tonup captain smith gets back to business
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Ton-up captain Smith gets back to business

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Ton-up captain Smith gets back to business

Johannesburg - Arabstoday

After a hectic few days of interviews and public appearances to mark his 100th Test captaincy, Graeme Smith looked forward on Thursday to getting back to the core business of leading the South African cricket team in the first Test against Pakistan starting at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday. "It has been emotional and humbling," Smith said of the outpouring of praise and public adulation that preceded him becoming the first man in history to captain a team 100 times in Tests. "When I wake up tomorrow, turning 32 and leading South Africa out is going to be one of the proudest moments in my career and my life." He said playing his 100th Test against England at the Oval last year had given him a "little taste" of dealing with a major milestone. He was proud to have achieved success then - he scored a century and South Africa won by an innings - but said it was different this time because it was on home soil. "The advantage then was that I was in a foreign country and I was able to create a little space. "Being in South Africa over the last few days has been incredible. I have been walking around in a constant buzz. "This afternoon and evening is obviously a crucial time in terms of our preparation and to make sure that I get some space to focus on my performance. "The team training sessions have been tough and hard and that has been a good reality check. The team is in a good space." Sports minister Fikile Mbalula sat next to Smith at the captain's pre-match press conference, which he said was a "special occasion". He praised Smith's resilience and his ability to inspire South Africa's youth and described him as "a paragon of human perfection". Smith said he felt that resilience had been one of his main attributes as a captain after being given the job in 2003 at the age of 22. "There are a lot of growth periods. People had to be patient with me. I feel that from the back end of 2007 and early 2008 was the first time I really got a grasp of what the job was about," he said. "The last five to six years is the time I have really felt in control of the leadership, the direction of the team and what it entails to be Proteas captain. "From a team perspective, winning back to back in England and Australia (in 2008 and 2012) is probably the great achievement. The other thing I am proud of is being able to perform in my own game. Opening the batting is tough." He said he regretted not having been able to lead South Africa to a World Cup title but hoped still to be part of a successful World Cup challenge as a player, having given up the one-day captaincy after a failed 2011 campaign. The aftermath of the World Cup, when he was criticised for not returning with the team, had been a low point, he added. "My own self-esteem and confidence took a whack." Smith praised coach Gary Kirsten for persuading him to carry on as Test captain. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq posed with Smith and the series trophy, then said that he believed his team could rise to the challenge of meeting the number one-ranked South Africans on what he said looked like a good pitch, with pace and bounce. "It's not easy but this team has been taking challenges very well in the last two-and-a-half years," he said. "It is a case of showing character against the top side in the world." Misbah confirmed that opening batsman Taufeeq Umar would return home later on Thursday after failing to recover from a stress fracture in his left leg. From : AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

tonup captain smith gets back to business tonup captain smith gets back to business

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

tonup captain smith gets back to business tonup captain smith gets back to business

 



GMT 16:47 2017 Wednesday ,29 March

Asala feels more nostalgic for Syria

GMT 06:41 2014 Monday ,01 September

July 22 - August 22

GMT 02:17 2017 Monday ,23 October

Feb20/Mar20

GMT 12:58 2014 Tuesday ,03 June

NuBo to launch Hair Growth Factor

GMT 11:39 2011 Saturday ,24 September

New York city ballet“Ocean’s Kingdom”

GMT 02:07 2017 Sunday ,24 September

May22nd-June21st

GMT 02:06 2017 Thursday ,28 September

August24th-September23rd

GMT 22:08 2017 Sunday ,19 November

Bahraini women’s empowerment discussed

GMT 15:32 2017 Tuesday ,28 February

Gumtree bans donkey sales in S.Africa over skin trade

GMT 20:48 2018 Friday ,14 September

Volkswagen to end production of the Beetle next year

GMT 13:36 2015 Thursday ,19 March

Sabkhas ideal source of energy

GMT 08:31 2014 Friday ,16 May

Interior design living room

GMT 10:01 2014 Friday ,06 June

February 18 - March 19

GMT 13:11 2015 Wednesday ,18 March

Britain moving 'from austerity to prosperity'
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday