AUSTRALIA captain Michael Clarke is under no illusions about the task facing his Ashes winners as they take on the best team in the world in their three-Test tour of South Africa.

Clarke and co whitewashed England 5-0 – setting in motion all manner of upheaval for Alastair Cook’s team.

As Clarke prepares for the first Test against Graeme Smith’s hosts at Centurion today, however, he knows the trouncing of England is suddenly irrelevant history.

South Africa have, along with Australia, an outstanding pace attack – and as the International Cricket Council’s top-ranked team, are unbeaten in the last three years.

‘‘That’s why they are the number one team in the world,’’ said Clarke, who likens them to the all-conquering Australia line-up he first played with almost a decade ago.

‘‘They have been able to perform consistently at home and away from home over a long period of time – a little bit like the Australian team that I first walked into.

‘‘The reason we were number one for so long was because we had as much success away from home as we did at home, and that’s our greatest challenge as a team.’’ Victory in South Africa will not see Australia depose their hosts in those rankings.

But Clarke knows it would be a significant achievement.

‘‘If we want to get back to being number one in the world, we have to have success away from home; we have to beat the best teams – and as tough a challenge as it is, we’re excited about it.

Australia were unchanged throughout the Ashes but will not be at Centurion, having left batsman George Bailey out of their touring party. Uncapped Tasmania batsman Alex Doolan has replaced him.