South Africa are confident they will put their selection problems behind them during their forthcoming Test series in India, captain Graeme Smith said in Chennai on Saturday. The tourists arrived for the three-Test series amid a storm or controversy following the omission of paceman Andre Nel to fulfil the team's quota of non-white players.
India will start the forthcoming Test series as favourites but South Africa is good enough to dethrone them and regain the world number one tag, visiting captain Graeme Smith said in Nagpur on Monday.
South African captain Graeme Smith urged his batsmen to pull up their socks ahead of the crucial third and final Test match against India, which will start at the Newlands, in Cape Town on Sunday.
Rajaneesh Gupta lists the amazing numbers that make Rohit Sharma one of the finest ODI batters of his time.
The South African skipper said he was confident his team would perform well in England without Klusener.
The disappointment at home generated by South Africa's failure to win the first Test against Australia showed how much "respect" the team had won since attaining the top ranking, according to Proteas captain Graeme Smith.
11 South African players, including white-ball skipper Quinton de Kock, pacer Kagiso Rabada and former captain Faf du Plessis, are currently participating in the IPL for various teams.
"We've got the players to do that and we've got the team to do that if we relax and play our natural game," said the SA skipper.
Other than achieving the highest Test score by a South African, Graeme Smith has broken a number of other records in just the first two Test of the five-Test series.
'I wouldn't blame any sports team if they wanted to know whether they would be safe or not,' the South African captain said.
How long they spend face to face, indeed, is likely to have a profound effect on the outcome of England's Test series against South Africa.
Kohli's skill and spikiness on the field reminded many of their own: Australian media
Graeme Smith plundered a fighting 154 not out to lead his South Africa team to a five-wicket victory over England that clinched the Test series at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Mindful of the chokers tag that has sat on them since their 1992 World Cup appearance, South Africa head off to the sub-continent for the quadrennial mega event starting later this month, with captain Graeme Smith confident of his side possessing a stronger mental frame than ever before to aim for its maiden title.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith was disappointed but not downcast after the Proteas lost the third Test against England by 70 runs at Trent Bridge.
Upset after losing the second Test match by 87 runs, South African captain Graeme Smith expressed his displeasure about the non-usage of Umpires' Decision Review System(UDRS) as two of his key batsmen --- AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher got out to debatable leg before decisions.
South Africa were 178 for four, just 27 runs short of victory after bowling Bangladesh out for 182.
South Africa Test captain Graeme Smith was omitted from the 15-man squad to take part in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Thursday.
South Africa have failed to gel, lack confidence and must look at making changes, said captain Graeme Smith after their Twenty20 World Cup exit.
The SA skipper also defended his decision to bat first after winning the toss.
South African captain Graeme Smith was happy that his team was able to put up a "dominant performance" as they beat India by an innings and 25 runs in the first Test but he also praised maestro Sachin Tendulkar for scoring his 50th Test century under pressure.
Expressing disappointment after yet another failure at an ICC event by bowing out of the Champions Trophy, South African captain Graeme Smith said his side was trying their best but somehow have not been able to cross the line.
AB de Villiers feels the criticism that has come South Africa's way is unwarranted and they have rather done well to reach the WTC final despite experiencing "so many changes" in the last three to five years.
South Africa were 247 for four at the close with Kallis on 81 and Hashim Amla on 21.
South Africa's top-order may not have fired but skipper Graeme Smith is happy that the middle-order made up for it in the Proteas' comprehensive win over Ireland that sealed their quarter-final spot in the ongoing World Cup in Kolkata.
Scott Boland will step up and uncapped Brendan Doggett is tipped for a high-stakes debut to try to shore up the loss of a combined 604 Test wickets of experience.
Vernon Philander earned praise from captain Graeme Smith after his 10-wicket match haul helped South Africa thrash Sri Lanka by an innings and 81 runs in the first Test on Saturday.
South Africa beat West Indies by 86 runs in the second one-day international on Friday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
The balance may have been affected due to Hardik Pandya's untimely ankle injury, but even then the Indian team has hardly faced a tough test in the ongoing World Cup, feels former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith.
Temba Bavuma hopes South Africa's historic ICC World Test Championship Final victory will help his country 'rejoice and come together' as he revealed a desire to emulate the Springboks' all-conquering rugby team.
As a leader, you are expected to lead from the front and set a benchmark and that is what exactly South Africa captain Graeme Smith intends to do.
"With 17,266 international runs, 829 dismissals and 538 matches across formats for India, Dhoni's numbers reflect not just excellence but extraordinary consistency, fitness and longevity," it said.
