"We are focused on Sri Lanka" - Graeme Smith
By Roger Persaud
Stabroek News
March 27, 2007
"The stadium looks pretty good, we just have to see how the pitch behaves."
Those were the words of South African skipper Graeme Smith during a press conference yesterday at the Providence stadium.
The South African team was scheduled to have net sessions at the Everest Cricket Club ground yesterday morning but were unable to do so because of the wet conditions of the pitch and outfield due to the rainy weather.
"Today was a very bad day but hopefully we can get some practice in tomorrow," Smith said.
He added: "We are focused right now on Sri Lanka. The weather is out of our control, we are aware that overs can be reduced and we have to be prepared for anything. If it becomes a situation where the overs are reduced, we will be ready to handle that, but I am sure the people in Guyana, who have been waiting for this event want to see a complete match and so do we."
South Africa and Sri Lanka will engage each other in the first match to be played at the new Providence Stadium ground tomorrow.
"We know Sri Lanka is a confident side with several very talented players. Sanath Jayasuria, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Chaminda Vaas are all talented, world-class players and we already know that. We have played against him (Muttiah Muralitharan) quite a bit but that does not make it any easier. Most of the guys know him and have a strategy but he is still a main weapon for them," Smith said when asked about tomorrow's opponents.
The South African captain, asked about the feeling in the camp after losing to Australia, said the mood was fine.
"We know we let ourselves down in certain areas in the match last Saturday," he said.
Queried about Jacques Kallis' slow batting in the game against Australia, Smith said, "Jacques has won many matches for South Africa so I am not going to make that a big issue. Obviously after the game we talked about a few things, I spent a lot of time with the physio, and was not always present, but he is a great player and will be fine."
Smith who had to retire with cramps during his innings of 74 in the match played in St Kitts last Saturday said that injury came as a surprise to everyone including himself.
"The medical team has been on top of things starting with a hydration process," he said.
On the fitness of the team he said: "Physically we are fine. You will always have a few niggles here and there but we are fine."