Waugh has mind on Tests

The Australia tour party arrived but the local media sought out only one man – the sacked skipper Steve Waugh – at the press conference at Johannesburg International Airport. Waugh was bombarded with questions after being ousted as the captain of the one-day squad.

Waugh, whose role as the Test skipper is unaltered, admitted that it may be his last visit to the country. "I suppose it is a possibility," he said. "But I am just looking forward to the Test series.

"The South Africans probably did not perform as well as they would have liked in Australia and it should be a bit different here.

"The wickets will suit the South Africans and they have got a talented young side and a good captain in Shaun Pollock."

Waugh said little about his sacking, concentrating on the series ahead and keeping Australia's place at the top of the Test world rankings. While South Africa lost the corresponding series in Australia 3-0, they can still overtake the Aussies if they win this series.

"I don't think there is ever a good time to be dropped, but it is probably not ideal at the beginning of the series.

"My job, though, is to get us playing good Test match cricket. We're the No 1 side in the world, and we don't want to slip down to No 2."

Waugh said the decision would not affect his performance. "From the first ball of the Test match I will put all distractions aside," he said.