South African cricket captain Graeme Smith conceded on Wednesday that the national team lacked a genuine strike bowler on their recent tour of Pakistan and admitted that ”one or two places are up for grabs” for the West Indies tour.
The South Africans returned to the country on Wednesday from their month-long tour where they won the one-day series 3-2 but lost the Test series 1-0.
”I was really impressed with how the seamers performed on those tracks,” said Smith, ”but I think we did need a guy with genuine pace who can make something happen on tracks that aren’t particularly helpful.”
As was the case in England during the winter tour, the South Africans struggled to bowl out the opposition twice and appeared bereft of ideas when it came to countering the Pakistani onslaught during the one-day international (ODI) series.
Both Smith and coach Eric Simons have made the selectors aware of their concerns and are looking to domestic performances to bolster weak spots in the side ahead of the Windies’ arrival in December.
”There are one or two spots that we are not entirely happy with and positions are up for grabs,” added Smith.
The South African performance, however, should be viewed in light of the circumstances in which the tour took place.
Initially the tour was called off but pressure from the International Cricket Council (ICC) saw the South Africans embark on a revised tour a week late amid massive security.
”We went straight into the ODIs after last playing a limited overs match two months before,” explained Smith.
”We were rusty on a lot of disciplines, like at-the-death bowling. But that came right by the end of the series.
”Then, after the ODIs we had to play the Test series without even a four-day tour match in between.”
Security and a revised schedule apart, the South Africans also suffered the wrath of the ICC.
All-rounder Andrew Hall was banned from playing the last ODI fixture and both Test matches after an altercation with Yousuf Youhana while Smith missed the final ODI game after expressing himself rather inappropriately.
In response to the crackdown, Smith called for consistency in future ICC rulings.
”It must apply across the board,” said Smith. ”Our guys were banned for doing stuff we used to get away with.” — Sapa