Cricket: Key battles to shape the forthcoming Test series between South Africa and Australia

AB de Villiers v Pat Cummins

With the new ball proving crucial in shaping recent Test matches in South Africa, all eyes will be on the opening bowlers and batsmen of both sides.

However, Australia will know that one man in the South African middle order has the ability to derail all of their best laid plans – the supremely gifted AB de Villiers.

A genius of his craft, de Villiers is one of the few batsmen in the history of the game who has mastered all three forms and following a break from the Test arena, he looked as good as ever when stroking two aggressive fifties in the recent series win over India.

He is sure to adopt the same counter-attacking approach against Australia, especially if backed into a corner, something Pat Cummins will look to do.

Cummins first announced himself as a star in the making on the 2011 tour of South Africa when only 18 years of age, his six second innings wickets helping Australia claim a two-wicket win at The Wanderers.

One of those dismissals was AB de Villiers, pushing at a searing outswinger and edging to the cordon.

Australia know they need more of the same.

Faf Du Plessis v Steve Smith

Two captains - different characters, different leaders, different men.

Du Plessis has looked a natural fit since day one, the first man seemingly able to step out of the shadows of the great Graeme Smith and make a South African cricket team his own.

Rarely flustered, Du Plessis has installed a confidence in his side just like Smith did before, but not by pumping his chest out and snarling at the opposition, but by backing his team and showing them the way, following the retirements of some of the country's great players.

He has backed them, particularly his exceptional younger players, and in return they respect him, they believe in him and they play for him. It helps that he is very tactically astute, too.

For Smith, that road has taken a little longer to walk but while his style differs from that of his counterpart, he is finally creating a new and more resilient Australia.

is handling of Nathan Lyon in the early stages of his tenure was so poor that the off-spinner was very nearly cast aside, but Smith learnt on the job and Lyon would prove to be one of Australia’s key performers throughout the Ashes.

Smith’s handling of his quicks was very good in that series, too, though his preferred method of leadership is from the front and the mountain of runs he has amassed since becoming captain has been astonishing.

More outwardly emotional than Du Plessis, Smith can let things get the better of him but perhaps the fact that his players can see how much it means to him is driving them to be more hungry, more disciplined, more successful.

Whatever the truth, both teams are on the up and so are their captains.

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David Warner v Morne Morkel

Warner averaged a staggering 90.50 when the two sides met on these shores back in 2014, compiling three exhilarating hundreds in the three Test-match series.

However, those numbers don’t tell the whole story.

While Warner enjoyed the defining the series of his career, his distinctive punchy style making full use of the quick pitches and lightning outfields, he had his fair share of luck along the way and was the recipient of a number of dropped catches.

Morkel suffered more than most with his catchers behind the wicket left red-faced on a number of occasions.

The giant quick proved a constant threat to Warner, testing the left-hander with his relentless pace and steepling bounce from over and around the wicket.

With Morkel this week announcing that the forthcoming series will be his last in a Protea shirt, and Warner never one to take a backwards step, expect more fireworks from the pair in the coming weeks.

Related links

• Series tips: SA v Austrlia
• Sky Bet's cricket odds