Watson is ready for an improved Graeme Smith

Shane Watson

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson believes South Africa captain Graeme Smith will be a far more assured leader when the Proteas challenge Australia’s Test standing this month.

Smith struggled under the weight of captaincy and batting expectations in his last visit Down Under when targeted on and off the field by Shane Warne.

The gun opener averaged just 25.83 in the 2-0 series loss in Australia three years ago and went even worse in the return series at home as the world champions enjoyed a 3-0 whitewash.

But Watson said Smith, still only 27, had grown as a leader after being “thrown in the deep end” when made captain at 22.

Watson played alongside the Proteas skipper in this year’s inaugural Indian Premier League, with the pair forging a successful top-order combination which propelled the Warne-led Rajhastan Royals to the Twenty20 title.

The Queenslander, who is hoping to regain his place in the Australia side for the first Test in Perth, said he learned a great deal from Smith in India.

“He is a very impressive guy,” Watson said.

“I’m sure he is going to make sure South Africa are going to be ripe and ready to go for the Test series.”

South Africa, ranked No.2 in Test cricket, arrive in the country next week looking to maintain their unbeaten series run dating back to their last meeting with top-ranked Australia.

Watson lauded Smith’s mentoring skills and said he helped instill great confidence in himself as he took his first steps back into the international arena after his last injury drama in late 2007.

“He is an extremely mature bloke, he has been through a lot with his cricket and obviously some of the politics that goes on with South African cricket at times,” he said.

“I learnt from him the ways to develop and mature as a cricketer and the things you go through.

“He’s been through quite a bit with the captaincy. Talking to him was a great way to learn about life.”

Watson said while Smith and Warne were arch-enemies as Test rivals they were the best of teammates playing together for the Royals.

“It’s amazing when you play against some one as opposed to playing with them, it’s just like they are a totally different bloke,” he said.

“Warney and Graeme Smith got along extremely well when the barriers were broken down. They realised they had got a lot in common.”

A hard-hitting 81 and career-best 7-69 in the Sheffield Shield this week showcased  Watson’s skills that are set to see him picked in the Australian squad on Tuesday.

But it appears he will again fight with spinner Jason Krejza for a spot in the starting XI.