Smith could emerge as the figure the embattled team looks up to for a revival in its fortunes.
The skies were clear of the bushfire smoke that has shrouded the city on several occasions over the last few months and has organisers prepared for delays during the match.
The CSA said Second, one of the new caps in the Proteas squad announced on August 13 to play three Tests in India in October, has suffered an injury while practising with the South Africa A side. He will require immediate surgery and he has consequently been ruled out of the touring party.
The Proteas are keen to have their former star batsman Gary Kirsten as national team's coach next year, but Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is reportedly among those pushing to have the South African's contract as Indian coach renewed.
Cricket South Africa chief Gerald Majola has revealed that another 'big name' has evinced interest in becoming the national team coach a few days after current India coach Gary Kirsten's name did the rounds.
The former opening batsman will formally take over in August ahead of the two home series against Australia and Sri Lanka, Cricket South Africa said at a news conference on Monday.
South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl feels India will not have much of a home advantage at next year's World cup as foreign players have adapted themselves to the conditions there, courtesy the Indian Premier League.
With incumbent Corrie van Zyl all set to step down after the 2011 World Cup, Cricket South Africa on Thursday said it has started searching "far and wide" and was also open to the idea of a foreign coach for the Proteas.
Cricket South Africa will appoint a team manager, who will select his own coaching staff and captains in the three formats of the game.
In what should please South Africa no end, skipper Graeme Smith and in-form batsman Hashim Amla have been cleared to play in the first Test of the three-match series against India, starting Thursday in Centurion.
India may possess two of the best batsmen in world cricket at the moment in Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag but the Proteas will not be targeting them specifically when the Test series starts at SuperSport Park on Thursday.
"Record books don't lie", said South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl while reminding India of their rather unimpressive past performances here as the battle of wits continued between the two sides ahead of the Test series starting on Thursday.
South African coach Corrie van Zyl rues that the SuperSport Park pitch at Centurion has slowed down but feels that there should be enough mongrel in the strip to bother the Indian top-order in the first Test starting December 16.
The controversial Umpire Decision Review System will not be used during India's Test tour of South Africa next month, coach Corrie van Zyl said.
The South African team has the talent and ability to win the 50-over cricket World Cup to be held in the Indian subcontinent next year, feels Andrew Hudson, the newly-appointed convenor of selectors.
After guiding the Indian team to the coveted World Cup title after a gap of 28 years in his final assignment as coach, Gary Kirsten may be seen in the same avatar with his native South Africa.
South African opener Loots Bosman is relieved that Sachin Tendulkar won't be playing in the Twenty20 World Championships later this month but he feels even without the senior batsman India remains a very dangerous outfit.
Paceman Juan 'Rusty' Theron was the only new cap included in South Africa's 15-man squad, while Graeme Smith was confirmed as captain on Wednesday for the Twenty20 World Cup starting next month. Smith, whose participation was in doubt due to a fractured finger, will return to captain the side in the April 30 - May 16 tournament.
Faced with a do-or-die situation after the heartbreaking one-run loss in Jaipur, South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl today hinted that the visitors may make some changes in their side for the second one-dayer against India in Gwalior on Wednesday.
It was an ad hoc appointment but one that simply worked to an advantage. Corrie van Zyl was named the interim coach of South Africa following the controversial resignation of Mickey Arthur last month.
South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has resigned from his post just days before the Proteas leave for a tour of India. The 41-year-old has been in charge of the South Africa national team since May 2005 and his shock resignation on Tuesday means the Proteas have little time to find a replacement coach for the two-Test and three One-Day International tour.
Faf du Plessis will remain as the skipper of the Test side and he would be in charge of the team scheduled to tour India later this year.
Cricket South Africa on Monday announced the appointment of Amol Muzumdar as interim batting coach for their next month's three-match Test series against India.
Fast bowler Anrich Nortje, wicketkeeper/batsman Rudi Second and spin bowling all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy have been included in the 15-man squad that will be captained by Faf du Plessis.
Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko stopped South African Corrie Sanders in the eighth round to win the vacant World Boxing Council heavyweight title
The Ukranian boxer avenge a crushing defeat inflicted on his brother Wladimir when he enters the ring against South African Corrie Sanders in a world heavyweight title fight in Los Angeles next month.
Merrill Lynch said on Wednesday it was upbeat on Asian equities this year because strong domestic demand would boost corporate earnings growth, with India, Thailand, Australia, China, and South Korea offering the best value.
Klusener took up coaching with domestic side Hollywoodbets Dolphins from 2012-2016 before being appointed as batting coach for the Zimbabwe national team.
Croatia edged closer to next year's World Cup with an emphatic 4-1 home win over Greece on Thursday in the first leg of their two-legged playoff.
Spain goalkeeper David de Gea made a rare error which led to his side drawing 1-1 at home to Switzerland in a World Cup warm-up friendly on Sunday which the hosts dominated but failed to make their superior possession count.
Cycling: Olympic champion Vogel stable after operation
Mitchell McClenaghan led Mumbai Indians's superb showing with the ball as they thrashed Delhi Daredevils by 14 runs to register their sixth successive victory, in the ongoing tenth edition of the Indian Premier League, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
A round-up of results from the Nations League matches played on Sunday
Shameem Akthar, yogacharya trained with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, maps out our emotions that are just downright unhealthy.
Images from the European World Cup qualifiers played on Thursday
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