Graeme Smith has to score big runs if South Africa is to do well, says Gary Kirsten - Cricket News Update
Former South African opener and coach of the current Proteas team, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 that the Test captain, Graeme Smith, scores runs in all the three formats of the game.
Smith stepped down from limited-overs captaincy after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and was replaced by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887. However, the left-hander will continue to lead his country in Test cricket.
Kirsten, who himself was a left-handed opening batsman in his playing days, feels that Smith has been a great servant of South African cricket over the years and he has been the captain for a long time now. Kirsten said that it is good that the left-hander
can enjoy himself in limited-overs cricket without any additional responsibility, which should also help him do well with the bat.
The South African coach said, "Graeme has been in that captain's seat for eight years and it takes its toll - it's a lot of responsibility. But it's very important for South African cricket that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 scores a heap of runs."
Kirsten was previously the coach of the Indian team as he helped the Men in Blue clinch the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Cricket World Cup 2011 and also to become the number one Test team of the world during his reign. However, Kirsten decided to call it a day as he wanted to spend
more time with his family back home. The former opener was then offered the coaching role with the national team, which he could not refuse.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598 himself is very keen to do well as a batsman now and is relieved that he does not have to take care of the team in the limited overs cricket anymore. However, the left-hander is ready to help the new captain, wherever he needs him.
"My main role is to provide strength to the batting department, but if http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Allan-Robert-Border-c43726 or Hashim need me, I am an experienced campaigner and I will be there for them. But they are two wonderful cricketers and I'm sure they'll do an outstanding job. Maybe the Proteas
will now win the World Cup with me out of the way," Smith added.
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