Waugh says SA series will decide title

Australia captain Steve Waugh has said the series against South Africa starting next month would be his team's biggest challenge.

Waugh's world champions face New Zealand in a three-Test series starting in Brisbane on November 8 then host South Africa for three Tests in December and January.

South Africa, second to Australia on the world championship rankings, will host Australia for a further three Tests in February and March.

"Playing South Africa is obviously our biggest challenge," Waugh was quoted as saying in The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Saturday.

"If we can beat them over the course of the next six Tests, home and away, people will definitely say we are the number one side.

"At the moment the South Africans probably think their side is number one and we think we are number one.

"The jury is still out."

Waugh said South Africa, led by all-rounder Shaun Pollock, were an extremely disciplined side and that Pollock ranked alongside Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath as an outstanding, world-class player.

"If you are going to beat them, you are not going to beat them convincingly," Waugh said.

"You'll have to wear them down.

"They play a tough brand of cricket and don't give much away.

"It's a big series in that regard and we are looking forward to it."

Australia's world record winning streak of 16 matches came to an end in their 2-1 series loss in India in March.

Waugh's team won 4-1 in England in August, their seventh successive Ashes series triumph.

Australia were in no danger of being complacent about the coming series against New Zealand, Waugh added.

Mail Cricket Editor