CRICKET: South Africa captain Graeme Smith has told spinner Paul Adams he has to fight for his place in the team.

On the eve of the third Test against West Indies in Cape Town Smith indicated the unorthodox left-armer would be given the nod as the Proteas look to secure the four-match series, which they lead 2-0.

But Adams has played only two matches - for club and province - in six weeks and Smith has urged the spinner to establish a permanent place in the side to give them a more balanced attack.

However, it seems likely he will be included at the expense of all-rounder Andrew Hall.

"I'm pretty sure we'll go in with a spinner," said Smith, who has overcome the hamstring strain which kept him off the field on the the final day of the second Test in Durban.

"I think it's going to play a part in the Test match somewhere along the line, especially if you're bowling last.

"We said at the start of the series that there would be opportunities for guys to take their chances.

"If it's Paul I want him to put his hand up and make the spinning berth his."

Two crushing victories in the final two Tests would move South Africa closer to world number ones Australia, with the Proteas set to rise to 114 points in the rankings with Steve Waugh's team falling to 123 points when their series against India concludes next week.

Despite the odds being stacked in favour of the home side West Indies captain Brian Lara remained defiant and still harbours hope of squaring the series.

"We see this as a two-Test series now - I don't want to see a whitewash," said Lara. "The Vivian Richards Trophy may be firmly in the hands of the South Africans but we're aiming to win the next two matches and square the series."

But to do that they will need to pull off one of the most miraculous turnarounds in cricketing history.

Meanwhile, Waugh's reign as Australian captain will be played out over the next five days. An enthralled nation is willing Waugh's team to send their leader into retirement on a winning note.

Yet amid the gushing tributes and the gathering of statistics which proclaim him the world's most successful international captain of all time, there came a typically proud call to arms from the man on whom all attention will focus when he takes to the field for his 168th Test match.

Waugh leads Australia into a Test for the 57th and final time when they take on India in the last match of a four-Test series - and the captain is well aware there is more than his swan song on the agenda.

With the series tied at 1-1, emotions are sure to be tested as Waugh, in front of his home crowd at the SCG, strives to sign off in style.

Australia rallied to level the series with victory in the St Stephen's Day Test at the MCG, setting up a tense finale.

"This one for us is great," said the 38-year-old.

"The guys are on edge. They're focused, they're keen. The momentum is going our way."

Not since defeat by the West Indies in the winter of 1992/93 have Australia lost a home Test series - and Waugh would dearly love to hand on the baton to his successor Ricky Ponting with that record intact.