Proteas devise ploy to keep Smith in check

Steve Smith will hope his new technique and form continues in the first Test against South Africa. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

South Africa have identified making Steve Smith play at the ball early as the key to keeping Australia's most prolific batsman quiet in their three-Test series this summer.

The Proteas are one of the few countries in the world who can claim to have found an answer for Smith through his career ahead of Saturday's first Test at the Gabba.