Quality fast-bowling gets me going: Steyn

The sight of Australia's fast bowlers tearing in this summer could be a double-edged sword for Steve Smith's men.

On one hand, a red-hot Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and co will undoubtedly cause South Africa's batsmen plenty of trouble, starting on Thursday at the WACA Ground.

But on the other, a fiery display of fast bowling could inspire Proteas speedster Dale Steyn to rev up, rip in and outdo his opponents in the pace stakes.

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Steyn enters the three-Test Commonwealth Bank Test Series as the International Cricket Council's top-ranked fast bowler, and when he's not sending down vicious outswingers at 145kph, he's finding a television screen and watching his rival quicks charge in off the long run.

"I enjoy watching fast bowlers," Steyn told reporters in Perth on Sunday. "I am a fast bowler so I'm a fan of fast bowling, whether it's happening to us or I'm sitting watching it on TV and watching someone across the world bowling really quickly, it's always exciting to watch.

"I can remember watching Wahab (Riaz) bowling to Shane Watson at the (2015) World Cup.

"That kind of thing gets you going and I wasn't even at the game, I was sitting in my room somewhere in New Zealand when that game was going on and I got excited.

"If it's happening right in front of you it can get the juices flowing and get you going yourself."

A fast-bowling fuelled Steyn is not what Smith's charges want to encounter during the pace ace's third, and most likely, final tour of Australia.

In his previous six Test matches on Australian soil, the 33-year-old has captured 30 wickets at 28, with 10 victims coming in the memorable Boxing Day Test victory of 2008.

While Steyn may have dropped slightly in pace, he could well have a fast, bouncy and grassy WACA wicket at his disposal in four days if Hazlewood's requests are met.

Last year's barren Perth pitch produced 1,441 runs in the first four days for the loss of only 21 wickets, with Hazlewood bowling 32 overs for figures of 1-134.

The benign surface fast-tracked Mitchell Johnson's international retirement, but if last week's Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA is any indicator – where South Australia's quartet of seamers tore the hosts apart – the Test quicks could be licking their lips come Thursday.

"The WA boys who played on it last week said there was a little bit there for bat and ball," Hazlewood said.

"Last year was hard work out there. We saw the amount of runs scored … it needs a bit of grass on it, a bit of pace as well.

"Last year was a bit disappointing and hopefully there is a bit more pace and bounce than last year's WACA wicket and it gets back to its traditional way it usually plays."

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