South African cricket coach Eric Simons says he won’t resign as coach, despite South Africa’s failure to reach the semifinals of the ICC Champions tournament in the United Kingdom.
Simons said on Tuesday that he still believes that South Africa can turn around from the present slump they are in, but he will never walk away from the challenge facing South African cricket.
”it is an incredible challenge that we do face,” he said, ”but it is one we believe we can overcome.”
Simons said he has had long discussions with the president of the United Cricket Board (UCB), Ray Mali, and the chief executive, Gerald Majola, and further discussions will be held by the National Cricket Council (NCC) at the end of September.
”I think South African cricket accepts that solutions have to be found to end the run of bad form that we’ve had. Those discussions will take place at the NCC and whatever they might decide will be accepted. But from my perspective, I still believe I’ve got a job to do,” he said.
Earlier, Mali welcomed the team back and made it clear that Simons and captain Graeme Smith have the backing of the UCB.
”It is up to us as the South African team to stand up and fight,” he said. ”We have always been noted as people who give their best when they’re in a tight corner, and I believe we’re capable of doing that.”
Simons said he thought the main problem was that the team lacked confidence after tough tours to New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
”Every time we got into a tight situation, they had an extra gear and we didn’t,” he explained. ”From my side, there’s almost a lack of self-belief. When we get into a situation where we can close a game out, we just don’t do it.”
Smith said the squad had worked very hard and had been very motivated to do well.
”I think we tried too hard at times,” he said. ”There seems to be almost a fear among the guys. We get into winning positions, but we don’t have that confidence and ruthlessness really to drive it home.
”You feel the pressure a lot easier than when things are going well. If you’ve lost eight matches in a row, and you’re in a tight situation, the thing that goes through your mind is ‘we can’t afford to lose this’, instead of ‘we’re going to win this game’.”
The players return to their franchises and will be playing in the Supersport Series before the tour to India in November. Simons said the break will give the national players the opportunity to get their form and their confidence back. It will also give other players the opportunity to force their way into the side. — Sapa