Q&A: Graeme Smith
2008-09-03 14:03
Rob Houwing
Cape Town - Proteas captain Graeme Smith spoke candidly on Wednesday about the way ahead for South African cricket following the violently mixed bag of results on the England tour - including succession plans for his captaincy portfolio.
At a Newlands press conference, he described "a hot-air balloon that burst" after the Test series triumph, his near-constant battle to hold personal injury demons at bay, why he may have to start using a lighter bat, and Kevin Pietersen's role in England's revival.
These were the questions specifically posed by Sport24 chief writer Rob Houwing to the national captain, with his responses...
Sport24: To what extent is South Africa's one-day woe in England going to undo the surge in spirits taken out of the Test series triumph, with a view to "Mission Australia" at year's end?
Smith: We obviously always want to perform well. Some people have pretty short-term memories and of course we'd like them to remember exactly what we did achieve in the Test series. Obviously what has happened subsequently is disappointing. But in terms of the team itself, if anything it's a realisation that we've lost some major elements of our ODI set-up. Replacing a guy like Shaun (Pollock) who provided so much control in our one-day (game plan) was never going to happen quickly. His all-round abilities meant so much: his tight bowling, lengthening our batting, finishing off games. Some of the young guys in the one-day set-up are struggling with form; it's created a bit of pressure on the team. But in terms of going into Australia, our Test side is strong in itself and had a huge amount of success this year. We don't really get tested in one-day cricket now until we reach Australia so it allows us a bit of time; guys at domestic level really have a chance to stake claims.
Sport24: Craig Matthews told us yesterday he felt sorry for you and later Jacques Kallis in the ODI series, because sometimes you would look around the field and battle to find someone capable of bowling three or four tight overs on the trot. Has that been a major problem?
Smith: Ja, the bowlers have (leaked runs) a bit. I don't think we've bowled as well as we could throughout the tour. Our batting unit throughout the Test series was really top-class, and probably the main reason for our winning. As excited as we are about our young bowling attack, they've got a lot of growing up yet to do. We have the sort of aggressive bowlers up front who will sometimes strike, but sometimes they'll go, too.
Sport24: Just how much did your Test series-winning innings at Edgbaston take your tennis elbow injury "over the edge"? Physio Shane Jabaar has been alluding to that... did you feel you simply had to play?
Smith: Look, it had been bothering me since the IPL. I had a bit of a break through the hamstring problem, not batting, but when I picked up again it was still there. As time progressed it just got worse and worse. That last day at Edgbaston... the amount of time I batted, the intensity, having to flick Panesar out of the rough all day; they all played a part in worsening it. Round about that time I was on the point of making a decision not to play. When you're struggling to find the place to put your hand on the bat, it can affect your whole game eventually. The pain and discomfort can affect your focus. If I'm honest with myself I pushed on for too long. The decision was eventually made that it was all about getting ready for the end of the year now, the next big challenge. It's a question of rehabbing sensibly... and I may be forced to use a lighter bat after this.
Sport24: Did you actually defy medical advice to play that crucial Test?
Smith: Ja, I'm pretty good at that, I think! I haven't really stopped since the Twenty20 World Cup. It just takes a general toll on your body and emotionally. I'm one of a few injury victims... we've got to use this time properly now, to get our bodies back where they need to be, and start the summer stronger, healthier and fitter.
Sport 24: England's players were not involved in the IPL; to what extent does that explain their late-summer superior freshness against you in ODIs?
Smith: It probably all plays a part. We know we can't complain about IPL (diversions) and things like that; it's difficult to turn down those opportunities. Time away, time on aeroplanes and in hotels... it probably has played a part. I just feel we've lost some sting after the Test series. In that break before the ODIs it was like a hot-air balloon that popped. It's also opened our eyes to things we must work on; set right.
Sport24: Will key players be carefully managed, pre-Australia? Possibly skip some of the Kenya and Bangladesh games?
Smith: I'm not so sure about Bangladesh. Look, I'd like to see some of our guys get into the domestic system again; it's important they play there. We're not around enough. One, two or three domestic four-dayers for the national players would be good. We do need to give domestic players some international exposure too, so that we can confidently extend our international pool to around 22, and not just 14 or so regulars, as we have had of late.
Sport24: Have you been party to any discussions around the acting or vice-captaincy? Obviously Jacques stepped in at short notice in England...
Smith: Yes, Jacques filled in at a difficult time for him. It's a high-pressure job, especially in a place like England with the media scrutiny and so on, so we couldn't expose a (youngster). It does bother me at the moment over who's going to be the next guy. We've got to identify (someone) we can grow and develop. Not having a vice-captain in the one-day side is not a good thing; we need to work on the issue. I can't give you an answer now, but the topic's on my mind a lot.
Sport24: You have sometimes spoken about the gruelling demands of your job; have you contemplated yet a future for yourself in the national side minus the captaincy burden?
Smith: I could certainly shift into a different role in the side down the line, yes. When Michael (Vaughan) stepped down I could certainly understand were he was coming from. I understood it better than when I was a 22-year-old South African captain and Nasser Hussain stepped down in 2003! That said, I started at a very young age and bumped my head for a long time on the road. I'm finally in a comfortable space as captain, I think. But you never know when a different time may come. I'd like someone who eventually replaces me to be more experienced than I was at the time.
Sport24:How much credit do you give Kevin Pietersen for England's resurgence in recent weeks?
Smith: He's playing well himself, which is always key. I think the key for them has been Flintoff's return and his (form), and the way it allows them to pick certain people around him for the right team. Obviously Kevin needs to take credit for certainly the selections in the team; getting that side of things right. But he deserves to be judged over a period of time. It's about sustainability and creating an environment to perform over time. But at the moment he's being very successful and you can't fault what's going on there.
Rob is Sport24's chief writer.
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