Ricky Ponting believes South Africa could suffer from a lack of first-class preparation in the opening Test in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Five of the Proteas stars have not played a longer-form game since January, while Australia enters the two-match series on the back of three Tests against Sri Lanka and a tour game against South Africa A in Potchefstroom.
Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher have not pulled on the whites since the very start of the calendar year and Ponting says Australia can take advantage.
"I'd like to think so, one of the things we felt might have been on our side in the one-day series was that we'd played a bit of cricket and the South Africans were coming off a long break," Ponting said.
"Having a four-day game (in Potchefstroom), even though it was an indifferent wicket there, a few of our batsmen got some good quality time in the middle and a solid hit-out as well.
"We got from it what we could, we had an excellent training day yesterday, another one ... today and we'll lighten things up tomorrow (match eve on Tuesday)."
Australia has a tremendous record against the Proteas on South African soil and Ponting puts that down to the similarities between the two Test teams.
Ponting said essentially the sides know each other inside out and he is expecting another tenacious challenge at Newlands and then in Johannesburg next week.
"The big thing for us Australians is the contest that is provided when we arrive here in South Africa," he said.
"It's a place that reminds us most of Australia and we're playing against a group of players we all know pretty well because this team hasn't changed a lot over the last 10 years.
"There's no excuses for us, we'll be prepared and organised and hopefully you see that with our performances."
South African vice-captain AB de Villiers got through a domestic one-day match on Sunday and is attempting to make his international return from injury on Wednesday.
The star batsman fractures his hand during the Champions League tournament in India and missed the entire limited overs program so far on tour.
Ponting said the Australians would be surprised if de Villiers is not in the line-up and he does not believe his lack of match preparation will be an issue.
"Were expecting him to play, yeah. We noticed that he played the game yesterday," he said.
"He's back and he's got at least one game under his belt. He's a vital player in their side.
"He's been one of the best performed players in world cricket for the last few years in all three forms of the game.
"He's an exceptional talent and one of their leaders around the group. Were preparing for him to play."
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa, australia First posted November 08, 2011 09:03:04
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