The way the ICC has scheduled 2008 is not entirely a matter of chance.

The current situation, where South Africa play India, straight after the Australia-India tour is surely a result of crafty design rather than pure chance. This type of 'comparitive' opportunity is rare and something Proteas fans will be relishing, win or lose.

'I'd like to wager that the South African tour will be nothing like the Aussie-India tour'


To Proteas' fans, the Australian Way, is singularly unappealing. To South Africans, the Australians have historically had a particular character and style, which the series in India most certainly will be revealing.

Proteas' fans view this brash 'victory at all costs' style as typically Aussie and a level we'd preferably not to sink to.

The pro vs amateur nature of this contest has also been contentious for nearly 100 years. This sees South African worker-cricketers (purely part-time amateurs) pit themselves against the cream of Australia's professional cricketers (hardly a fair contest).

Since 1902 South African cricketers have argued, 'if all we did was play cricket, and we did not work from eight to five, we'd be more competitive'. This has been the fundamental nature of South Africa vs Australian cricket until 1992 when South Africa turned professional.

Now in 2008, back-to-back contests by Australia and South Africa against India, provides a long awaited opportunity to highlight all the issues South Africans have had with Australia (in cricket) over the years.

The entire world can be the judge of these contests and Australia have really gone to town to the delight of South Africans who couldn't have scripted a more horrid display of the Australian way

For those that may not be fully aware of the current status quo, the Australians have just completed a victorious series hosting India (in Australia) in the most deplorable show of poor sportsmanship seen in cricket.

The Test series was mared by various types of incidents you'd normally not expect from the sport called the 'gentleman's game'. Political brinkmanship, racism, media assasinations and a fair bit of pre-emptive torpedoing of the Indians was the order of the day. The series served as a fairly thorough display of the Aussie way and their stock-in-trade tactics designed to ensure victory.

Now, in March, the South Africans follow up this 'act' with their 'show' in India. From any point of view, South Africa really cannot do any worse than the Australians. For those uncertain about this partisan opinion, I'd like to offer this advice. Monitor the South African progress through their tour of India and you be the judge.

I'd like to wager that the South African tour will be nothing like the Aussie-India tour and that the series will highlight the fundamental differences between these old foes, in terms of diplomacy for one, and class for sure. But it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out.

Shane Warne wasn't entirely an honorable gentleman, was he?

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