WhoAEs been telling tales?

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith is confident that a little inside information will go a long way when the first Test against Australia gets started in Perth today. The Proteas were put to the sword last time they were Down Under back in 2005-6. On that occasion Smith's pre-series aggression came back to haunt him on the pitch, with spinner Shane Warne tormentor-in-chief. But this time opening bat Smith believes Warne has actually turned the tables and put the Aussies under a bit of pressure - by dishing the dirt on some of the home batsmen. Smith played Twenty20 cricket in India with Warne for Rajasthan Royals. And he explained: "I was asking him about Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting and he told me how he would try to get them out if he was captain. "I just hope I still remember his advice. He has an incredible cricket brain which I was able to pick over the course of five or six weeks." While South Africa have never won a Test series in Australia, Smith is confident his side have come on leaps and bounds. The attack featuring Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel impressed in a series victory in England earlier this year while the likes of Ashwell Prince and Hashim Amla have strengthened the batting line-up in recent times. And Smith said: "The guys have developed nicely over the last year and a half and have moved forward. "We have given them every opportunity to prepare properly and they are very excited about what lies ahead. "One of the great things the players have learned over a period of time is how to perform away from home. "Our record speaks for itself in that regard." Australia have recently shown themselves to be vulnerable in the Test arena as they were comprehensively beaten 2-0 by India. Their attack in particular came in for a lot of criticism for repeatedly being unable to knock out the India batting line-up. Although Brett Lee will lead the attack for the Aussies, critics believe it is a far cry from the attack that once boasted Warne and Glenn McGrath. And Smith agrees with the assessment going into the first of three Tests. "The calibre of bowler that was on offer for Australia last time we were here was incredible," he said. "The likes of McGrath, Warne, those are very difficult people to replace. The guys who are coming in have obviously got big boots to fill. "That's a pressure on them more than us. Them trying to step into that limelight is something that might be difficult for them."

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