JOHANNESBURG: South African captain Graeme Smith warned on Tuesday that India's inexperienced batsmen will face a tough challenge from South Africa's fast bowlers in the two-match series which starts at the Wanderers here on Wednesday.

“Obviously they're hugely talented but it's a very different line-up to the one I've become accustomed to playing against,” said Smith. “Touring in other parts of the world is a big test of character and that's going to be on show in these two Test matches.”

Following the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, India's likely top six have a total of 59 Test caps between them. Only Cheteshwar Pujara (two) and Murali Vijay (one) have played Test cricket in South Africa.

Asked whether his bowlers would seek to intimidate the Indians, Smith said his team would adopt the same approach that had taken them to No 1 in the Test rankings.

“The way we have played has been hugely successful for us. We play the game hard but there's a huge respect factor for the game and our opposition. As the number one team I would like to see us play some good cricket.”

Smith said he expected the new ball to be a factor at the Wanderers.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose 79 caps are 20 more than the specialist batsmen combined, deflected pressure from India's batsmen and said the bowling would be important.

“One of the most crucial things will be to bowl well,” he said. “To win Test matches of course you need to score runs but you also need to take 20 wickets.”

Smith announced South Africa's eleven for the Test, with Hashim Amla returning in place of Dean Elgar from the side that beat Pakistan by an innings in Dubai in October. Amla missed that match because he had flown home for the birth of his second child.

Dhoni said India would only finalise their team on Wednesday but indicated that veteran left-arm bowler Zaheer Khan would play his first international match in more than a year. —AFP