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Smith at a loss to explain SA performance
South Africa captain Graeme Smith was at a loss to explain his team’s abject performance as they crashed to a 208-run loss at the hands of Sri Lanka at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday as the Islanders claimed their first test win on South African soil.
The Proteas’ defeat was particularly humbling as Sri Lanka have endured a miserable run of form, having not won for 15 tests heading into the Durban clash, and having just come off an innings and 81-run defeat in the first test of the series.
Smith was stumped to explain how his team managed to lose in four days on a wicket which did not provide as much assistance to South Africa’s pace attack as they have become used to this summer.
“We didn’t match their skills on this type of surface, we were outplayed in the game. I wish I had a better excuse but they were just better than us,” a visibly disappointed Smith said after the game.
“I’m not making excuses about the pitch. They played better than us. There was not as much carry for the seamers as we have got used to over the last few games and we didn’t adapt well enough. It’s as simple as that,” he explained.
South Africa suffered a number of horrendous batting collapses during the match. In their first innings, when they were shot out for 168 on a pitch tailor-made for batting, they lost their first three wickets for 27 runs while their middle-order crashed when losing five wickets for 19 runs.
Matters did not improve in their second innings and after lunch on the fourth day the hosts lost four for 28. Smith made no excuses for his team’s poor batting efforts.
“The way we prepared was excellent, our training sessions were competitive. We just didn’t get it together at all throughout the game. When you get bowled out for 168 you are always behind the eight ball. You are playing catch up. Today was another disappointing day from a batting perspective.
“We haven’t started well after breaks in this test match. I wish I could put my finger on it and tell you why but I don’t have an answer for you. It’s just not good enough and we have got to improve,” said Smith.
QUESTIONS ABOUT TEAM MAKE-UP
Questions will be asked about the make-up of South Africa’s playing XI but South Africa’s selectors have opted to keep faith with the same squad for the third test starting in Cape Town on January 3.
Ashwell Prince, after scores of seven and 11 in Durban, may well be dropped for the decisive test with Jacques Rudolph shifting from his opening berth to number six in the order with opener Alviro Petersen earning a recall.
A fit-again Vernon Philander will almost certainly replace fast bowler Marchant de Lange. Sections of the media and supporters may call for wholesale changes but Smith said any changes would be down to the selectors and coach Gary Kirsten.
“When you lose, the debate starts, it’s been there throughout the season but it’s the selectors' call and it depends on where they see the team going with Gary. But it’s not just for one test but for the next six months against New Zealand and England as well,” said Smith.
The South African camp may be all doom and gloom at the moment but there was no disguising the glee in the Sri Lanka team.
Tillakaratne Dilshan won his first test as skipper after 11 attempts and put his team’s performance down to them having stuck to their own brand of cricket.
“This is one of the great wins in Sri Lankan test history. I’ve waited for six months for this moment and I am going to celebrate tonight,” he laughed.
Dilshan said that his team had been motivated by comments from former South Africa captain Kepler Wessels who said before the tour that South Africa A would beat Sri Lanka.
“We would like to thank him. His comments really motivated us,” said Dilshan.
