Smith expects off-field verbals
9 Dec 2008
Graeme Smith expects a war of words between both South Africa and Australia ahead of the first Test beginning next Wednesday.
Aussie coach Tim Nielsen began the sparring a week ago when he said the Proteas had been “talking themselves up a lot..so they’d better play better than they’ve ever played before.” Smith acknowledged this probably wouldn’t be the last of the mind games ahead of the Test at the Waca beginning on 17 December.
“I think their coach has already done that [started it off],” said Smith. “But at the end of the day I don’t think it’s really necessary.
“Things will pick up as the build-up goes towards the first Test. I’m sure there’ll be a few things flying each way. But I just think there’s a general really good respect for each other and the ability of both teams. Most of it is going to be played out in the middle and pretty tough.”
Shane Warne, arguably South Africa’s greatest nemesis on the pitch and off it in terms of mind games, won’t play against the South Africans for the first time since Smith has been involved. The South African captain said he won’t be missed from the visitors’ perspective as it’s “nice just to see him at a braai”.
“It’s hard to replace that sort of guy,” he said. “His ability to pick up wickets, his ability to change the game, and also to get into other people’s psyche. He was very good at that.”
Despite many assumptions that Australia are vulnerable due to their loss to India, Smith said they “are certainly not ready to be taken”. “In these conditions they are certainly going to be a huge challenge for any team,” he said. “If we can earn the victories and play our brand of cricket it would be wonderful to be the first [South African] team to win [a series in Australia].”
41 Comments
9 Dec 2008, 12:44 pm
Foul mouthed Dragons
9 Dec 2008, 12:47 pm
Really? Now this is a surprise.
9 Dec 2008, 12:57 pm
if the Proteas want to actual perform downunder for once, they must either not comment or praise the australians to high heavens — and then proceed to kick their arse on the field of play with no prisoners.
9 Dec 2008, 13:03 pm
I couldn’t agree more. SA must stay out of the press and get on with trying to beat the Aussies by playing better cricket than them in every department, every session of every test. Smith’s comments in the past have been embarrassing, and he should learn to stay focused on winning the tests. He doesn’t do that at the press conference, he does it on the field.
9 Dec 2008, 13:05 pm
If Smith expects them he will get it.
At the moment the newspapers I have read to date have been very glowing of the south african team…maybe to create an underdog psyche for the aus cricket team.
9 Dec 2008, 13:08 pm
Apparently Smith’s comments to the press last time we were in Aus was to focus the attention on him so that the other players got less attention/pressure.
It backfired, but I suppose it’s lesson learnt.
9 Dec 2008, 13:08 pm
The proteas will win in aus if they go out and enjoy their cricket.
Cricket is about a competition between bat and ball…its always to players.
Bowler vs batsman then batsman vs fielder.
Keep it simple!
Have a good chirp but keep it at a level that one can still look the opponent in the eye after the game.
9 Dec 2008, 13:08 pm
#5 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!:
I hope you guys sell many tickets for this series seeing that this will be the last time ever that the Protea’s will tour OZ during our cricket season
9 Dec 2008, 13:23 pm
#8 RedBull (formerly RedLion):
i think you may be right….majola and sutherland were at loggerheads about the new years and holiday tests.
i believe RSA gets us$300 000 in gate takings for each test played down under over the summer holiday. This is over and above what they get from tv.
9 Dec 2008, 14:02 pm
#3 cab: It looks like thats what they are doing. Seems they are playing the media game quite well down there so far. They are not being drawn into verbals and generally being open and approachable, which I think is a good way to handle it. Boks had that attitude at last world cup and did them well. Its good they are not doing either the “niggle your opponents in the press at every opportunity” or the “Laager, Im not talking to you” games.
9 Dec 2008, 14:10 pm
#9 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: lookm its no secret that outside of the Ashes… SA vs Aus is one of the biggest drawcards in cricket….as such its criminal that we only play each other every 4 years in these back-to-back waste of times. This is a rivalry that deserves a full 5 match series every two years ( ie home and away in a four year cycle) we have always been denied this because the aussies insist on a home series every year over the festive period. You gave us money because a sold out MCG is worth 20 sold out Kingsmeads (not that they ever sell Kingsmead out)..I believe from now on it will be home and away every two years.
9 Dec 2008, 14:22 pm
#11 gunther:
It would be good to get the 5 test match series going between RSA and Aus alternating every two years like the ashes.
We can get england the one year and RSA the next.
9 Dec 2008, 14:23 pm
#11 gunther:
I fear that who ever agrees to an Aus game being played away from home on boxing day will either lose their life or their job.
9 Dec 2008, 14:31 pm
I expect some on-field gerbils.
9 Dec 2008, 14:41 pm
#14 Dawn: almost funny – try working on the delivery and you might have a winner right there 8-|
9 Dec 2008, 14:49 pm
#13 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: completely…..he will be made to watch an entire test seated in by 13 at the MCG – not for sissies…
9 Dec 2008, 15:21 pm
JP Duminy FTW!!!!!!!
9 Dec 2008, 16:09 pm
#12 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: Hi Walla hope you well mate. Agree with you there that would be the best.
9 Dec 2008, 16:11 pm
#13 Wallabie. – The English always have an excuse after a pomp!!: We have had to travel to Oz during the Christmas period but Oz never travel away from home during this time. We here also miss seeing our guys during our main summer holiday period. But of course Oz has bigger stadiums and Cricket is the number one sport there. So maybe it makes sense. But agree with tyour post 12 that would work better.
9 Dec 2008, 16:48 pm
#10 iamthebear:
spot on
9 Dec 2008, 19:49 pm
lets just hope smith’s bite is as bad as his bark – cause he’s mouthed off a fair bit in the past and then seen his *** handed to him on a plate.
9 Dec 2008, 20:35 pm
I wish we could hear what was said on the field through the stump mikes.
9 Dec 2008, 21:17 pm
KEO why are not one of the following springboks given credit on the cover of SA rugby
Salie fredericks, Baard Daniels,zinto,lusizi,maduba,m theunissen, Majola,Neethling,Mdikane,Napoleon,Manuel,bohardien,Jabaar,g noble,xoxho,kleinbooi,c noble,spooky september,e ganief,blatjang,toet coetzee, ,i october,anwar majiet,fluffy solomons,booysen,peter jooste,richard britton,gary boshoff,f davids,kaballie davids,vleis daniels,A lefume,peter mkata,temba ludwaba,jouwa abrahams,eric majola,ben malamba
ill tell you why because you dont regard them as true springboks
why should they support the springbok and have any pride in this symbol if they dont even get recognition for their achievements while their white counterparts names get splashed over the cover of SA rugby even though they were not picked on merit.Stop being so V@rk verkramp
9 Dec 2008, 21:37 pm
Sledging is going to be high on the Aussies agenda since thay are in a weaker position than they were on previous occasions. To break down the character of the opposing team has always worked well for them over the last decade and a half
9 Dec 2008, 23:52 pm
#23 saru1983: I figure you are born in 1983?
10 Dec 2008, 01:03 am
#6 racheltjiedebeer:
That’s absolute bollocks.
Smith was a naive big-mouth who made a doos of himself last time here…all on his own, because he thought he was the tough guy.
This PR nonsense that he did it intentionally, to take the pressure off the others, is just that – PR bollocks.
Hopefully, he’s developed a little humility, experience has tempered his motor-mouth, grootbek, testosterone charged gung-ho approach to life.
10 Dec 2008, 01:58 am
South Africa started the mouthing off. They did so last time and saw their backsides and it will happen again. Bunch of chokers!
10 Dec 2008, 05:18 am
#27 quota: Nee wat Ds Asyn, we stand way back from the Aus cricketers when it comes to mouthing off!
Anywho, how are you?
10 Dec 2008, 05:21 am
#27 quota:
DDDDDDoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooos
10 Dec 2008, 05:53 am
#29 whatever: To many ‘d’s’ in there…
10 Dec 2008, 05:58 am
Good afternoon all…
I see Boucher believes Steyn is faster than Donald was in the latter half of his career.
BIt of pressure on the young gun. can he hold up?
10 Dec 2008, 06:12 am
Not much action in the Aussie press this side at all really… they like their fans just want to be ‘tested’ this time…
10 Dec 2008, 06:35 am
#31 TahRoo: I would think the same, Steyn as fast now, if not faster than Donald in his younger days. But that is only speed, lost of other stuff like line and lenght that is important…
10 Dec 2008, 06:50 am
#33 Koos:
World beaters have always had an out an out pacemen in the side at some stage. A bowler who wants to hurt people, and is as unsure as the batsmen, as to where the next ones going.
Pace, that’ll f**k em as the great Thomo used to say
10 Dec 2008, 07:01 am
#34 TahRoo: What you saying, Lee has to much control these days?
10 Dec 2008, 07:08 am
#35 Koos:
Dead right. Toss him the pill, and give him one instruction…hurt the bloke 22 yards away. Clarkie is there for the control, Mitch for the consistency across the right handers. What use is a quickie who holds back?
10 Dec 2008, 07:20 am
#36 TahRoo: Oh well, he does let the odd beamer rip…!
10 Dec 2008, 07:26 am
#37 Koos:
Ah yes, got him, piss off you’re out. Those kiwis aren’t proper cricketers mate, so no worries there.
10 Dec 2008, 07:31 am
#38 TahRoo: They did give you a little fright in that first test, if not for 2 individual performances you were toast!
Ah well, did not happen.
10 Dec 2008, 10:45 am
Saru1983- In case you missed it, this is the cricket section, for all races!
10 Dec 2008, 12:14 pm
The comments cannot be avoided – I just hope the boys will be able to back themselves up on the pitch this time.
Go Proteas – can’t wait!
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