'England will be a big threat'

Jonty Rhodes feels that lack of preparation cost South Africa their series against India. While maintaining that the inexperienced side would have gained tremendously from the tour, he admitted that England had a good chance of winning the forthcoming Test series.

Speaking at The Country Club in Mumbai, Rhodes said that the selectors would do well to give the young players more chances. "Even in defeat they would have learnt something," Rhodes said. "They need to come to the subcontinent more prepared. One warm-up game is not enough. The same thing happened in Sri Lanka and they suffered."

Having played under both Kepler Wessels and Hansie Cronje, Rhodes was candid in his assessment of Graeme Smith. "I think Smith has the passion, a cricketing brain and the commitment to do the job. But I think he is still very young. The pressures involved in captaincy are huge and not many captains these days survive for ten years. Smith could have probably been given a year or two more before being made captain."

Ever since their return to international cricket South Africa haven't lost a home Test series to any team apart from Australia. Rhodes, though, viewed England as a serious threat. "England are a very well-balanced team and in that aspect they are similar to South African sides of the past. We might not have had great individual talent but we gelled really well as a team. I think they [England] have underperformed over the years but Nasser Hussain and Duncan Fletcher turned things around. South Africa generally prepare pitches that are hard and bouncy but with Steve Harmison and the rest, England will be a big threat. South Africa will have to play really well to win that one."

As expected, several questions centered around fielding, an aspect of the game that Rhodes termed as "the index of team spirit. Your performance on the field doesn't go on the scoreboard at the end of the day, but it is crucial from a team point of view. I think if we enjoy the success of other people, we'll all go a long way in life. Allan Donald may finish with ten overs for 40 rather than ten overs for 50 [if the fielders back him]. A good fielding day lifts everyone."

Rhodes elaborated on the current method of team selection in South Africa and encouraged young cricketers to look at it as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. "It is very easy to blame the system," he said, "but if you're prepared to work your way up, you will make it. If young white players get a negative attitude, they have themselves to blame.

"Today, all communities are getting the opportunity to show their skills on the cricket field. I wasn't a particularly talented cricketer. But I had the right attitude, was prepared to work hard and saw things as opportunities and not obstacles. With that mindset you can overcome anything."