SYDNEY — Australian attempts at mind games ahead of the Test series against South Africa were at worst irrelevant and at best a motivation to the tourists, captain Graeme Smith said Thursday. Individual plans for targeting South African players, including psychological profiling, supposedly derived from an Australian team dossier were published in the Courier-Mail newspaper Thursday, the eve of the first Test at the Gabba. Smith, however, backed his team, unbeaten on the road in Test series for six years and coming to Australia fresh from having earned the No. 1 ranking by beating England in England, to brush off any attempts to get under their skin. “It doesn't really make a difference to be honest with you,” Smith told reporters at the Gabba. “We know in our minds what we're expecting over the next few days. The most important thing for us was our preparation. I think we've done that really well and we're looking forward to starting. “In terms of that stuff, it's neither here nor there, it's all going to start Friday.” Four years ago, South Africa won a tight three-match series 2-1 for its first triumph on Australian soil. That was under the guidance of Mickey Arthur, who now coaches the host. Arthur has obviously shared his knowledge of the South Africans with his new charges and made a few public comments about perceived weaknesses, most notably that top ranked pace bowler Dale Steyn did less well against left-handers. “Certainly the stuff in the papers and maybe Mickey has said has only added motivation for us,” Smith said, adding for emphasis: “They've certainly touched the motivation button.” That said, though, Smith said he expected a businesslike approach from his team during the Brisbane Test, which is followed by further matches in Adelaide and Perth. “When you play in other people's back yards, there's a different kind of pressure. You need to be able to handle different things. In recent memory in England, we were able to show that,” he said. “Our goal is to match up again like we did in 2008 and 2009. I don't expect us to be too emotional about things, I think if we can be really focused and clinical in the next five days, I'll be happy.” Like Australia, South Africa is still weighing up whether to play four quicks in Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Rory Kleinveldt on what is expected to be a bouncy Gabba track. Smith suggested, however, they would be unlikely to rest spinner Imran Tahir to make way for uncapped paceman Kleinveldt. Even if they could lose the top ranking with defeat in the series, South Africa looks the most likely team to dominate Test cricket in the way the Australians once did — a fact that has not been lost on Smith and his team mates. “We would love the opportunity to create a legacy, but you've got to take steps at a time,” he said. “There's been a number of teams that have touched the No. 1 ranking. This is the next stepping stone for us and it's tough challenge. “We believe we have the capability, but you've got to go and earn it.” — Reuters
