Smith says 'good start' key for Proteas in first Test against India

Proteas Test captain, Graeme Smith has said it will be important to start well in the first Test against India at the Wanderers on Wednesday, according to reports.

According to Sport24, Smith's No.1 ranked side have had a relatively quiet year playing only two matches in the last nine months, and want to 'hit the ground running' at the start of an important summer at home.

Smith feels his squad will be better prepared despite another long break between series, and says they have addressed the red flags which led to their loss to Pakistan in the first test in Abu Dhabi, the report said.

India has a good record at the Wanderers, winning one and drawing two matches, their only win coming in 2006 by 123 runs, the report added.

Smith was unflustered by the statistic, and expressed full confidence in his team's ability to read the Wanderers conditions, the report further said.

MS Dhoni and Zaheer Khan are the only two players from India's current squad to have played at the Wanderers, which is renowned for its pace and bounce, the report mentioned.