Shane Warne will bring up a century of Tests when he takes the field for Australia against South Africa at Newlands. He is theseventh Australian and 25th player in history to notch up a century of Test caps.

Warne said that reaching the 100-mark was a more significant landmark than his 436 Test wickets.

"I've always looked as statistics as something which are nice when they come along," said Warne, "but 100 Tests is special."

"It shows longevity, that I've been able to get up when the chips are down and that I've played through the pain barrier a few times."

Warne said he had improved his Test batting and fielding - and he was better at his main speciality too.

"My bowling has improved each year," he said. "I understand it so much better now – the what, when and why of bowling. I know what to bowl, when to bowl it and why I am trying to bowl a particular ball. When I started out I just tried to rip big leg-breaks all the time and never really had a plan."

Warne said he had under-achieved as a batsman in his early career - "I just went out and slogged everything" - but had become more disciplined.

"Batting at No. 8 with guys like Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist at six or seven, it is important to stay around. Those guys are capable of getting big hundreds."

Warne quipped that he would like to make a century in his 100th Test. "I gassed it last time," he admitted, referring to a slog to midwicket when he had 99 against New Zealand in Perth in December.

Warne said his slip fielding skills were the result of hard work. "Myself and Mark Waugh at first and second slip have proved to be as good as anyone in the world," he said.

Warne singled out his third Test, against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1992, as his favourite. "They were about 120 for two chasing 180 to win and we came from nowhere to win." Warne took three for 11, his first significant contribution at Test level.

His worst memories are a toss-up between losing by one run against the West Indies in Adelaide in 1992-93 and losing to India in Calcutta last year. India had been been 200 behind Australia's first innings total with four second innings wickets down, including that of India's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

Warne said his duels with Tendulkar had been the most memorable of his career, although he said he had "really enjoyed" his encounters with South Africa's Daryll Cullinan. He was sorry Cullinan had pulled out of the South African team for Newlands because of a row over money.

"That would have been like a Christmas bonus," he said of the batsman he always reckoned he could get out, "if our quick bowlers didn't get him out first."

Warne said his philosophy was to enjoy each day of his cricket. Referring to the sacking of the Waugh twins, Steve and Mark, from Australia's one-day team, he said: "What happened to the Waugh twins emphasises the point that you don't know when your international career is going to end."

"The three Ws of Australian cricket have been together for 10 years," said Warne. "It will be a strange feeling when the one-dayers come around on this tour and Junior (Mark) and Stephen are not around. Nothing lasts forever and you've got to enjoy each game while you can."

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