Tensions between Australian and South African cricketers might be high this summer with Steve Smith denying claims he gave negative feedback to South -African counterpart AB de Villiers about the proposed day-night Test in -Adelaide.
Cricket Australia is in a standoff with South Africa's players and board over their refusal to sign off on a day-night Test in Adelaide because the players are not used to pink balls or the changed -conditions.
De Villiers claims he spoke to Smith and other Australians and "the consensus from our talks were that there are just too many unknowns, players from both teams were reluctant to go ahead with it". 
Cricket Australia continues its push to have the game played and yesterday quoted Smith on its website denying de Villiers' claims that he was part of a group of players who gave negative feedback to them on the day-night experience.
"I'm surprised that he named me," Smith told the website.
"I know having spoken to them, a few of their older players were keen to experience day-night Test cricket before they finish playing. the feedback we gave them was that Adelaide is the best place to play it, in our opinion.
"We're playing one in Brisbane now, but Adelaide is the best place to play it and I think it could work there.
"I don't know where they've got their ideas from," added Smith, in relation to assertions Australian players were reluctant to take part in a day-night Test against South Africa in Australia. "If they wanted to play one we'd be happy to." The issue will not move ahead until the South African players union can talk to its cricketers after the Indian Premier League tournament -concludes.
New Zealand were similarly reluctant before last season's inaugural match in Adelaide but were convinced by the lure of a $1 million prize for the series.
South Africa's cricketers earn considerably less than Australia's and its board struggles financially so an incentive would be welcome. Cricket Australia reported a $99m surplus for the last financial year.
South African cricket has more than the colour of balls to worry about ahead of its tour of Australia this year, with the government imposing restrictions and threatening further sanctions over the failure to meet colour quotas in teams.
The South African government announced this week that it would bar cricket, rugby union, football, netball and athletics from tendering to host international sporting tournaments for failing to meet "transformation targets".
The five signed a Memorandum of Understanding to meet targets for participation by black and coloured players, officials and coaches.
While the targets are secret, it is believed a cricket team must have 60 per cent coloured/black players. Cricket almost met the target with a report suggesting 55 per cent of its players were coloured/black.
Sports minister Fikile Mbalula said that as 84 per cent of under-18s in the country were black Africans it was "morally" the right thing to do.
Quotas are a constant source of tension in South Africa. Players were upset when the selectors were instructed to include an unfit Vernon Philander ahead of the in-form Kyle Abbott for the ODI World Cup semi-final.
Former player Jacques Kallis caused a political storm when he tweeted he was "embarrassed to call myself South African" in relation to the issue, but later said he meant he was embarrassed at the political interference in sport.
The ban on bidding for international tournaments will be reviewed in 12 months but is not expected to have any impact on Cricket South Africa's immediate future.
Meanwhile, the country has lost former fast bowler Allan -Donald to the enemy with the quick signing up as a short-term coach with Cricket Australia for the tour of the West Indies and Sri Lanka alongside batting coach Stuart Law. They replace Craig McDermott and Michael Di -Venuto. Donald says he hopes to teach the Australians a little more about reverse swing.
"From a Test match point of view you need to be using that new ball and using it really well, and being very disciplined," Donald said of bowling on the subcontinent. "You take the conditions, not only the pitch but the heat the players have got to deal with, the humidity and that sort of thing but reverse swing is massive in the subcontinent.
"I've played enough against Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis to know what it takes to be able to execute that, it's a massive key."I certainly want to take reverse swing to another level - I think Australia have done it pretty well but I think there's a lot more to it and a lot more skill to take it a lot further. That for me is going to be a massive skill over there. To take 20 wickets over there you'll need patience, discipline and skill, but reverse swing will be a massive key to making that happen."