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Smith backs Ntini

Dec 24, 2009 9:59 AM | By Sapa

Newcomer Friedel de Wet is likely to step down if South Africa's premier bowler Dale Steyn is declared fit to play in the second Test against England starting at Kingsmead on Saturday.


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Makhaya Ntini of South Africa prepares to bowl during a South Africa nets session at Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban.
Makhaya Ntini of South Africa prepares to bowl during a South Africa nets session at Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban.
Photograph by: Paul Gilham
Credit: Getty Images

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Proteas captain Graeme Smith said he did not think there would be too much question about who would bowl if Steyn is fit.

"The three guys who've had the job over the last period of time have been very successful," Smith said.

"Makhaya (Ntini) brings a lot of experience to our attack. He maybe didn't bowl as well as he would have liked in Centurion (in the first Test), but he's a guy that I certainly support, and he's been integral throughout my captaincy, so I really back him to come through in this Test match and to bowl well.

"Morne (Morkel) offers you some variety in the attack with his pace and bounce, and it was great to see Friedel perform well (on debut in Centurion), but if Dale is fit, I think it will be a straight swap."

De Wet took three wickets in the space of six overs on Sunday afternoon to take South Africa very close to a thrilling victory in the first Test, which ended in a draw.

Smith said Steyn had been making good progress and had done some bowling in Cape Town, and he hoped a decision could be made on his availability by the night before the Test started.

The skipper added that all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who is recovering from a fractured rib, was also making good progress, but it was not yet clear how much he would bowl in the second Test.

"I would be a little conservative," Smith said. "Obviously to have him bowl at some stage would be great - it allows us some variety and some more options with the attack.

He said he would not be surprised if England named the same XI for the second Test.

"England seem to be sticking to the six batsman route," he said.

"I think, for them, it's a slightly more conservative outlook. They probably feel, after their middle order were troubled in both innings (in Centurion), that they need to have the extra batting available.

"But if we could get some early wickets up front, we'd like to expose that middle order."

Smith also said he was not too concerned about the England bowling attack.

"They've got some quality bowlers around, who've performed well over time," he said, "but in the Test matches we played in England last year, we played very well against their attack.

"We managed to post some very good totals at Headingley, we batted out two to three days at Lords, and in the fourth innings we chased a very good total at Edgbaston.

"So we've had some success against their attack and we batted well on a wicket that did a lot with the new ball in Centurion. The batting unit - especially the top six - has performed well against England over the past two years, and we'd like to carry that on."

Smith said the second Test in Durban offered new challenges for both teams.

"We would like to be the team that adapts best and be stronger than England in the first three days.

"At this time of year, the humidity is always a massive issue, and the overhead conditions. There has been a lot of rain around Durban, so how you look after the ball here is obviously crucial."

The skipper said he was not concerned that England would be targeting him with the new ball.

"Since I've taken over at 22 years of age, I've had to get used to that," he said.

"As a player, handling the captaincy and being a top-order batsman, going into a big series and being targeted, it's something I've dealt with and have been able to thrive on during my career. So I'm excited to have the opportunity to do that in this series."

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Comments

Dec 24 2009 10:44:16 AM
Eric
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Bad move, Graeme! In case you haven't noticed, Ntini is way past his sell-by date! De Wet almost won the first test for us. How many wickets did Ntini get?

Actually, it won't be such a bad idea to get rid of Smith, too. Johann Botha is a far better captain!
Dec 24 2009 11:15:18 AM
MCMODISE
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Eric i think u are day dreaming, The most succesful captain of RSA is GRAEME, with the help of Makhaya. until he became the most succesful weaket taker people like us and the goverment of RSA will still include MAKHAYA in the starting eleven. So please make peace with it.
Dec 24 2009 11:22:15 AM
ntunja
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Makhaya is our hero, eric, back off
Dec 24 2009 11:32:13 AM
PinkAndProud
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Eric, I agree with you regarding Ntini and Smith. Makaya is way past his sell-by date but how dare you say something about a black man? Didn't you know any form of criticism makes you a racisssst! LOL!
Dec 24 2009 12:09:19 PM
ntunja
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lady aint you a dyke??
Dec 24 2009 01:00:50 PM
PinkAndProud
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ntunja
lady aint you a dyke??
_______

What has that got to do with the price of bread?
Dec 24 2009 01:25:21 PM
SAFANSINI
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One of the reasons AUSTRALIA has been so successful and win trophies is because REPUTATIONS don't count in australian cricket selection. In SA REPUTATIONS is the soup of the day in selection. Steyn has been poor in 2009, where was Dale in Champions trophy? I mean he is called a premier bowler for what? De Wet is gonna be dropped for the so called premier bowler and INQABA NTINI who haven't performed? How Deplorable? And Smith is in the squad because of captaincy which by the way is egreegious. Whether Ntini is a black people hero or not who cares, players must play when they are on form, KLAAR and FINISH. Smith a successful captain? Well I wonder how many games he would have won if it wasn't for Jacque Henry Kallis! Smith only look good when Proteas are doing well which is the sign of a deplorable captain, a man must be measured in times of discomfort and NOT COMFORT. His field placing/placement is outstandingly outrageous, and agreed BOTHA is the CAPTAIN for me, he is extremely innovatitive, great cogitater, good attitude too. As for Morne Morkel, perhaps selectors knows his parents, what with those GENEREOUS NO BALLS? South Africans are BEREFT of cricket lurking talent just for REPUTATIONS! Some people still want Hershelle Gibbs to play, how rediculous?
Dec 24 2009 09:03:34 PM
Oom Piet
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In the last game Ntini didn't play so well. So what ?
Even the best bowlers in the world don't always take a lot of wickets in every game.
A player should not be judged for his performance in one game.
Dec 24 2009 09:15:29 PM
Mole85
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He isnt too keen on Test cricket, but Id rather have Parnell in the team, a left arm quicky brings another dimension to the boring, right arm fast/ medium...
Dec 26 2009 12:45:06 PM
bart
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Give Makhaya a go in this series, but I think after that its time for new blood - I'd like to see Parnell, Morkel must go - he does not seem to have a strong enough mental attitude - drops his head too easily.


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