The captains of the South African and England cricket teams said after the first Standard Bank one-day international at the Wanderers on Sunday that the toss had been a very important element of the game.
England won the match by 26 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis formula, after torrential rain prevented any play after four o’clock in the afternoon. England won the toss and sent South Africa in to bat.
”We would also have bowled first, if we’d won the toss,” said South African captain Graeme Smith. ”The ball was certainly doing more in the morning. We knew the wicket was soft, and would be difficult to play freely on. We didn’ t expect it to do as much as we did — it was almost like a Test match wicket.
”But having said that, there were some loose shots, and we let ourselves down with too many soft dismissals, and put ourselves under extra pressure. I think we did well to get 175 in the end. Another 30 or 40 runs would have been a more competitive total,” he said.
”England bowled well, they didn’t bowl much that was short, and so there wasn’t much release and so, coupled with losing wickets, we were under pressure all the time.
”But we bowled well, and put them under pressure as well. It was just the five overs before the rain started that we let up a bit, and released the pressure.”
He said it was disappointing to have lost the first match, particularly as the team had not played to its potential.
”We will have to pick ourselves up, and get back to basics ahead of the next match. We all have a lot of work to do before the next game.”
Smith, who made just one run, said he would probably continue to open the batting throughout the series. ”I enjoy opening the batting — I enjoy the new ball. I think I’ll probably be opening for the rest of the series, although it may be open to discussion.”
He said he did not know if there would be any changes to the team for the second match in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
”The selectors choose the team. I will have some discussion with Haroon Lorgat [convenor of selectors], but it’s up to them to choose the team. I have to believe in every person who takes the field.”
The England captain, Michael Vaughan, said he thought England deserved their victory.
”We were in a pretty comfortable position when the rain came. I thought the toss was quite crucial. The wicket certainly did a lot more this morning.
”There was a little bit of a panic when we had lost three wickets [for 44 runs], but we also knew that we were one partnership away from winning.”
Vaughan had plenty of praise for his bowlers. ”I think they did an excellent job, especially Kabir Ali, who was playing his first full game. I thought our energy
levels in the field were excellent as well — that’s crucial in these parts, with big grounds.”
Vaughan also praised South African-born Kevin Pietersen, who shared an undefeated fourth wicket partnership of 58 runs with him.
”He was very nervous for the first four or five balls. But he’s got a very special talent.
”The crowd booed him, and he can expect more of the same over the next six games, but it didn’t seem to worry him.”
The England management announced on Sunday that bowler Simon Jones would return to England on Tuesday, because Stephen Harmison’s calf injury was
responding well to treatment. – Sapa