Smith should have returned

2008-09-09 17:11

Johannesburg - South Africa cricket captain Graeme Smith revealed in his latest Bigstarcricket.com internet diary that he should have returned home from the England tour with his elbow injury a month sooner than he did.

Smith, whose unbeaten 154 at Edgbaston in the third Test led the Proteas to their first Test series win in England since 1965, feels he should have flown home after that match rather than have carried on for the fourth Test and the majority of the one-day series.

"I played with pain killers from the time we landed and it was about biting the bullet and getting out on the field," Smith said.

"Sometimes I hardly trained and just did enough to prepare myself mentally for matches.

"After my hundred at Edgbaston that's when the pain really became terrible and I should probably have called it a day then, but when you are captain it can be difficult to let go - you feel responsible for the team. It got so bad I had to change my grip on the bat handle just to find a way of relieving the pain.

"There is a chance this injury may hinder me further but I am hoping it will go and won't come back again after rest and the rehab in the gym now I am back home. I had a cortisone injection in the tendon and I'm trying to stay away from surgery at this time.

- SAPA