As they attempt to accentuate the positive ahead of the third Test against Australia, South Africa would do well not to dwell on Shane Warne's Test record against them at the SCG. In two Tests he has taken 23 wickets at a cost of just 10.30 runs each, and not once has he failed to take a five-for. Warne took 7 for 56 and 5 for 72 on this ground in 1993-94, though his work went unrewarded as South Africa edged a classic by 5 runs. Four years later he took 5 for 75 and 6 for 34, which was a much more significant haul, as it gave Australia an innings victory and ultimately a 1-0 series win, and included his 300th Test wicket. Against South Africa here he takes a wicket every 31 balls, and the batsmen haven't even had the release of frequent runscoring: Warne has conceded only 1.93 per over.

With pitches that often turn significantly even on the first day, Sydney would seem to be the ideal surface for Warne, and if he takes three wickets in this match he will pass Australian seamer Charlie Turner, who took 45 wickets here at the end of the 19th century, as the greatest wicket-taker in Sydney Tests. But apart from matches against the South Africans, Warne has struggled at Sydney - against all other countries he has 20 wickets at 43. That includes a pasting from Ravi Shastri on debut in 1991-92 (Warne took 1 for 150), and he was also on the receiving end of Brian Lara's glorious 277 a year later (1 for 116). Even England have managed to repel Warne on this ground - in two Tests against them, he has taken only three wickets at 82.

Whereas Warne has taken a five-for in all four innings against South Africa, he has not managed even one in 12 innings against the rest. And whereas he takes a wicket every five overs against South Africa, it takes him 17 overs against everyone else.

Chuck in Stuart MacGill's record on this ground (19 wickets in two Tests, including two seven-fors) and Australia's form here (five straight wins) and it doesn't look too good for Shaun Pollock's men.

Rob Smyth is on the staff of Wisden.com.

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