Smith vows to counter-attack Proteas as he did against England

Australian batsman Steve Smith aims launch a counter-attack against South Africa in the same fashion that he used twice to steady Australia's bid for an 5-0 Ashes whitewash.

Smith enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2013, returning to the Test team after a two-year hiatus and playing all 10 matches in the back-to-back Ashes.

The 24-year-old cracked his maiden Test century at The Oval in August, then delivered sterling tons in the return series.

In Perth, he and Brad Haddin put on a 124-run stand to rescue Australia after they were reduced to 5-143, News.com.au reports.

At the SCG, it was a 128-run partnership between the pair that set Australia on track for yet another big win after they had slumped to 5-97 early on day one.

Smith said that was the most pleasing thing for me back home, to get two hundreds in probably the two toughest batting conditions in the Ashes series.

He agreed that might take longer than against England, given the precision of Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn.