Smith ‘sounding board’ for Proteas
Captain Hashim Amla says Graeme Smith’s “know-how” about Test cricket is the reason he has been brought into the Proteas camp as a “sounding board” for the batsmen.
|||Captain Hashim Amla says Graeme Smith’s “know-how” about Test cricket is the reason he has been brought into the Proteas camp as a “sounding board” for the batsmen for the rest of the England series.
Smith was conspicuous by his presence at Proteas practice at Newlands on Friday morning ahead of Saturday’s second Test, especially after he had some harsh words for the team while providing analysis on TV in the aftermath of England’s 241-run thrashing of Amla’s team at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.
The former Proteas captain had reportedly said that there was “trouble” in the team and that “this can’t continue” following the Durban result. “There’ll be a packed crowd at Newlands, and they will want to feel an energy and confidence in their team as well as a desire to fight,” Smith was reported as saying.
Proteas coach Russell Domingo said in the post-match press conference that “Smitty’s entitled to his opinion, of course, but I don’t know where he got that from. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a happy camp: not happy with the result of course, but all supporting and backing each other and supporting the captain 100 percent”.
On Friday at Newlands, when asked about Smith’s criticism, Amla said: “Well, the reality is that when you win or lose a cricket game, you are either going to be praised or criticised. That’s just the nature of international sport.
“So, when people say things or criticise the team, there is going to be some value in it, and you take it on the chin and move on. That is how I’ve tried to see criticism in my own personal game, as well as for the team.
“But whenever there’s value that can be added, you’ve got to take the value where you can get it. Certainly Graeme’s got a lot of value that he can add, and hopefully we’ve tried to tap into that.”
Amla believes that the 34-year-old Smith – who retired at the end of the Australian series in 2014 after playing 117 Tests – can aid the less experienced Proteas batsmen who have battled to get going.
South Africa scored just 214 and 174 in their two innings at Kingsmead, while they had a nightmare in the four Tests against India, although the pitches favoured spin bowlers heavily. They recorded scores of 184, 109, 214, 79, 185, 121 and 143 in Mohali, Bangalore, Nagpur and Delhi.
Smith spoke at length to Faf du Plessis before the right-hander went to bat in the Newlands nets on Friday, while he also had chats with Amla, Temba Bavuma and Stiaan van Zyl.
“We’ve asked Graeme to join us for a little while, because Graeme being the excellent cricketer he was, there’s certainly some value that he can add to the batters, which he has added already,” Amla said.
“Graeme has been a wonderful cricketer for South Africa, wonderful captain. And he knows more than most guys of how it is to play Test cricket and to go through tough times.
“And to think just off the top of my head, earlier in his career, there were a few crushing defeats as well. So I think he is well aware of how difficult it is as a team to… how important it is for a team to reassess and get back. That type of experience is invaluable for us and that is why we are trying to draw on it.
“More than the batters… Graeme, I won’t say was the most technically correct batter himself! But listen, he has got good know-how about Test cricket and that’s what Test cricket is about – it’s about having know-how and having a feel for the game. And we’ve got a lot of youngsters in our team that can draw on that, so we’ve always felt that Graeme can add value in that way.”
This is not the first time that the Proteas have looked to outside influences to help prepare the team. Former coach Gary Kirsten and Australian great Michael Hussey have been used as batting consultants in the last 12 months as well.
“Over the last two years now, we’ve tried to get guys… I know Russell has always been a big advocate of getting somebody in to kind of – I won’t say look after the batters – but be a sounding board for the batters,” Amla said.
“We’ve tried many guys and sometimes guys haven’t been available through other commitments or whatever the case may be. So, to get Graeme on board now – and Graeme being the quality cricketer he is – fits the role perfectly. I’m not entirely sure about the ‘contract’ details, but from what I understand, he will be with us for the rest of the series. Just to draw on his experience.”
ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za
@IndyCapeSport