The Graeme Smith Appreciation Society (well, not quite!)

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Maranello

.

SA are like any of the others, and like England were a few years ago, in that they hope to win...but don't expect it as a matter of right, and so often they can be somewhat defensive. Vaughan on the other hand, does not believe in being defensive, and I think he would always prefer to win a series 3-1 than 1-0, and would go for the jugular everytime. His batting may not be there as yet, but he certainly has the mindset of a champion sportsman.

Intrestingly when Fletcher took over his first aim was to build a team that was hard to beat. Hussain was the perfect captain for this. Hated losing. As you said in the last year they have learnt not about preventing the loss, but about finding a way to win, this has happed with the promotion of Vaughan.

But also it makes a difference that they have so many possible match winners, where in the past they maybe had one or two, they now have 8 or 9 who can regularily turn matches into wins and seize key sessions.

Trescothick, Strauss, Vaughan, Thorpe, Flintoff, Jones, Giles, Harmison or Hoggard.

I think South Africa have maybe five such players

Gibbs, Smith, Kallis, Pollock and Nitini

[John]

Of course I was being Ironic to make the point about Smith.

I do think England are the better side and Smith is not as bad a capitain as some of you think. But SA have exposed one or two of England short comings especially the bowling Dpt.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by John

But SA have exposed one or two of England short comings especially the bowling Dpt.

I am actually glad that this seris has been as competitive as it has been, and would never have expected anything less from a South Africam team, there are several reasons

1. It has made for some very exciting games
2. Players on both sides have had to work hard
3. Some of the areas exposed can now been looked at before the Ashes.

[flanflinger]

Just out of intrest, if the situation was reversed - how would Smith have entered this game

Originally Posted by Crusher Vaughan

You can't set out over five days to draw a game. We have to try to win. If you go out in a mindset to draw you don't have the right attitude

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/4191087.stm

[BFD69]

The fact that England has had to work for its 2-1 series lead is more of an indictment of England's ability than Smith's captaining ability. Other than the PE test SA has been in a position to win every game and instead of closing out the game the tactics used let England get out of jail.

[flanflinger]

BFD,

a point made very well by Jonathan Agnew

Originally Posted by Aggers

With the threat of cloudy weather and a bowler-friendly pitch, both teams will fancy their chances, but the difference is that England will really believe they can win.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/4191509.stm

[Zainub]

That sort of self belief comes from success, because success breeds more success, and its breeds a winning mentality. SA have been going through a bad patch of late (lost 1-0 to Ind and Sri Lanka, and drawing with NZ in recent times) and hence they don't have that mentality right now, could have been different had they won against SL, IND and NZ.

England have been coming of on the other hand from winning 7-0 at home and 3-0 in the Carribean - had England not had the same sort of success as they have had recently I doubt they would have the same measure of confidence in coming back to win test matches from seemingly hopeless position as they have more than once in this series alone.

This is all about what state of mind you are in. And success it self is a state of mind as much as it is an entity.

[Get-a-Life]

A great post Maranello, and deserves to be in the forum collection!
Always wondered myself what it was about Smith that caused so much distress to England supporters. Even this arrogance thing - are there any quotes, please? Every interview of Smith I've seen has been very balanced and respectful to the opposition.

[Beny]

Ok... Excuse me people but of course everytime he talks to the media he is going to be Momma's little darling...

[Paoli]

Smithy tells it like it is which is great.

His two double hundreds were outstanding but for South Africa to be potent he needs to recapture that form. Pollock and Ntini are capable enough but again the politically charged side isn't good because Smith cannot get the side he wants.

Boucher's return is good for the side which adds an element of experience.

I've got here a list of the players in South Africa who are in or on the fringes of the side in terms of experience. Tier 1 is experienced, Tier 2 is Halfway, Tier 3 is just starting.

Tier 1:

• Graeme Smith
• Shaun Pollock
• Jacques Kallis
• Nicky Boje
• Herschelle Gibbs
• Lance Klusener*

Tier 2:

• Jacques Rudolph
• Martin Van Jaarsveld
• Makhaya Ntini
• Andrew Hall
• Boeta Dippenaar
• Neil McKenzie
• Robin Peterson
• Paul Adams
• Andre Nel

Tier 3:

• Thami Tsolekile
• Justin Ontong
• Dale Steyn
• Abraham de Villiers
• Zander De Bruyn
• Ashwell Prince
• Hashim Amla
• Monde Zondeki
• Garnett Kruger
• Albie Morkel

Now, that is far too many in the bottom two tiers. The Dippenaar's, the Ntini's and the Hall's need to step up to the top tier. However, this is my opinion of South African Cricket.

* means that Klusener's international future is in doubt.