Sehwag's highest score in the series was only 18

"We are working on the basics and Test cricket is a different game so I hope we will do well," he said of the three Test matches, starting on 15 December.

"We need some good batting in the practice matches which I hope we will then take into the Test series.

"We were short of 50 runs today because it was a good track in the afternoon."

Sehwag revealed that he would have batted first, but admitted he was surprised by the early assistance South Africa's seamers found from the Centurion surface.

"Early in the morning there was a little bit of moisture and the ball was moving around," he said. "But we didn't bat very well.

The stand-in skipper added that his bowling attack faced a formidable task with only 200 runs to defend.

"Our bowlers did a great job in the last three games but today we didn't have the runs on the board. They still tried hard and hopefully will do well in the Test series."

The first of the three Tests is in Johannesburg, with matches in Durban and Cape Town to follow.