South Africa captain Graeme Smith told his side to ”remember the hurt” of their seven-wicket triangular series final defeat against England at Lord’s here on Saturday.
South Africa’s fate was sealed when, after losing the toss, they were bowled out for 107 — their lowest ever one-day international total against England, who coasted home with nearly 30 overs to spare.
Smith, who gathered his players around him on the outfield after the match finished, told reporters: ”I wanted to say something before it was too late. I told them to remember how bad it feels.â€
”We’ve come a long way in this series. We’ve played some fantastic cricket and some bad cricket.
”We were beaten comprehensively today and I told the players to remember the hurt.”
Jacques Rudolph top scored with in an innings where only former Captain Shaun Pollock (18) and debutant Morne van Wyk (17) got past 11.
Fast bowler Darren Gough, the man-of-the-match, led England’s attack with a miserly return of two wickets for nine runs in seven overs.
”I can’t tell you what happened,” said Smith, who made seven, when asked to explain South Africa’s poor batting display.
”The English bowled well. They got the ball in the right areas. There was definitely a little bit of juice in the wicket early on.
”Every shot we played at we nicked,” said Smith, who added that he would have bowled first if he’d won the toss.
Smith (22), South Africa’s youngest-ever captain, continued: ”In the series the team batting first has won only once, when we beat Zimbabwe at Canterbury [by 46 runs]. Early on there’s always been a lot of juice in the wickets.”
However, Smith insisted the Lord’s wicket was not responsible for South Africa’s defeat. ”I’m not blaming the pitch,” Smith said emphatically.
And he maintained the pressure of playing at Lord’s, perhaps cricket’s most historic venue, had not got to his side.
”There was no Lord’s factor. We dealt with that last night [at practice] and got a feel for the ground.”
South Africa has a five Test series against England starting at Edgbaston on July 24.
And Smith said the influence of the likes of Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie, and Charl Willoughby, who all missed the one-dayers but who have been selected for the Test squad, would be a boost to the tourists.
”To be bowled out for 107 and end like this doesn’t feel good.
We’ve got a lot of one-day cricket in the year ahead of us and
we’ve got to learn from this.
”We’ve got fresh faces coming and they’ll bring a new feel. The guys need to relax a bit. There’s been a lot of travelling.
”We start at Somerset next week [South Africa have a three-day match at Taunton beginning on Tuesday] and we’ve got to get straight into our Test disciplines,” explained Smith.
”That will be the key to our success.”
Before the first Test South Africa have another first-class fixture, against India A at Arundel, starting on July 19. – Sapa-AFP