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SYDNEY, Sunday (Reuters) - South African cricket captain Shaun Pollock said his team would benefit from the lessons they learnt during their 3-0 series thrashing by Australia.

Pollock, unable to hide his disappointment at the way his team folded under pressure, said: "I think we've learnt a hell of a lot. If you play against the a top quality side, it's just like in tennis when you're playing against the number one or the number two, you improve as well.

"It's been a disappointing series, there's no shying away from that, but it's all about moving on and trying to improve."

South Africa lost the third test by 10 wickets on Saturday to lose the three-match series 3-0.

Pollock said he had taken heart from his team's performance in the second innings of the final test when they made 452, South Africa's highest ever score at the Sydney Cricket Ground, to avoid an innings defeat after trailing by 400 on the first innings following their dismal 154.

"The first innings was a carry-over of the past two tests," Pollock said.

"The pressure was put on the guys and it's hard to pick yourself up sometimes.

"But in the second innings we discussed quite a few things before we went out, discussed how we wanted to play and it probably does contribute to being able to play with a bit more freedom because you basically have nothing to lose."

Pollock singled out veteran opener Gary Kirsten for special praise after the 34--year-old left hander scored a magnificent 153 to equal Darryl Cullinan's South African record of 14 test centuries and set the highest ever individual score by a South African in Sydney.

"I think Gary was superb, he led the way. He's played a lot of test cricket and he showed us how it should be done."

Pollock dismissed suggestions the controversial selection of black middle-order batsman Justin Ontong had upset team morale. The 21-year-old was not originally chosen by the selectors but was included after South African cricket boss Percy Sonn intervened.

"Obviously it probably would have been less disruption if it had gone a bit smoothly but that's all in the past, that didn't affect the way we played," Pollock said.

"You walk out that morning, you've got your 11 and that's the 11 you're playing with."

Pollock said South Africa's biggest obstacle was dealing with Australia's openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer who shared double-century partnerships in all three tests and scored five individual hundreds between them.

"The major difference between the two sides was those two guys," Pollock said.

"They set the platform for the other guys to come in and play with freedom.

"They played well and it's obviously in our minds to make sure that we get a tactic of getting them out in the future.

The South Africans will remain in Australia for a month-long triangular one-day series which also involves New Zealand before returning home to host the Australians in a return three-match test series. 

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