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Smith upbeat for 1st Test

AFP/REUTERS, Lahore
Upbeat South African captain Graeme Smith said Wednesday that playing on the sub-continent was a massive challenge for his side.
"I think playing in the subcontinent is as big a challenge as playing against Australia, and we see this Test series as a massive challenge, purely because the conditions here are tougher," Smith told reporters ahead of the first Test against Pakistan starting here Friday.
South Africa ranks second only to Australia in International Cricket Council Test cricket rankings.
Australia has clinched two back-to-back one-day international World Cup titles in thelast four years.
"I think the Australians have taken cricket to new levels which is good for the game of cricket but a lot of other teams are catching up," said Smith, whose side beat Pakistan 32 in the one-day international series earlier this week.
Smith, 22, became the third youngest captain in Test cricket
after he surprisingly replaced Shaun Pollock following South Africa's first round exit from World Cup in March.
Since then Smith has led the side to victory in Bangladesh, runners-up place in a three-nation one-day tournament including winner
YOUSUF YOUHANA ... Pak captainin the last three games but it's not a panic situation," said home side
England and Zimbabwe, and to coach Javed Miandad.
square a Test series 2-2 in England.
"I would like to think when we play next time against Australia we would be able to...challenge them," said Smith, who hit two back-to-back double hundreds to chalk
South Africa's highest Test score of 277 in England.
"A lot of teams are going through rebuilding process but they (Australia) have a settled team which is an advantage," said Smith.
"Australians have confidence in their own ability, they back themselves to win and every time they play, they play it hard, play to win and they have no self doubt," said the South African captain.
Smith said his side was confident after their come-from-behind one-day series win, but warned that Test cricket was a different game.
"I think we are very confident but we are also very humble and realise that it would be a tough Test series."
Pakistan looked in disarray after losing the one-day series and their captain Inzamamul Haq due to recurrence of hamstring injury for the first Test.
"Injuries to key players failed us
Pakistan also hopes their standin captain Yousuf Youhana recovers full fitness as he too is carrying a hamstring problem.
In case Youhana is ruled out, FROM PAGE 13
Pakistan will have a new captain in Shoaib Akhtar.
The home team also recalled former captain Moin Khan after their regular wicketkeeper Rashid Latif pulled out of the Tests due to family commitments.
Smith promised to put behind them the ill-feeling from the one-dayers.
Punishments over various spats included a ban of a one one-day match and two Tests for South African all-rounder Andrew Hall and suspending Smith for a one-dayer.
"We crossed the line and we got punished. We have discussed it and we have learnt from our mistakes," Smith said.
"Andrew Hall's absence is a big loss to the team as he is a strong character and has a big heart," he added.
Smith agreed Inzamam's absence was a significant setback for Pakistan. "The younger players will be under pressure to perform," he said.