We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Probable XIs
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
South Africa: Dean Elgar (c), Sarel Erwee, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
Pitch Report
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, MCG
(Based on the last 3 games)
1st innings average score: 308
2nd innings average score: 310
3rd innings average score: 252
4th innings average score: 171
Type: The pitch, of late, has been greatly helping the pacers on the first two days, later opening up and assisting the spinners as the game progresses.
Weather: Rain likely to play spoilsport on the third and fifth day.
Wins
Batting 1st: 49%
Batting 2nd: 36%
Fantasy Tips of the Day
Given the conditions, pacers are likely to fetch more fantasy points. For that matter, both teams boast of top-quality bowlers. However, batters who like to put a price on their wicket – except Travis Head – will keep fantasy players in the hunt.
Smart Picks
Nathan Lyon at the MCG is a delight to watch. He has 37 wickets in a mere 11 games. Against South Africa, he has bagged 50 wickets in 16 games.
Kyle Verreynne has been in stellar form of late. In his last 5 First-Class games, he has managed a double-hundred, 3 fifties, and 18 catches. The fifty at Brisbane was a testimony of the solid technique he is equipped with.
Steven Smith averages a whopping 85 at the MCG. He got off to a steady start in the opening game, but it was the brilliance of Anrich Nortje that got the better of him. Before the series, he had scored a hundred and a double-hundred in 3 Tests.
Before scoring in single digits at Brisbane, Dean Elgar had been consistently fetching runs at all levels. He had registered a stunning score of 109 in the warm-up game. Against Australia, he has a top score of 141*.
Mitchell Starc featured in the Ultimate Team in his last 4 Tests. In 2022, he has grabbed 32 wickets in 10 games, including 3 five-fors and as many four-fors.
Travis Head strikes at 60 in Tests, and that’s the reason why pitches and situations do not affect him. On a wicket that saw batters struggle to survive, he smashed 92 off 96. At home, his average reads 57 compared to his overall average of 45.
In just a matter of 4 Tests, Kagiso Rabada has hunted down 23 wickets in Australia. The pitch, the conditions, every ingredient here suits his style of bowling.
It has been a phenomenal year for Pat Cummins. His 35 wickets have come at an average of 21. Versus South Africa, he scales up his game: 36 wickets in 6 Tests.