South Africa captain Graeme Smith mocks the visiting Indian squad ahead of the second Test
The Centurion Test’s triumphant South African skipper Graeme Smith has taken a swing at the visiting Indian side by saying that his team would have done better had they been put in a similar situation as India (referring to their
rather humiliating 136 all-out run in the first innings) in the first Test of the three-Test series.
Smith said, “I still believe that we could have handled that situation better. I would like to insist that wicket was helping bowlers when we batted for first 40-odd overs. Then wicket flattened out on 2nd day after tea and then
on to 3rd day. But certainly we would have done better on that wicket."
Smith’s remarks come just days before the second Test match at Kingsmead, Durban. The Proteas skipper is hoping to put the Indians under pressure before taking the field on Sunday. Smith is aware of the fact that it is going to
be very difficult for the Indians to bounce back in the triple Test series and the way the South Africans pulverised the visitors in the first Test by an innings and twenty five runs, there is no doubt that the Indians will be taking the burden of defeat with
them in the second Test.
Smith is upbeat about his team’s chances in the Boxing Day Test and feels that his side is pretty relaxed and will give a commendable performance. He said, “Look we have won [the] last Test match by an innings and 25 runs. So we
have lot of positives to take from that match. We are certainly going to take that confidence with us in the second Test match. On the other side doubts will certainly creep into the Indian team. But we aren't thinking too far ahead. We are focusing on the
process and preparing well for this match."
Smith, however, acknowledged the fact that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s squad will not be easy to beat and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 will come out all guns blazing at the hosts this time because it’s a do-or-die situation for them. "I expect much more fight
back from the India team. They have loads of experience. They will come out fighting in this Test match especially in the batting department. Don't forget this if fight between top two teams in Test cricket," he said.
Smith believes that once India’s experienced top-order batting line-up is sent back to the pavilion, specifically http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429, who was a much abler opposition in the second innings of the 1st Test, the lower order
will have no chance against the South African bowlers. Speaking of Sehwag, the South African captain said: "That's the way Sehwag plays. He backs his ability and if he gets going then he takes the game away from the opposition. But like in the first innings
at Centurion, if we can knock Sehwag out early on, then things change for us. If we can make early inroads, then we can test [the] lower order on relatively new ball. That is going to be a huge challenge for us to restrict Sehwag from giving flying start for
his team."
Let’s see if http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 manage to triumph over the visiting team with the same apparent ease as shown in the first innings of the first Test, or if Dhoni’s men finally showcase the cricket supremacy they are renowned the world
over for. All will be revealed this Sunday.
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