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Bavuma taking Oz pressure in his stride

Cape Town - South African middle-order batsman Temba Bavuma has admitted to feeling pressure ahead of the Australian Test series.

But the 11 Test-capped batsman will take the pressure in his stride when walking out for the first time at the WACA on Thursday.

Bavuma, 26, alluded that his main goal is to score runs and make sure he executes to the best of his ability, saying: "That will allow the bowlers to attack and do what they do.

"For us, we're focusing on all our disciplines and our fielding, (which) we put a lot of importance and significance on. So it's just to make sure we execute our three disciplines to the best of our ability."

Bavuma hinted that South Africa might go into the first Test with seven specialist batsmen, which could result in one of the four Proteas paceman to miss out on the pace and bounce offered in Perth.

"It's worked up to now," says Bavuma when asked whether or not they will go into the Test with seven batsmen. "Obviously having a guy like Quinny (Quinton de Kock) at the back end that strengthens the batting order, Quinny can bat anywhere and there's no reason to change something that's worked for us," said Bavuma.

Earlier this year, Bavuma scored his maiden Test ton and became the first black South African to score a Test century against England in Cape Town.

Last week, he admitted he's not found Australian conditions to his liking thus far, as he struggled with the bat (making 11, 21 and 43) in the warm-up matches in Adelaide.

"It's a pressure I've tried to embrace, take it in my stride... here (at the WACA) it is quite similar to what we get at the Wanderers... it's definitely something to look forward to - the challenge and everything about it.

"We need to take the attack to the opposition and being able to recognise those moments and mentally adjust..."

The first of the three-match Test series starts on Thursday.

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