'It's going to be a hard-fought Test series'
Ahead of the first Test which starts on Friday, the South African captain Graeme Smith reveals which England players he fears the most, and gives his views on quotas and Mark Boucher's omission from the Test team
Jenny Thompson
15-Dec-2004
Ahead of the first Test which starts at Port Elizabeth on Friday, South Africa's captain Graeme Smith spoke to us from the Sky Sports studios and explained which England players he fears the most, and gave his views on quotas and Mark Boucher's omission from the Test team:
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It's tough to predict, but I really believe it's going to be a hard-fought Test series. England come to South Africa with one of their best teams ever. I think they are on a high - their confidence is up. It will be all about who can handle the pressure best, who can exert the pressure - and some big performances from the big players will be crucial.
Which England bowlers do you fear the most?
It's got to be [Andrew] Flintoff and [Steve] Harmison who will be at the forefront of most of their success. It's the bowling attack of England as a whole which works well together. There's the pace attack of Flintoff and Harmison ... and [Matthew] Hoggard works well at what he needs to do - he's tight with the ball. [Michael] Vaughan has got good options. The key factor for Harmison is confidence: he's obviously carrying lots of confidence at the moment. He will be a handful, as will Freddie and the rest of them.
It's got to be [Andrew] Flintoff and [Steve] Harmison who will be at the forefront of most of their success. It's the bowling attack of England as a whole which works well together. There's the pace attack of Flintoff and Harmison ... and [Matthew] Hoggard works well at what he needs to do - he's tight with the ball. [Michael] Vaughan has got good options. The key factor for Harmison is confidence: he's obviously carrying lots of confidence at the moment. He will be a handful, as will Freddie and the rest of them.
...and which batsmen?
They have a lot of left-handers in their top order ... Obviously, [Graham] Thorpe offers a lot of experience in the middle - he will always be pivotal to them. But I think if we can get early inroads into their batting line-up with [Marcus] Trescothick and [Robert] Key or [Mark] Butcher - whichever one they go with - and [Andrew] Strauss, who is making his first tour to South Africa, then we can make inroads ... but it's going to be tough.
They have a lot of left-handers in their top order ... Obviously, [Graham] Thorpe offers a lot of experience in the middle - he will always be pivotal to them. But I think if we can get early inroads into their batting line-up with [Marcus] Trescothick and [Robert] Key or [Mark] Butcher - whichever one they go with - and [Andrew] Strauss, who is making his first tour to South Africa, then we can make inroads ... but it's going to be tough.
How are your preparations going for the series?
I'm pretty happy. We gave the guys a week off just after we got back from India. Adjusting to the wickets is going to be crucial for us again. Having just got back from India, we need the batters and the bowlers to get into a different state of mind for our conditions. We should adapt pretty quickly. Ray Jennings [South Africa's coach] is pretty strong on the bowling. He will have a very strong system worked out. The first Test will be very important. Obviously we have one or two injuries and it's crucial that the young guys come in and take the opportunities. I think it will be an exciting series.
I'm pretty happy. We gave the guys a week off just after we got back from India. Adjusting to the wickets is going to be crucial for us again. Having just got back from India, we need the batters and the bowlers to get into a different state of mind for our conditions. We should adapt pretty quickly. Ray Jennings [South Africa's coach] is pretty strong on the bowling. He will have a very strong system worked out. The first Test will be very important. Obviously we have one or two injuries and it's crucial that the young guys come in and take the opportunities. I think it will be an exciting series.
What can you tell us about your new players?
AB de Villiers is a young, exciting prospect. He has great potential as a wicketkeeper. He could have a big spot in our team - he's had a really successful season with the bat. He's an exciting new young player. I wouldn't want to put him under too much pressure. I want him to play his natural game. As for Dale Steyn, he's young, he's raw and he's got the pace. We won't put him under too much pressure and just expect him to do the best he can. These guys have to be there and take the responsibility.
AB de Villiers is a young, exciting prospect. He has great potential as a wicketkeeper. He could have a big spot in our team - he's had a really successful season with the bat. He's an exciting new young player. I wouldn't want to put him under too much pressure. I want him to play his natural game. As for Dale Steyn, he's young, he's raw and he's got the pace. We won't put him under too much pressure and just expect him to do the best he can. These guys have to be there and take the responsibility.
Why has Mark Boucher been left out of the current Test team?
It's tough to say. I'm not a selector. He is a hell of a player - I really don't believe that the last Test he played will be his last, or the one-dayers. He's an outstanding cricketer - I'm sure he will be back. But Thami Tsolekile has the opportunity, he's a young guy and it's important he takes his opportunity. Not many people get the opportunity to represent their country, and when it comes you want to take it with both hands.
It's tough to say. I'm not a selector. He is a hell of a player - I really don't believe that the last Test he played will be his last, or the one-dayers. He's an outstanding cricketer - I'm sure he will be back. But Thami Tsolekile has the opportunity, he's a young guy and it's important he takes his opportunity. Not many people get the opportunity to represent their country, and when it comes you want to take it with both hands.
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Are you worried about the lack of spinners in your team?
Nicky Boje is in the squad, and he's been going really well in world cricket over the last couple of years. Unfortunately, he's been a little bit injury-prone. Getting picked for the Test will be important - it's touch and go at the moment. In South Africa, it's not as big a deal as in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and I think we can work out good strategies and game plans for the England batters.
Nicky Boje is in the squad, and he's been going really well in world cricket over the last couple of years. Unfortunately, he's been a little bit injury-prone. Getting picked for the Test will be important - it's touch and go at the moment. In South Africa, it's not as big a deal as in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and I think we can work out good strategies and game plans for the England batters.
Clive Rice has been vocal in his criticism of the quota system. This issue is obviously a sensitive one, but what is your opinion on it?
It's an important part of our sport in South Africa. Obviously there's a transformation process that needs to take place. I am captain and I understand and as far as I'm concerned those guys like Makhaya [Ntini], those guys have been around and they have earned their spots and they are up there with the best in world cricket. We have some exciting guys of colour coming through. There's Thandi Tshabalala - he could be a fine spinner. He's a really talented young player. So I think the system is working. It needs to take a bit more time and we need to be a bit more patient, but it definitely is working.
It's an important part of our sport in South Africa. Obviously there's a transformation process that needs to take place. I am captain and I understand and as far as I'm concerned those guys like Makhaya [Ntini], those guys have been around and they have earned their spots and they are up there with the best in world cricket. We have some exciting guys of colour coming through. There's Thandi Tshabalala - he could be a fine spinner. He's a really talented young player. So I think the system is working. It needs to take a bit more time and we need to be a bit more patient, but it definitely is working.
What is it like to work with Ray Jennings?
It's going well. He's different - he's unpredictable at times and he's easy-going. From a coaching point of view, he brings a freshness to the team. He's got a refreshing attitude - we can challenge each other's minds and push each other to another level, and that's important. I've certainly enjoyed working with him so far.
It's going well. He's different - he's unpredictable at times and he's easy-going. From a coaching point of view, he brings a freshness to the team. He's got a refreshing attitude - we can challenge each other's minds and push each other to another level, and that's important. I've certainly enjoyed working with him so far.
Was it hard to assume the captaincy role so young and take charge of a whole bunch of senior players?
I get asked this question a lot, but I kind of just fit it in. The senior guys just took to me as a captain, and that's important, I guess. They've been very supportive and they had been under pressure for a long time. I've carried a lot of weight on my shoulders with a younger side and they have been superb.
I get asked this question a lot, but I kind of just fit it in. The senior guys just took to me as a captain, and that's important, I guess. They've been very supportive and they had been under pressure for a long time. I've carried a lot of weight on my shoulders with a younger side and they have been superb.
What is your personal approach to captaincy?
I always want to bring my personality across as a captain. I think that if you try to be someone else you start to get into trouble. It's important to trust yourself and to trust your inner gut feeling as much as you can. You sometimes become involved in so much planning in world cricket - "You have to prepare this way to adapt like that," you know. But it's important to still keep that gut feeling and give something extra as a captain - a little bit of instinct. It's a balance between planning and instinctiveness, and I definitely want to be a captain that leads from the front and leads by example.
I always want to bring my personality across as a captain. I think that if you try to be someone else you start to get into trouble. It's important to trust yourself and to trust your inner gut feeling as much as you can. You sometimes become involved in so much planning in world cricket - "You have to prepare this way to adapt like that," you know. But it's important to still keep that gut feeling and give something extra as a captain - a little bit of instinct. It's a balance between planning and instinctiveness, and I definitely want to be a captain that leads from the front and leads by example.
Are you looking forward to leading Somerset next year?
Yeah, very much so. Being part of the county-cricket scene in England has always been one of my goals. I'm fortunate that I can contribute to the captaincy and be the captain of Somerset next year. I hope to add a lot of value to Somerset cricket.
Yeah, very much so. Being part of the county-cricket scene in England has always been one of my goals. I'm fortunate that I can contribute to the captaincy and be the captain of Somerset next year. I hope to add a lot of value to Somerset cricket.
Viewers in the UK can see England's tour of South Africa exclusively live on Sky Sports.