Graeme Smith confident of success in Cape Town Test
South African captain Graeme Smith is looking forward to the third and final test match against the Indians that is set to decide the battle for the number one spot in the longest format of the game.
The test starts at the picturesque Newlands tomorrow. The venue is one of the favourites of the South African team; they enjoy a good record at the ground located next to the Table Mountain.
The South Africans started the series on a positive note recording a comfortable innings victory at Centurion’s Super sport park. However, it all went pear shaped at Durban’s Kingsmead as the Indians made an outstanding comeback, winning
the test by 87 runs.
The onus is now on Smith’s men to fight back and avoid a series defeat to a team that has never won a test match series in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757.
"Playing here is one of the highlights of our year. The ground is looking magnificent, and the nets are the best I have seen in a very long time." The pitch is not expected to provide as much assistance for the bowlers as the previous
two pitches, but Smith still expects it to do a little bit more than in previous years. "We know well it will have a bit more of bounce and carry than some of the other Newlands wickets we have played on."
Meanwhile the second test was marred by a confrontation between Smith and Indian fast bowler Shiv Sreesanth, the feisty Sreesanth has a reputation of sledging and was once slapped by his own teammate Harbhajan Singh after he provoked him
during the first season of the Indian Premier League.
Sreesanth was shown the bat in an offensive manner by Smith after he allegedly used foul language against him and his family.
The opener was then dismissed by the same bowler as he top edged an attempted hook shot that was easily taken by Indian wicket-keeper and Captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mahendra-Singh-Dhoni-c73820.
Smith claimed that he and the rest of his squad were capable of dealing with sledging and that they regard it as part of the game. "You get used to it. In my 90 Tests, I don't think I have played many Tests where there hasn't been an aggressive
vibe in the field, I think when you start bringing people's families into it, it gets a little bit like crossing over the line."
"There is a lot of respect from both teams. It's one individual that has caused a few hassles and maybe crossed the line in certain ways."
Smith on the other hand was also perturbed with his batsmen’s performance in the Durban test.
He claimed that the batsmen did not apply themselves in the match at all especially in the first innings and that was the reason for the demise of the team. "In Durban we lost our minds a little bit. Hopefully we can gather our strength,
the top six especially, for this Test."
The two camps are aiming to exploit each other’s weaknesses in a bid to push for a win, the wicket is set to have some pace and bounce but would be flatter compared to the wicket at the Kingsmead. The hosts are set to retain the same team
that played in the second test, while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Murali-Vijay-c78035.
Gambhir sat out of the second test due to a back injury, yet has recovered and would be opening the innings with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429.
The swashbuckling Sehwag has not fired in the series yet and would be hoping that he turns the table next to the table mountain.
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