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| Monday, 23 August 2004 |
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We are lucky not to be called a club side - Smith by Sa'adi Thawfeeq Despondent captain Graeme Smith said that his team would be lucky not to be called club cricketers after South Africa had lost the second one-day international to Sri Lanka by 37 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday. "The intensity is there but we are letting ourselves in crucial phases of the game with stupid mistakes, either in the bowling or the batting. We are in a hole and as a team we have got to get ourselves out of it now," said Smith whose team trails Sri Lanka 0-2 in the five-match series. "I don't know how much more hard work we can put in, we just didn't play good enough. We were superb in the field today and bowled well at the death and 213 were a score that we should have got. It definitely wasn't a wicket in which we should have been 50 for 6," Smith continued. Smith praised the bowling of Nuwan Zoysa who destroyed the South African top order with five wickets for 26 runs. "Zoysa bowled well, putting the ball in the right areas, but there were a couple of loose shots," said Smith. "Once we win one the rest will come. The guys have got to look inside and find it for them. You can't be fed like a baby all the time. This is the time now that we need guys to stand up and be counted. We are playing bad cricket, but deep down inside I know what we can do. We have to start performing to our standards," he continued. "We know how quickly things can turn around. We can win the next three here and the Champions trophy and everything is all rosy again," he said. Questioned on coach Eric Simmons' statement that he would resign if South Africa did not improve their performances, Smith said: "The team ethic is very strong at the moment. The things we have got in place are very professional. We can't fault Eric on anything he has done. He is probably feeling a bit frustrated at not getting the rewards after everything has been put into place. He has always said he is accountable for not getting results. It is now up to the team to stand up and do something for the coach. "Jacques Kallis said that the team had come back from being 0-2 down in Pakistan and they could do it again." It takes one win and you can get the confidence back. In the same way that Sri Lanka are winning everything is going their way. Everything is going against us. We have put in the hardwork, mentally and physically. It is not that we are under prepared," said Kallis. "The guys are definitely now down and out. But it can turn around quickly. It is up to the players to start producing the goods," he said. |
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