Australian pace spearhead Glenn McGrath won't change his hunting methods when he meets South Africa next week despite his poor haul against New Zealand.

Australian cricket coach John Buchanan said McGrath would stick with the same strategies which had made him among the world's best bowlers, even though the Kiwis blunted his venom.

McGrath suffered an uncharacteristic slump in the recent three Test series against New Zealand, notching only five wickets at an average of 65.4.

The Kiwis claimed they beat the right-armer with patience, letting his probing deliveries outside off stump simply pass through to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. That took away McGrath's most lethal trap - a wicketkeeper and slips cordon waiting for the likely nicks from uncertain batsmen.

But Buchanan said McGrath wouldn't change his ways against South Africa when the teams chased the title of Test cricket's best team in their three-match series, starting at Adelaide on December 14.

"Glenn's approach won't be significantly different," Buchanan said today.

"(New Zealand) did play well in their overall strategy against our two key bowlers - Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

"But, by the end of the third Test, and even before that, (Glenn) was bowling very, very well.

"When he was bowling we were able to exert pressure and work the bowling partnerships."

Buchanan said McGrath was a victim of his own standards, wearing the spotlight any time he was unable to maintain his hectic wicket-taking rate.

The 31-year-old sits second on Australia's all-time list with 363 wickets from 78 Tests, behind only Warne (413).

McGrath's strike rate is even better than that of the great Dennis Lillee, and he has a proven record for fighting back after mixed series.

His returns in his most recent series have hardly been worrying.

Before the New Zealand series, McGrath outwitted England (32 wickets at 16.94), India (17 at 15.35), West Indies (21 at 17.10) and India (18 at 13.78).

His record against South Africa doesn't match his overall rate, taking 23 wickets in eight Tests at 28.52, but Buchanan expected him to trouble the Proteas this summer.

It's been a frustrating summer for McGrath, who struggled to take wickets in two Pura Cup matches for NSW before the Tests.

But Buchanan dismissed that as coincidental, recalling that McGrath had little preparation heading into the first-class summer.

© 2001 AAP