Smith wants batsmen to cash in

2005-12-23 21:08

Christo Buchner

Melbourne - The South African cricket team will have to take the momentum it showed on the last day of the first Test into the second Test starting on Monday.

The apparent uncertainty in the Australian camp will have to be exploited by Graeme Smith and his players.

That is why they will have to get the upper hand at the magnificent Melbourne Cricket Ground from the start and make the Aussies doubt their abilities even more.

Ricky Ponting's team were clearly caught on the wrong foot by the fighting spirit the South Africans showed in the first Test.

They have become accustomed to their opponents just capitulating and were flustered by the spirit the Proteas showed during their fightback at the Waca.

Cannon fodder

Smith has already sent out the message that his team is not here to become cannon fodder.

"We believe we can compete with the Aussies," Smith said. Not arrogantly, but confidently.

"We do have to improve our fielding and we also have to be more patient in our first innings than we were in Perth.

"It is important to pass the 400 mark. In Perth we made the mistake of not pushing it after we had made a solid start.

"I will not be satisfied with anything less than 400," he added. "On his home ground Shane Warne will be a threat, but we are not scared and he needs to know this."

Pressure is on the Aussies

The South African captain again stressed that the pressure of losing lay heavily on the mind of the Aussie team.

"They most definitely are no longer the established team they used to be and there are some cracks we have to exploit."

In spite of Brad Hodge's double century there are still questions about the quality of the Aussie middle-order and the bowling attack no longer pose the threat of years gone by.

- Beeld