Veteran batsman Ricky Ponting wants Australia to embrace the challenge of taking on South Africa this summer, saying the home side is within touching distance of the world's best team.
The Proteas head into the first Test starting on Friday at the Gabba as the number one-ranked Test side, boasting a settled line-up that oozes quality.
An experienced and proven batting line-up featuring captain Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis is combined with world-class pace bowling trio of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander to make South Africa's team one of the best sides to tour Australia in several summers.
But Ponting believes his team-mates should not forget it was largely that same line-up they defeated in Johannesburg just 12 months ago to secure a share of the spoils in their two-Test series in South Africa last summer.
"It's really important for us as a group to realise just how close we are to them as a team," Ponting told reporters on Tuesday.
"They're the number one-ranked team in the world, and deservedly so, but we're breathing down their necks."
Ponting says South Africa is cricket's benchmark and, just like in Australia's time as the world's top team, the Proteas should be a scalp everyone wants to acquire.
The 37-year-old got used to teams doing all they could to beat Australia during his captaincy and he expects the same approach to be taken against the Proteas.
"I know whenever we were the number one team in the world it just meant every time the opposition played you they wanted to knock you off, they wanted to see where they were at compared to you," he said.
"We're really excited about that and looking forward to that challenge. I know if we play our best, we'll give them a hell of a scare that's for sure."
Ponting came through Tuesday's first training run at the Gabba unscathed and believes his hamstring injury will not prevent him taking to the field on Friday.
Victorian Rob Quiney faced a testing session in the nets against pacemen James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle.
The pace barrage was obvious preparation for the 30-year-old's likely baptism of fire against Steyn, Morkel and Philander in his debut Test but captain Michael Clarke said Quiney could nail down a Test spot if he does well.
Clarke said it was far from certain all-rounder Shane Watson would be automatically recalled after his calf injury clears up if the current players do the job in Brisbane.
"It is about performance, about making the most of your opportunity, and then it is about selecting the best 11 players," he said.
"As I have said throughout my career, a winning team is hard to change.
"If we perform well it is something we will need to assess."
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, south-africa First posted November 06, 2012 20:48:12
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