Proteas chase Aussies Test double
National captain Graeme Smith believes the time has arrived for the South African Castle Test squad to complete the home and away double over Australia. But he cautioned that a lot of hard work would be needed to do the second half of the job.
“We got a lot of confidence out of Australia and you can sense that confidence in the dressing room,” commented Smith at his captain's press conference at the Liberty Life Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday. I
But he cautioned against getting carried away by the success 'down under'. “There is a very brief turnaround to enjoy what happened in Australia and now it is a case of feet back on the ground and getting down to the job again. There is an opportunity for Australia to turn things around but we would like to keep taking strides forward. Our focus is on playing better cricket than Australia in this series. If we can beat Australia, it will be a comprehensive beating of Australia home and away which is something we very much want to achieve. They were able to achieve it home and away for a period of time. We feel we are capable of doing it but it is going to take some tough work.”
Smith added that, if his team gained the No. 1 ranking by beating Australia again, it would be reflection of the results over the past 18 months and a reward for the hard work that had been put in and the sacrifices that had been made.
“It is a sign of the success we have had if we get there (to No. 1). We can basically look ourselves in the face and say we deserve to be there. We have won on every continent over the last period of time and I think it is a really satisfying feeling for any team and for any player. But it is still a very long way away and we know Australia are really competitive with world-class players and they are not going to give it to us easily.
“It is a series we are looking forward to. I wouldn't say the No. 1 ranking is the most important thing on our minds. It is about playing good cricket at the Liberty Life Wanderers and, if we look after the little things, the big things will take care of themselves.”
South Africa will take the same XI into the field that played in all three Test matches in Australia.
On the domestic front the SuperSport Series resumes on Thursday with the Nashua Titans at home to the Nashua Dolphins at Benoni, the Chevrolet Warriors playing the bizhub Highveld Lions at Sahara Oval St. George's and the Nashua Cape Cobras up against the Gestetner Diamond Eagles at Sahara Park Newlands.
