January 1, 2006	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 29, 1426

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SYDNEY, Dec 31: Australia’s cricketers are brimming with confidence ahead of the third Test against South Africa starting on Monday. Ricky Ponting’s world champions won the second Test in Melbourne by 184 runs on Friday to grab a 1-0 lead after the opening Test in Perth was drawn.

Ponting told reporters before he flew out of Melbourne on Saturday that he was confident Sydney’s reputation as a spinner’s pitch would help his team wrap up a 2-0 series win.

“The conditions down there should suit us more than the South Africans but you really don’t know what you’re going to get in Sydney,” he said.

“Historically it has turned a lot and our bowlers have done very well there over the last couple of years.”

Australia’s prospects are likely to be boosted by the return of opener Justin Langer, who missed the second Test with a hamstring injury, while South Africa will be without striker bowler Makhaya Ntini.

The Proteas have rushed spinner Johan Botha into their squad but have still not decided whether he will play.

“Sydney is going to be a challenge. Losing Makhaya is always going to be a challenge for us. He’s led our attack for a while and he’s been very successful,” South Africa captain Graeme Smith said.

“We lose our real out-and-out strike bowler. That leaves opportunities for other players. We’ll have a look at the conditions in Sydney and make some decisions from there.”

Fast bowler Andre Nel did reveal however the tourists would be planning to turn up the volume on their appeals after claiming Australian leg spinner Shane Warne had been putting pressure on umpires with his over-zealous appeals.

The ICC’s match referee Chris Broad, who hails from England, admitted Warne was “pushing the line” with his appeals but said he had not overstepped the mark, prompting a swift response from Nel.

“If they can get away with it, why can’t we try and get away with it too,” Nel told reporters on arrival at Sydney airport on Saturday.

“Maybe we can learn from them to do that better.”—Reuters