There are enough statistics around to encourage Australia ahead of their three-Test series against world No.1 South Africa starting in Brisbane next Friday.

For starters, victories in six of their past seven Tests.

Not losing any of their five series under skipper Michael Clarke since their shattering 3-1 Ashes defeat in November, 2010.

Twenty-four years since Australia last lost a Gabba Test.

But one number almost makes them irrelevant ahead of the world No.3’s looming showdown with the Proteas in Brisbane – 47.

In a brutal, sustained display of pace bowling, South Africa routed Australia in the second innings in Cape Town just 12 months ago for that measly total – their lowest in 109 years.

The hosts went on to romp to an eight-wicket first Test win on the third day at Newlands.

A week later the visitors dug deep to square the series with a two-wicket victory in Johannesburg in a Test that briefly announced Australian quick Pat Cummins’ arrival.

But the nightmare at Newlands will be hard to exorcise for Australia.

Especially ahead of a pivotal opening Test against the same South African pace attack that broke hearts in Cape Town on what is expected to be a lively Gabba deck.

Indeed a Gabba goring looms if Australia’s batsmen have not seen the light after one of the darkest chapters in their Test history.

Six survivors from the Australian team that at one stage slumped to 9-21 at Newlands have been included in the first Test squad.

However, Australia’s batsmen will be more worried about who is returning for South Africa.

Speed demons Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel will all look to resume tormenting Australia on a pitch that would have most Shield quicks licking their lips, let alone three of the world’s top 10 Test bowlers.

World No.1 Steyn needs no introduction to Australian crowds while No.2 Philander has already made a name for himself after reaching 50 wickets in only seven Tests – the second-fastest ever rate in history.

Philander made his Test debut at Newlands, nabbing match figures of 8-78 including a second-innings haul of 5-15 in a man-of-the-match performance.

Yet Australia have not been beaten at the Gabba since 1988.

And of the 54 Tests played there, the hosts have lost just eight.

But the stats will matter little to a Proteas side boasting a pace battery rivalling the West Indies arsenal that last drew blood in Brisbane 24 years ago.

The last time Australia played a Test against South Africa at the Gabba, Richie Benaud was in cricketing whites rather than pastels.

Back in 1963, captain Benaud took the last of his 16 five-wicket hauls as he began his final Test series with a draw against a South African side boasting the likes of Eddie Barlow and brothers Graeme and Peter Pollock.

Forty-nine years later, Benaud will be happy to be out of harm’s way in the commentators’ box as South Africa unleashes a pace attack that fast bowling great Allan “White Lightning” Donald believes is the country’s best ever.

Australia’s batsmen will no doubt be feeling very different emotions to Benaud.

Especially their veterans Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting, whose future will again come under the microscope if they maintain their poor recent record against the Proteas.

Against Steyn, Morkel and Philander, Hussey has scored 106 runs at just 9.64.

And fellow 37-year-old Ponting made just 62 runs at 17.50 in that last series against South Africa after a nasty habit of shuffling across his stumps was exposed by a string of LBWs, extending a Test century drought that lasted two years.

Indeed Australia only have captain Michael Clarke (sixth) in the world’s top 10 batsmen rankings.

South Africa have four, including three in the top five – No.2 Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis (3rd) and AB de Villiers (4th).

The Proteas have the fear factor, especially with another pace-friendly deck expected for the series finale in Perth from November 30 after the second Test in Adelaide (November 22-26).

But Australia can argue they have the fast bowling depth.

Apart from their fearsome trio, South Africa have only brought uncapped quick Rory Kleinveldt as back-up.

In contrast, Australia are in the enviable position of contemplating which speedster to cut for Brisbane – Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus or James Pattinson.

Cummins, Ryan Harris, Jackson Bird, Josh Hazlewood and Ben Cutting will also hope to soon feature in the fast bowler rotation.

Googling “cric info” then “numbers game” will also bring a smile to Clarke’s face.

The stat-savvy blog notes that in Tests since February 2011 South Africa’s fast bowlers have snared 168 wickets in 11 matches at 24.61.

But Australia are a close second with 186 scalps in 14 at 24.70.

More of the same from Australia this summer won’t erase that horror stat from November 2011.

However, it may just earn a more pleasing one by series end – the world No.1 Test ranking.

AA