Steve Smith knows Australia will have their work cut out for them against SA, as they look to bounce back after a poor period of defeats. 

The Australia captain has overseen heavy series defeats over the last couple of months, losing to Sri Lanka 3-0 in Tests and to the Proteas 5-0 in their ODI series in South Africa.

‘Results haven’t gone our way in the last couple of months but that’s the game of cricket sometimes,’ he said in comments published by The Australian.

‘You have to move on and try and improve. I was disappointed with the way we played in Sri Lanka. We probably let a few opportunities slip so we’ve got to move forward and try to improve in those conditions. There’s a lot of work to do there.’

After receiving some harsh criticism regarding his captaincy from Australian great Steve Waugh, Smith defended his position stating that the Test series against South Africa and Pakistan would be different due to home-gound advantage.

‘I’m comfortable with where we’re at back in Australia. We’ve played good cricket here in the past and hopefully we can continue to do that this summer.’

The squad for the three-Test South Africa series is set to be announced on Friday, and a number of players, including batsmen Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges, all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Moises Henriques, and spinners Nathan Lyon and Jon Holland are fighting for form in the domestic Sheffield Shield which is currently underway.

Smith said he believed selectors have not yet decided on an XI for the first Test.

‘I’d say they want to see a few guys play the first couple of days in the Shield game then be settled,’ he said. ‘I don’t think they are too far off.’

Australia will face South Africa in Hobart and Adelaide after their opening match in Perth on November 3, followed by a home Test series against Pakistan in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney from December 15.