Calculated gamble pays off for Australia A

It was a largely experimental pace-bowling trident that the National Selection Panel chose for this Australia A squad.

None of Dan Worrall, Chris Tremain or Joe Mennie had played at the level previously, though all had earned their place with outstanding Sheffield Shield seasons in the 2015-16 summer.

Still, it was a calculated gamble.

Quick single: Mennie thanks as Aus A crush South Africa A

And across the final two days at Brisbane's Allan Border Field, it paid off handsomely.

In a performance that must have warmed the heart of Australia A coach Troy Cooley, all three bowlers were exceptional in bowling South Africa out for 284 and 163 on a pitch that, while offering the occasional crack to work with late in proceedings, generally favoured the batsmen throughout the four days.

Mennie (51 wickets), Worrall (44) and Tremain (36) were ranked first, second and fifth respectively on last Shield season's wicket-takers list, and all three played a key role in advancing their sides to the final.

In that decider, the trio shared 14 wickets between them as Tremain's Bushrangers claimed a seven-wicket win over Mennie and Worrall's Redbacks.

It was the last first-class match they played before joining forces for this 'A' series opener some four months later, in which they claimed 17 of the 20 South African wickets to fall. 

All three are tall, strongly-built right-armers but there are variations with what they offer their captain.

Worrall has picked up pace from seasons past and bowled a couple of scintillating spells that could have brought him even more rewards than they did.

Quick single: History beckons for dogged tourists

As it was, the 25-year-old broke the back of the South Africans in the very first over of the final day of this contest, bowling the tourists' captain, Stephen Cook (a man who has a Test hundred against England earlier this year on his resume), with a searing delivery before drawing the edge of Omphile Ramela for a neat caught behind two balls later.

"Dan's bowling amazingly at the moment, and has been for about two years now," said captain Peter Handscomb post-match as he dissected the efforts of his pace-bowling group for cricket.com.au.

"It's really good seeing him come into his own. It's almost as if he's gone away, trusted in what he does, knowing that his action and where and how he bowls it is the way forward for him.

"It's good that he's backing himself, and he's so much smarter now; he's got his game plan, he reads batters better so he's able to set them up better, and coming both over and around the wicket has been good for him.

"He's bowling fast and he's taking wickets."

Mennie, meanwhile, was again metronomic. After the quite incredible figures of 2-27 from 20 overs in the first innings, he again settled into a consistent line and length, making the batsmen play constantly and ultimately getting the rewards of a five-wicket haul and a man-of-the-match award.

After his first-innings 85, South African Stiaan van Zyl had commented he might need a new bat, such was the consistency with which the Australians were hitting up around the splice, and the same could be said in the second innings.

Mennie, 27, might lack a yard or two on the other pair, but he makes up for that with his consistency as well as the occasional clever variation; moving wider on the crease or sending through the quicker short ball.

Quick single: Sanga's wisdom a guide for Aussie batsmen

He used that skill-set to great effect on the final day, getting a trapping Dane Vilas lbw and bowling Vernon Philander as he honed in on the stumps.

"It's awesome to actually play with Joe for a change," said Handscomb, who faced the quick in the Shield final last summer.

"We've always had that issue when we've played against him that he's just so hard to score off. You can bring him on and just know that one end is going to be dry, so you can essentially attack from the other end.

"It's that partnership bowling that you ask for, and he does it beautifully. Lucky for him it was his day out – he put the ball on the spot and got the rewards.

Tremain, who had toiled hard through 23.3 overs in the first innings for 5-75, shook off the soreness that comes with a first prolonged match effort in four months to ensure a relentless pressure was piled upon the South Africans, taking 2-25 from his first nine overs.

In addition to his two wickets, the 24-year-old beat the bat regularly, while other edges fell short of an alert cordon.

"Chris is one that's always taking his opportunities," Handscomb added. "When he first came to Victoria he struggled to get a game because we've got an amazing fast-bowling cartel down there.

"But whenever he did come in, he had this ability to take wickets. That's what's amazing about him – he can come in and not only do a job for you, but you always feel in the game in the slips.

"He's got that consistency now as well. He looks like he's got that belief in his own game. And much like the other two bowlers as well, he's starting to read batsmen better now, and he's happy to try things which is really good to see."