Proteas’ skipper Graeme Smith played down suggestions that South Africa is under-prepared ahead of the first Test against England due to start at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday.

South Africa have not played a Test since March while the rest of the year has been taken up by a combination of twenty20 and one-day internationals.

“I know it has been a lengthy period since our last Test match but I think the squad is very mature and has had a lot of success,” Smith told a news conference on Tuesday.

“It is always difficult to say where you are if you haven’t played a Test match in a while but it is up to us to come out tomorrow(Wednesday) and hopefully make the first day count for us,” he added.

The opening batsman explained that the change from one-dayers to Test match cricket would require a mind set change from his charges.

“I wouldn’t say we are undercooked. We have played enough cricket. It is more of a different mind-set for a Test match.

“It is about being able to handle pressure and being able to sustain performances for a long period of time as a bowler or a batsman.”

The last time South Africa faced England in a Test series the Proteas triumphed 2-1, away from home in 2008.

However, England emerged victorious by the same margin, on South African soil, during the 2004/5 season.

Smith said that during his time in the South Africa team England have always proved to be difficult opponents and he expects the four-Test series, which starts on Wednesday, to be no different.

“I haven’t played a test series against England that hasn’t been tough. They have always been hard-fought and have come down to little moments in each game.

“In the last series, in England, we probably had the edge. We played the better cricket and deserved our victory there but this is a new series and a fresh start and both teams will face new challenges,” he explained.

The home side have been boosted by the news that Jacques Kallis will be fit enough to start the first Test, although he will only play as a batsman as his rib injury has not healed sufficiently to allow him to bowl.

Kallis’ inclusion means that the Proteas will enter the Test with only four frontline bowlers, likely to be speedsters Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini and left-arm spinner Paul Harris.

Smith is confident that whoever is chosen for the job will be up to the challenge.

“Jacques not being able to bowl during the first Test shifts responsibility to the other bowlers.

“It is obviously a luxury to have five bowlers available to you but hopefully the guys that are picked to do the job can do it well. It is a challenge but we have got some quality bowlers who can produce results,” he concluded.

South Africa squad – Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Friedel de Wet, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn.