South Africa captain Graeme Smith admitted that Lord’s, where the Proteas face England in Saturday’s triangular series final, was a ”little bit intimidating”.
Smith at 22, South Africa’s youngest ever captain, told reporters at the historic ground here Friday: ”It’s fantatstic. It’s a little bit intimidating. I didn’t expect it to be as big as it is.â€
”A lot of guys, myself included, haven’t been to Lord’s before,” left-handed opening batsman Smith added.
The actual playing surface is famous for a slope across the ground which can affect bowlers’ run-ups and choice of ends.
But Smith said: ”We’ve done a little bit of research. There are slopes everywhere in England. The one at Hove was the worst I’ve seen in my life.”
And Smith added that South Africa’s practice session at Lord’s on Friday would help calm any nerves.
”The guys will see the ground today and that will help them deal with these emotions and help them come to terms with it and maybe even inspire them.”
South Africa have lost two of their three previous series matches against England and Smith said: ”We always said England were favourites because they knew the conditions.
”But that’s gone now, that’s in the past. We’re not out for revenge.”
Shaun Pollock, the man Smith replaced as captain after South Africa’s first round World Cup exit on home soil, has been economical with the new ball. But he has so far failed to take the wickets his accuracy has deserved.
”It’s been a bit frustrating. Every time you go out you want wickets,” said Pollock (29) one of a handful of South African tourists with previous experience of English conditions.
”I want five for five [wickets in an innings] every time.â€
‘Makhaya Ntini has got most of the wickets. But as long as I’m doing a job for the side and we’re taking wickets as a strike partnership, that’s important.â€
”At some stage it will turn. I’ve been around long enough to know it will turn.
”The important thing is not to get too frustrated,” Pollock added.
His four series wickets come at an average of 43,75 but his economy rate has seen his 54 tournament overs cost just over three runs apiece.
”And you couldn’t ask for a better stage for it to turn,” said Pollock, who also played English county cricket for Warwickshire. Pollock also had some words of advice for his fellow-all rounder Andrew Flintoff, whose performances with both bat and ball have been central to England’s march to the final.
”It does get difficult doing well with both bat and ball. I’ve been lucky on the batting side,” explained Pollock, who classed himself as a bowling all-rounder.
”Fred [Flintoff] is batting at number five and bowling well. He’s doing a great job for England. Let him get on with it and do what he does best.
”There’s always a lot of pressure on him being talked about as he new Ian Botham.”
South Africa lost to England by four wickets at Edgbaston on Tuesday but Smith said he was banking on his team’s developing resilience to put things right on Saturday.
”On the field there have been ups and downs, and I’m sure they’ll be many more,” Smith insisted.
”The way we bounced back, we’ve spoken about things and then the next game it’s come right. It’s about putting our team sessions into our game, playing to our ability and getting our basics right.
”Hopefully, we can get those things right tomorrow.” – Sapa-AFP