Proteas interim coach Malibongwe Maketa says they will stick to their strengths

Interim coach Malibongwe Maketa says South Africa will adopt their own style of cricket in the upcoming three-match series against Australia as they look to back to winning ways.

The Proteas are second on the ICC World Test championship table but their most recent sojourn in the longest format was a 2-1 series loss away to England earlier this year.

England under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes have also seemed to revolutionise the way Test cricket is being played with a thrilling win over Pakistan in Rawalpindi emphasising that new aggressive approach.

Maketa though says the Proteas will stick to their strengths which has often been described as gritty and tenacious as they look to claim a third consecutive series victory Down Under.

"There are different takes to getting people into the ground. If you start winning then people will still come to the ground," Maketa told reporters.

"This new era for cricket where T20 is really dominating, and pulling the crowds. If you look back at the Australia of old, they made it their goal to score at around fours, and that got people into the ground and they were still winning cricket games. So, that was a win-win situation for them.

"For us, it's really about going out there and winning. We know back home people will support a winning team regardless of what happens.

"That's what we are looking to set our stalls on. Obviously, we want to play a good brand of cricket, but first and foremost Test cricket is there to be played over five days and if that means winning in the final session, we will take that."

The Proteas start a four-day warm-up fixture in Brisbane on Saturday before the first Test against the hosts begins at the Gabba on 17 December.

Maketa said it will be important for the tourists to get some time in the middle ahead of a series against the hosts who sit on top of the ICC Test Championship standings.

"It won't be a first-class game, so that works in our favour, because we want all the batters to bat, and all the bowlers to have a bowl so that we can monitor them after going hard for the first three days we were here," Maketa said.

"It is important for us, luckily some of our guys are coming off some good performances back home. But getting here and being exposed to the wickets, this game is very crucial for us, and it's important for each and everyone of us."