Adelaide, Dec.2 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has warned his team to step up for a heavyweight bout against South Africa later this month.

"We have to play at our optimum and there's no hiding that fact. Right through India we were a long way below our best and we were a bit off our best in Brisbane. We've taken a step closer here. We know the South Africans are a well-balanced side who have a really good fast bowling attack and five of their batters are in the top 10 run-scorers for 2008," Fox Sports quoted Ponting, as saying.

"They are a good side and we're not kidding ourselves. We've got a long way to go if we want to stay the No1 team in the world," he added. "The hardest thing to do in cricket is to beat Australia in Australia.

South Africa is a very good team with an exceptional bowling attack of Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and Mahkaya Ntini leading it and they're exceptionally well led by Graeme Smith. I think he's one of the best captains in world cricket. They'll come here thinking they've got a chance but Australia has proved once again they are the toughest team in their own conditions," said Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori.

South Africa arrives in Perth on Sunday for an extended preparation now that the Champions League, scheduled for this week in India, has been cancelled following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

The only question for the Australians heading into the first Test against South Africa in Perth is do the selectors include a spinner or recall all-rounder Shane Watson in conditions that have traditionally hampered slow bowlers? (ANI)

Adelaide, Dec.2 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has backed all-rounders Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson to fire at the WACA during the contest against South Africa, which begins from December 17.

Ponting has said that he will contact Perth curator Cameron Sutherland well before the first Test to uncover whether he plans to use an old strip or one of the WACA Ground's recently relayed pitches.

The latter wickets have provided pace and bounce for domestic fast bowlers all season, and if Sutherland indeed intends to use a relayed surface for the match against South Africa, Krejza may be facing a third consecutive Test as Australia's unlucky loser.

Watson, meanwhile, has certainly done his cause no harm with an eight-wicket Sheffield Shield performance against South Australia this week.

"We got duped a bit there last year. A lot depends on which wicket we use. If it is one of the relaid ones ... there would have to be some consideration given to playing a line-up similar to Brisbane. Watto has had a great game up in Brisbane this week for Queensland. He could obviously slot back into the side as well if we feel conditions are going to suit," Fox Sports quoted Ponting, as saying.

"I think Andrew is going fine. I am not worried about his form. Symo's not had a bad game [in Adelaide]. He got a decision that probably could've gone either way here, and all of a sudden everyone's asking questions about him. We've got to work out what we think who our best four bowlers are," he added.

Watson's recall could result in paceman Peter Siddle returning to Victoria, relieving the pressure on Stuart Clark's Test position. (ANI)

Dubai, Dec.2 (ANI): Some of world cricket's biggest names, including South Africa's Graeme Smith, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, Australia's Nathan Bracken and Brit Indian woman crickter Isa Guha on Monday used the occasion of World AIDS Day to urge continued support and awareness for the ICC's role in raising awareness of the issue of HIV/AIDS.

World AIDS Day is marked annually on 1 December and this year's theme is leadership. And on that theme those top players want cricket to show how sport can be used for social good in the fight against HIV.

Graeme Smith, an active supporter of cricket's partnership with various agencies including UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Global Media AIDS, was quoted by an ICC press release as saying: "As South African cricket captain, I feel a responsibility to raise awareness to people not only in my country, but across the cricketing world, of how they can protect themselves against HIV infection.

"Whether it is delivering messages to young people through public service announcements or when I meet individuals at community projects, I want to make a difference to a social problem which has had such devastating effects in my country."

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been working on raising awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention for the past five years and has seen a variety of activities delivered at major ICC events, including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and the ICC World Twenty20 2007.

Sri Lanka vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara said: "The ICC has played an important role in the first five years of its partnership with UNAIDS to raise awareness and reduce stigma around HIV.

"But I think that by working with partners such as UNICEF and the Global Media AIDS Initiative and using the high profile support of some of the game's leading players we can achieve even more in the future.

"With the eyes of the sporting world on cricket in 2009, with events such as the ICC World Twenty20 2009 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2009, as well as important bilateral series, there has never been a better time for cricket to use its profile to deliver messages on social issues like HIV/AIDS.

"If the game can unite administrators, players, broadcasters and sponsors on HIV/AIDS we can all work together to achieve excellent results," he added.

One of the most visible signs of support for people living with HIV/AIDS has been the wearing of red ribbons by international players at major international matches at ICC events or key bilateral series.

Nathan Bracken, who visited projects in South Africa and the West Indies in the past 18 months, and who has been ranked the number one bowler in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Player Rankings during the past year said: "As a professional cricketer, we are in a position where people across the world are fascinated by everything that we say.

"If we can use our high profile position in society to deliver messages to vulnerable people, who may not have had educational opportunities available to them, then that is a positive thing to do and something we can do even more of in the future."

England women's bowler Isa Guha, currently ranked number one in the Reliance Mobile ICC Women's ODI Rankings, went with team-mates to an HIV drop-in centre for women in November in Bangalore, India, and she admitted it was a moving experience.

Guha said: "Seeing for myself the challenges that people living with HIV face in their daily lives really brought home the importance of using our profile to make a difference in reducing stigma around the disease.

"As the profile of women's cricket grows, hopefully we can also use our increased popularity to have a positive impact on the lives of women across the world."

The ICC's HIV/AIDS partnership with UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Global Media AIDS Initiative will be a focal part of the ICC's centenary celebrations in 2009. (ANI)

London, Dec.2 (ANI): Brazilian footballer Robinho has described his Manchester City teammates as a bunch of losers, and added that when he was playing for the Spanish football club Real Madrid, he learnt the art of winning.

"City have good players but the mentality of a small side. What they lack is the mentality of champions. At Real Madrid, I learned a will to win," The Sun quoted Robinho, as saying. "Here they have a good team but are content with just finishing fifth or sixth. For me you can only be content when you're champions, with winning away. You need to want to beat Chelsea at their home, beat Manchester United, beat Liverpool. They are content with little, just a draw might be good enough," he added. City are now just two points above the drop zone after Sunday's home defeat by United.

"The mentality has to change now City have a project to become big. I want to inspire a winning mentality. I've learned being second is worthless. I played at Santos, where the supporters want to win every tournament we play in. The same was true at Real Madrid and with Brazil. If we think bigger, we can be there too," Robinho said. Robinho was speaking exclusively to Football Matters on Setanta Sports 1 last night. (ANI)