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AUSTRALIA'S Ashes fast bowling heroes fried Alastair Cook - now they are turning their "Captain Killer" blowtorch onto South African skipper Graeme Smith.
Smith out to Shane Watson in 2011 in Cape Town with Mitchell Johnson in the backdrop. Source: News Limited
Michael Clarke and his men have no great affection for Smith.
There has been a story passed down through Australian changerooms about how Smith made his debut against Australia in 2002 and then tipped a bucket on their sledging in a South African magazine a few months later.
Smith is made of exceptional stuff - he became his nation's youngest skipper at age 22. Turning 33 on Saturday, he has led South Africa through all manner of controversies and scored 9220 Test runs at almost 50.
Perhaps no captain since Clive Lloyd of the great West Indian sides of the 1980s has had such complete authority of his team.
But the Australians sense that South Africa's steely warrior, who has twice had bones in his arm broken by Mitchell Johnson thunderbolts, may not be the batsman he once was.
Without Jacques Kallis in the South African side for the first time, Australia feels that if it can get to Smith the rest of the No.1-ranked Proteas side could crumble.
They are similar tactics to how Australia pointedly went after Cook during the Ashes and the Englishman they could once not get out averaged just 24 as his side was smashed 5-0.
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Peter Siddle, who yesterday fined-tuned his South African preparations by taking 4-45 for a Qld second XI against WA second XI in Brisbane, said Australia would go after Smith in the same hostile way.
"We have always tried to target the captain and he (Smith) is the top again, like Cook," Siddle said.
"We have always had a good contest against him, it has always been hard work.
"Our bowling unit is the best I have played in since I've been in the Australian side. There is no doubt we can perform the way we did against England again."
Australian swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus celebrates the wicket of Smith in 2009 at the Wanderers. Source: AFP
ustralia's South African tour plans were shaken with allrounder James Faulkner pulling out with injury and doubts over the fitness Shaun Marsh and Jackson Bird.
But Faulkner wasn't in Australia's first choice Test XI and Alex Doolan is likely to be preferred to Marsh for George Bailey's former spot in the starting XI.
Smith gives a thumbs-up after South Africa beats Australia in the 2011 Cape Town Test. Source: News Limited
The good news is Siddle and fellow Ashes fast bowling hero Ryan Harris looked impressive in their red-ball hit-out in second XI cricket before both jet out to South Africa this morning.
Harris, who points out it is a huge bonus for Australia that South Africa's all-round legend Jacques Kallis has retired ahead of next month's three-Test series, worked back to form and fitness taking 2-49.
Harris has played just one Test in South Africa but says he will feel like he is bowling at home.
"I see it as a similar situation to playing here in Australia, the wickets are pretty similar. I will just approach it like I am bowling on home wickets," Harris said.
Australian Test squad member James Pattinson also played second XI state cricket in Brisbane this week and bowled with nice pace and swing.
"He has had his hiccups in the last couple of years but when he gets back on song he always competes hard and goes at it," Siddle said of Pattinson.
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