|
Relaxed Proteas confident
26/11/2006 07:05 - (SA)
Cape Town - The Proteas are relaxed and feeling confident after their comprehensive victory over India at Kingsmead on Wednesday, but they will be taking nothing for granted in their MTN one-day international (ODI) at Newlands on Sunday.
That was the view of captain Graeme Smith when he spoke to journalists on Saturday.
"We're relaxed because we're well prepared," he said. "We've built up our confidence over the past two years. But we take nothing for granted. We have worked very hard over the last two days.
"The first 10 or 15 overs will be key, whether we bat or bowl, to really set things up again.
"We'd like to get a good partnership going in the first 10 or 15 overs. That was one of the reasons for our success over the past two years, where the top three or four set up a lot of games for us, and allowed five, six and seven - even eight - to come in and attack in the last 15 or 20 overs."
Proteas not complacent
Smith said he wasn't concerned about his own apparent lack of form.
"I've played five games in the last four months, and I just need some time in the middle. I've been feeling good in the nets, and it's just about getting it right in the middle now. Herschelle (Gibbs) is in pretty much the same stage, and if we can get a start, it's important that we cash in."
He said the Proteas were not complacent after their win on Wednesday.
"I think India were a little under-cooked. They came in quite late - I think they had just one day before their first match. We had rain in Johannesburg, and no nets, and a bit of rain and delayed flights in Durban, so I think they went in quite cold. But I would think they've worked very hard in the build-up to this game, and they'll be determined to bounce back. So we're definitely not taking them for granted."
South Africa have named the same 12 players for Sunday's match, and will decide overnight whether or not to play a spin bowler.
Smith said he thought the pitch was fairly dry, but would offer good bounce.
India have another injury concern - bowler Munaf Patel has an ankle injury, and will not play on Sunday.
Indian captain Rahul Dravid said it was still not clear whether opening batsman Virender Sehwag would be fit to play.
Sehwag sustained a serious finger injury before the first match, and has not played yet.
Dravid dismissed reports that his team had come in for severe criticism after their loss on Wednesday.
"We know we need to play better," he said. "We don't need criticism as a motivation to perform better. There's lots of energy and enthusiasm in the team, and we are all very proud to play for our country. We know we have very emotional fans who get very upset when we don't do well, but I believe we are focussed and determined to perform better."
Teams: South Africa - Graeme Smith (capt), Jacques Kallis, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Robin Peterson.
India - (from) Rahul Dravid (capt ), Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammed Kaif, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Dhoni, Dinesh Mongia, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, Irfan Pathan, Verender Sehwag, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.
- SAPA
|
