The Proteas will treat the Test series as if they were playing the best team in the world, was captain Graeme Smith’s promise ahead of the first Test at St George’s Park on Wednesday.
Smith, who will be captaining South Africa in a Test match for the 50th time, downplayed suggestions that South Africa did not have a good record at St George’s Park.
”It’s fair to say we haven’t played our best cricket down here in Port Elizabeth, but that doesn’t mean we can’t play good cricket,” he told journalists on Monday.
”The thing is we know we’re capable of playing well around the world. We’ve proved that, having beaten Pakistan in their own country, and having beaten New Zealand so convincingly at home. We know that we’re a tough team to beat at home, and hopefully we can prove that over the next five days, starting on Boxing Day.”
He believed the West Indies would provide some entertaining cricket during the series.
”They’ve got an exciting bowling attack. It’s obviously young, and there are some very good fast bowlers around, so I think it will be exciting to see how the fast bowlers on both sides do over the summer.
”There’s a bit of inexperience in their batting. Chris [Gayle] and Shiv [Shivnarine Chanderpaul] are the two experienced guys who will have to take a lot of responsibility. But you can’t afford to take anyone for granted. It just takes one performance here and there to put you on the back foot.
”So we will prepare as if we were playing the best team in the world and we’ll give them the respect they deserve.
”We just want to keep on improving in our game, and getting better and better, and if we do, I’m pretty confident that once we get into the series, we can take control of it.”
Smith said South Africa would almost definitely play the spinner, Paul Harris, in the first Test. ”I think it’s important we develop our spinner and give him responsibility in all conditions.
”With tours to India, England and Australia next year, he’s going to play an important part. He’s played an important part in our setup, and I wouldn’t like to leave him out. It will take a very, very green wicket for the selection panel to leave him out.”
Smith said he was recovering well from the virus he picked up during the tour of Pakistan.
”I’m feeling much better now,” he said. ”I’ve had a good rest, and I started training again about a week ago. I’m feeling more energised, and that’s a good feeling after battling through the New Zealand tour.
”We’ve also rested some of the other guys ahead of the busy season we have ahead of us, and we’re all feeling mentally ready for this series.” – Sapa