Warne adds Harwood to list of SA contenders

The queue to fill the probable gap of Glenn McGrath in the Test series against South Africa has gained another member with Shane Warne pushing his Victoria team-mate Shane Harwood. Harwood is the state's fourth-most successful bowler in the Pura Cup this season with 24 wickets at 25.83, but Warne said he worth considering alongside the veterans Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz.

"Those guys will be knocking on the door and they've got some form as well," Warne told AAP. "I reckon Shane Harwood is a real chance. He's been bowling unbelievably fast this year. Everyone who's played against him is surprised by his pace, his hostility, his aggression - and no one's seen him." However, Harwood's major weakness is his age - he is 31 while Gillespie is 30.

Australia's selectors have told McGrath, who is looking after his sick wife Jane, he needs to bowl for New South Wales if he wants to be considered for the second part of the tour. Mick Lewis, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken and Mitchell Johnson are the support staff behind Brett Lee for the one-dayers, which begin with a Twenty20 match on Friday, but an experienced campaigner is needed for the Tests starting on March 16.

The tour has already been promoted through the crowd comments of Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer and Mark Boucher, who also said he lost respect for the Australians during the summer, and Warne expected to "have a few verbals" with the players and "some fun" with the supporters. "Whether [Boucher's] just doing that to try and incite their crowd and make sure they really do get behind South Africa and give us a hard time," Warne said. "I didn't witness anything on the cricket field, or off the cricket field. We did the right thing as we do in every series and go and have a drink with the opposition."

Warne told the agency Australia have "definitely got the wood on" their opponents. "Especially in the tight situations, I think we're all over South Africa, and I think they know that too," he said. "They're trying little tricks and trying to get under our skin."