MELBOURNE, Dec 9: South Africa should verbally attack Australia captain Steve Waugh in the forthcoming three-Test series between the two teams, former South Africa batsman Barry Richards said Sunday.

“There’s a few chinks the South Africans should be working on and reminding Steve Waugh about while he is batting,” Richards was quoted as saying in the Sunday Herald Sun newspaper in Melbourne.

“Steve is well known for firing plenty of verbal barbs at opposition players.

“This South African team is probably the most aggressive and most experienced we’ve had since their re-inclusion.

“The odd comment or few out in the middle about whether someone like Steve Waugh is batting for his side or his own preservation in it would cast doubt in his mind and his Australian team mates.

“If I was within South Africa’s team management and discussing tactics I’d say give Steve Waugh as good as he gives.

“At 36 they (Steve and twin brother Mark) are less likely to be able to handle some intimidation.”

Richards said Waugh’s first 30 in his 226-minute innings of 67 in the drawn third Test against New Zealand in Perth Tuesday was too slow.

He said if wicket-keeper/batsman Adam Gilchrist (83 not out off 109 balls) had batted in Waugh’s position of number five, Australia could have won the match and the series 1-0.

Australia, needing a world record total of 440 to win, secured a draw at 381 for seven.

South Africa can take top spot in the world rankings from Australia with victory in the forthcoming series.

South Africa have not beaten Australia in a Test series since 1969-70, drawing two series in 1993-94 and losing at home in 1996-97 and in Australia in 1997-98.

Richards made two centuries and more than 500 runs overall in the four-Test series in 1969-70 which South Africa won 4-0.

Steve Waugh struggled for form in the drawn three-Test series against New Zealand, scoring 78 runs at an average of 19.50.—Reuters