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Smith backs Jennings
13/02/2005 22:46 - (SA)
Altus Momberg , Die Burger
Pretoria - South Africa's cricket captain, Graeme Smith, has given his support to Ray Jennings as national coach.
Smith said: "Jet (Ray Jennings) is very important, but we will have to wait and see what the United Cricket Board of South Africa decides. It is a difficult situation at present.
"I think Ray is also enjoying his position more now. It is always easier when you win," Smith said.
He was speaking after the Proteas beat England by three wickets in the seventh and final one-day international played at Centurion.
The Proteas won the one-day series 4-1 and are now fourth on the international one-day log.
The UCBSA will advertise the post of national cricket coach this week, and Jenings, who was appointed temporary coach before the Test to India last year, may also apply.
Jennings has re-iterated that he will talk to the
players before deciding whether or not to apply.
The coach said: "It does not help if I waste my time and energy and the people around me do not support me.
"I will talk to the players in the next two or three weeks and ask them, because I am still in the dark at present," Jennings aid.
Both Smith and Jennings were under tremendous pressure after losing the Test series against India and England, but the one-day international victories will have given them some breathing space.
Smith acknowledged that the victory was a huge relief after the past 12 months.
The captain said: "We have definitely taken a step in the right direction and hopefully we will continue in the series against Zimbabwe and the West Indies."
Smith also praised the performance of the South African-born Kevin Pietersen and said he deserved to be named Player of the Series.
Pietersen scored 454 in six innings, which included three centuries and a 50.
However, when Smith was asked whether he was sorry that Pietersen was not playing for South Africa, his response was swift.
"No. He's an Englishman, and we have enough good players in South Africa," he snapped.
English captain Michael Vaughan blamed his team's inexperience for the four consecutive defeats in the one-day series.
Vaughan said that although they had lost four-one, he felt very positive about England's one-day game.
"We pushed a really good South African team all the way on their home turf.
"We did not only learn a lot, but I am also thinking of the impact our team will have with the return of Andrew Flintoff. "We not only missed his big shots, but also his bowling ability," Vaughan said.
Pietersen said he was personally very satisfied with his performance in the series, but very disappointed that his three centuries had not helped England to victory.
"To see the smiles on the boys' faces when I've scored a hundred - it would have been so much better to see their smiles if we had won.
- Die Burger
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