It's fair to say the only thing Australia's 'secret' plan to get inside South African batsman Hashim Amla's head achieved were a few giggles from the man himself.
The now-infamous dossier, supposedly leaked to the media on the eve of the first Test, reportedly outlined the best way to knock one of the world's best batsmen off his game was through sledging.
The Australians tried, but failed and the cool, calm and collected Amla smashed 104 in the first innings and an important 38 in the second, when the game was in the balance.
"I actually found it quite humorous," the 29-year-old said of the verbal attention.
"Obviously the guys were a bit pumped up, thinking that I'd nicked the ball. I guess it is a bit funny when guys get emotional when there's no real need to.
"I found it a bit funny at the time but it's part of the game."
Amla was reluctant to say whether any of the banter crossed the line.
"It's not for me to say. The umpires are the guys who make the call," he said.
"That kind of thing, I say leave it in the umpires' hands. I just enjoyed the moment, really."
He also enjoyed day one of the first Test at the Gabba, when Australia's pacemen were somewhat nervous and handed out runs on a platter.
Amla's 165-run partnership with Jacques Kallis in the first innings gave South Africa the clear upper hand - and it looked for a while like they were on course for a big win in this Test, despite Day 2 being completely washed out.
But led by young spearhead James Pattinson (3-93, 2-58), the baggy green pace battery came back and threw down the gauntlet.
None of it, however, has shaken Amla's belief in who hangs onto the crown of the best pack of bowlers in the world.
"South Africa have, in my opinion, the best attack," he said.
"(The Australians) have a good attack, (but) obviously home conditions and everything ... I think they've done well as an attack in a few games before this.
"It was a good challenge for everybody and as the wicket deteriorated a little bit, it kind of proved you need a little bit of mettle there to see the game through."
But where Amla is supremely confident in the Proteas' attack, he is humble when it comes to himself.
Despite anchoring both of South Africa's innings, he felt shown up by Michael Clarke's brilliant unbeaten 259.
"As I've said before, I'm definitely nowhere close to being the best batter in the world," Amla said.
"Certainly Michael's probably up there and quite a few other legends of the game.
"He played positively and put our bowlers under pressure.
"A couple of things we could have done a little bit better, but all credit to him. It was a fantastic knock."
First Posted 14 November, 2012 6:19PM AEST
