PERTH, Dec 16: South Africa captain Graeme Smith said on Tuesday the pressure will be on Australia’s inexperienced bowling attack when the first Test begins at the WACA Ground on Wednesday.

When South Africa last travelled here in 2005-06, Australia unleashed the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee on the way to a 2-0 series win, before Stuart Clark made a stunning debut in Australia’s follow-up 3-0 triumph in South Africa.

But with Clark wrapped in cotton wool following surgery on his elbow on Monday and Warne and McGrath now long retired, Australia have been forced to turn to off-spinner Jason Krejza and speedster Peter Siddle.

The pair has just one Test each under their belt and are yet to represent their country on home soil.

“The calibre of bowlers on offer for Australia last time we were here was incredible,” Smith told reporters at the WACA Ground on Tuesday.

“The likes of McGrath and Warne — those are very difficult people to replace. So guys who have come in have obviously got big boots to fill and that’s the pressure on them more than us.

“I think them trying to step into that limelight is something that might be difficult for them. I think Australia have earned the right to be respected, they’ve got some class players.

“But if you look at the stats, their bowling attack is very different to the last time we played on home soil here.

“We do know if we play good cricket there’s places to go, there’re metres to be made and we are very aware of that.”

Smith said he expected Brett Lee, who endured a torrid time in India but bounced back against New Zealand, to be the “go-to” man for Australia.

“If you look at the Indian series last year here in Australia, Ricky turned to him a hell of a lot, he used him at any opportunity he got,” Smith said.

“He bowled a lot of overs in that series so I guess he’ll be Ricky’s go-to guy with his experience.”

Barring a dramatic change to the condition of the pitch, Smith said spinner Paul Harris would take his place in the XI, with uncapped left-arm paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe on standby should South Africa have a late change of heart.

South Africa pace sensation Dale Steyn has had plenty of media attention since arriving in Australia but Smith said he was comfortable with how his star charge was coping with the hype.

“He takes everything in his stride,” Smith said.

“With the rise to success he’s had over the last year it’s something he’s had to learn to deal with, it’s become a part of his life.”

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he expected the pitch to have some early life on day one for the quick bowlers but the home team would need some variety in their attack as the match wore on.

“Shane Watson will be 12th man meaning Krejza will play the game,” Ponting told a press conference on Tuesday.

“We think it’s going to be a pretty good wicket to bat on as the game goes on and someone who can take pace off the ball and do a good job with his finger spin will come in handy for us.”

Krejza was overlooked for the first Test against New Zealand on a seaming Gabba pitch in Brisbane last month where Watson played.

Krejza had taken 12 wickets on debut in India last month.

Spinner Nathan Hauritz was included for the second Test in Adelaide ahead of Watson, as a late replacement for Krejza in the 12-man squad after the Tasmanian off-spinner injured his ankle at training in the days leading up to the match.

Ponting warmed up for the series opener by saying Steyn, 25, and Morne Morkel, 24, needed to make names for themselves on the toughest tour on the circuit before they could be ranked alongside the great West Indies attacks of the 1980s.

“Morkel is still very young at Test cricket,” Ponting said. “Steyn has played 27 Tests. That’s relatively young as well. They have still got a little bit to prove yet before they are recognised as one of the great attacks that has ever played.

“We’ll have a better idea at the end of the three Tests here and we’ll see how they perform when our batsmen get in and get going.

“There has been a lot said about their bowlers. As yet they are unproven in Australia. Steyn has had a great year [60 Test wickets]. But you’ve got to do it here when it counts in the big moments of Test matches.”

Teams:

AUSTRALIA: Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Jason Krejza, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle.

SOUTH AFRICA (probable): Graeme Smith (captain), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, A.B. de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka).

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).—Agencies