Proteas quicks 'like wild dogs': Steyn

South Africa fast-bowler Dale Steyn has fired the first shots across the Indian Ocean ahead of their Test series in Australia this summer, likening the Proteas pace bowlers to “wild dogs” and declaring his side has a more “skilled” bowling attack than their rivals.

With two triumphant Test tours of Australia under his belt, Steyn looms as a key man for South Africa in their three-Test series beginning this November and leads one of the finest pace attacks in the world, featuring the likes of pace sensation Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.

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"Our attack … we are more like wild dogs,” Steyn told Sport24. “We wear you down, wear you down.”

“But we are also very capable of breaking your back, and taking you down quickly.

“We've got the guys to do the job … we just need the right number to do it."

Steyn’s comments are not the first time a side has been likened to canines in a South Africa-Australia encounter.

Faf du Plessis compared Australia’s players to a “pack of dogs” during that 2014 Cape Town Test, such was the hostility and hunger displayed by the tourists pushing to win the series drawn at 1-1.

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Du Plessis, who stood in as captain for AB de Villiers in South Africa’s recent Test series against New Zealand, was then greeted by howling and barking from Australia’s fielders while he batted on the final day of the Test, in which Australia ultimately prevailed in a thrilling final session.

While Steyn concedes Australia’s hostility is a key factor in their strength in home Tests, he believes their aggressive approach could also be their downfall.

"You have to build pressure for long periods of time, wait for their mistake, because they do attack you,” Steyn said.

"I feel our bowling line-up will perhaps be a bit more patient and skilled than theirs. Besides Josh Hazlewood, their attack is very conscious of attacking, wicket-taking.

“If you can bat well, you can kind of get through it.”

The fiery quick has clashed with Australia in the past, most notably with Michael Clarke in Cape Town in 2014, when Steyn suggested the tourists’ then-Test captain had overstepped the mark in a heated exchange on the final day of the third and deciding Test.

While that grudge now appears to have been left in the past, Steyn recently took aim at Clarke’s successor.

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After it was announced that Steve Smith would return home after the second one-day international of Australia’s ongoing Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka last month, the Proteas speedster suggested the Australian returned home because he missed the comfort of his own bed.

The Proteas have a superb recent record in the longest format in Australia, having overcome their hosts 2-1 in 2008-09 and 1-0 in 2012-13.

Steyn was part of both those series victories, but will face a couple of new challenges this time around.

After the series-opener at the WACA in Perth, the sides move to Hobart for the second Test at Blundstone Arena, where South Africa have never played a Test.

De Villiers men then play their first-ever day-night Test, with the Adelaide Oval set to host the encounter after the success of last year’s inaugural pink ball Test against New Zealand at the same venue.

The pitch for that match was noticeably greener than other Test strips produced in recent years in Australia, though Steyn is unsure how the tracks will play this summer.

"I did play a one-day international against the Aussies (in Hobart) a few years ago,” the right-armer said. “I think we lost that one, though it was on a great tour for us (in 2008-09),"

"The pitches I've seen them play on down there; they've been quite green and it does a bit.

“I don't know what they will prepare for that time of year, but again, my general view of Australia … it could still turn out flat."