Australia better prepared than us, says Smith

Graeme Smith

CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) – Australia are better prepared  than South Africa ahead of the first test starting at Newlands  today, said the hosts’ captain Graeme Smith.

Graeme Smith

Australia are coming off a 1-0 test series win in Sri Lanka  and a 2-1 limited overs series triumph against South Africa and  have pinpointed their hosts’ lack of long-format cricket as a  potential weakness.

South Africa have not played a test series in 10 months  since they drew 1-1 at home to India in January.

“We’d love to have played more cricket, to have had time in  our legs,” Smith told reporters on Tuesday. “But the reality is  that, to be fair, Australia are better prepared than us and we  have to find a way to be able to compete with them from day one.

“We’ve done as much as possible, but it’s no use talking  about our lack of preparation. Australia have had the benefit of  playing before, both in Sri Lanka and the four-day (warm-up)  game in Potchefstroom, and there’s no hiding away from the fact  that they are better prepared than us.”

Australia captain Michael Clarke was happy his opposite  number felt that way but warned it was never easy going to South  Africa and beating the hosts.

“That’s great to hear,” he said of Smith’s comments. “I’m  just focused on my team though and I can give you my word that  we are 100 percent ready.

“But that might be South Africa’s only concern really —  that they haven’t played a lot of test cricket recently. They  still have a lot of experience and they know their games and  they know the conditions well.”

While both teams boast strong pace attacks, South Africa are  hoping leg-spinner Imran Tahir can give them an edge.

Despite rain in Cape Town yesterday, the weather is  expected to improve and the pitch already looks dry and likely  to provide turn.

Australia, who are yet to find a true successor to former  leg-spinner Shane Warne, are expected to name off-spinner Nathan  Lyon in their team.

TERRIBLE MATCH

When Australia last played at Newlands in 2009, their  leg-spinner, Bryce McGain, endured a terrible match, being  hammered for 149 runs in 18 wicketless overs as South Africa  scored 651 and won by an innings.

“They have a good seam attack, but spin is always their  question mark and I guess it still is,” Smith added.

Clarke expects spin to play a major role, telling a news  conference: “I think spinners will play a big part in the test,  on that pitch, which is already quite dry.

“You just get some good weather and the pitch dries up.  There doesn’t even have to be that much turn, if there’s  inconsistent bounce, sometimes the spinner gets more wickets  that way.”

Seamer Vernon Philander could make his debut for South  Africa, coming in for left-arm swing bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Jacques Rudolph, a prolific run-scorer in his time with  Yorkshire, will open the batting with Smith and play his first  test in five years.

Clarke indicated there would be one issue up for discussion  in Australia’s selection meeting later on Tuesday.

“Realistically there is just one decision to make and that’s  who the third fast bowler is,” he said.

“Pat Cummins will certainly be considered, he’s bowled as  well as he can in the nets and took his chance in the  limited-overs games, bowling with pace and swinging the ball  away.

“But Trent Copeland did really well in Sri Lanka, he has  great control and played a huge part in Ryan Harris’s wickets.  And Peter Siddle’s record speaks for itself and in his last  test, he took four for 91.”

Graeme Smith