Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Australia and South Africa will face off for a generic trophy in Cape Town, in perhaps the surest sign possible that one of cricket’s great rivalries needs a name.
Plenty is on offer at Newlands over the next week, as Australia return to the scene of their darkest day as a team, and attempt to win a series.
South Africa can take top spot in the rankings off Australia if they win, and claim a mantle the current World Test champions have not owned since 2016.
Pat Cummins’ side are, meanwhile, attempting to become the first touring team to win a series in South Africa since England in 2020-21.
But the physical prize will be little more than a nameless trophy.
Australia play for perpetual trophies with seven of the Test-playing nations, from the Ashes against England to the Southern Cross Trophy for two series with Zimbabwe.
But somehow along the line no silverware has been created for series against South Africa, who currently have ones with England, India, West Indies and New Zealand.
An actual physical prize aside, a trophy would add more meaning to the Cape Town Test given a draw would ensure its current holders would retain the honour.
The idea has been floated before, with Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa asking fans to come up with ideas for a name 10 years ago.
Asked on Sunday if he had any ideas for a trophy, Australia’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey was able to come up with one within seconds.
“The Kallis-Ponting, or something like that,” Carey said.
His suggestion may be as good as any, with Ricky Ponting the leading run-scorer in all Tests between the two teams, and the great allrounder Jacques Kallis third behind AB de Villiers.
Even a Shane Warne-Daryll Cullinan option could work, given the rivalry the pair shared through the 1990s and key roles they both played for their sides.
A trophy is often awarded to victors in an individual series like the 2022 matches fought for between sides led by Pat Cummins and Dean Elgar, but there is no permanent or perpetual one.
Regardless, there is little doubt the rivalry between Australia and South Africa stacks up as one of the most significant for both sides.
“Each rivalry is a little bit different. India, you have a billion fans coming up against you. England, you have the history,” Pat Cummins said before this series.
“South Africa, I think we always play a very similar style of cricket, even the personalities sometimes are quite similar.
“It’s at times reserved, but then when it gets out on the field, it’s super-competitive and not backing down.
“A lot of the selections are around big, tall, fast bowlers, or batters that hit the ball hard. So I feel like that’s always made a really good contest.”
