ryan McLaren's allround skills may be utilised if Jacques Kallis is not fit. Vernon Philander will return after a back complaint kept him out of Adelaide.

South Africa (possible) 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Alviro Petersen, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Faf du Plessis, 5 AB de Villiers (wk), 6 Jacques Rudolph, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Rory Kleinveldt, 11 Morne Morkel.

Pitch and conditions

This year's WACA pitch is expected to offer plenty of pace and bounce for the fast bowlers, but a little less seam movement than was available for last summer's three-day affair between Australia and India. The weather forecast is for cool temperatures and the odd shower.

Stats and trivia

• A victory for Australia would hand them the ICC's No. 1 ranking in Tests, a position they last held in 2009. South Africa will retain top spot with a draw
• AB de Villiers is seven runs short of surpassing his coach Gary Kirsten's tally against Australia, his 1134 runs in 10th place on the list of run-scorers in Tests between the two countries
• Ricky Ponting's Test match average at the WACA - 41.43 - is his lowest among all of Australia's major grounds

Quotes

"We played our heart out during the first two Tests. Now we have an opportunity to claim a series against the No. 1 team in the world with a winner-takes-all encounter. We've got nothing to lose. We win this Test and we become the No. 1-ranked team in the world."
Michael Clarke

"We want to win the series. We didn't come down to Australia to draw. We've played below what we are capable of but Australia have thrown everything they can at us and they still haven't beaten us. If we can play to what our potential is, I think we will go home 1-nil."
Dale Steyn

Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here

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