Note to Graeme Smith: Put Team from Sreesanth; As SA Chase in Durban For Win

By Sreelata S. Yellamrazu

  It does not happen everyday. Usually when Sreesanth loses sight of his job, he usually self destructs. However, Graeme Smith may have unwittingly given the Indian fast bowler reason to gloat.

   
      South Africa must chase a target in excess of 300 if they are to prevent India from winning the second Test of the India South Africa series at Kingsmead, Durban and leveling the series at 1-1. In many ways, South Africa will feel that their bowlers did a tremendous job to restrict India to 228 in their second innings with only V.V.S. Laxman standing tall with ninety-six runs. In that light, South Africa will feel as optimistic as India that the target is competitive and they have the batsmen to do it.

     
      However, for South Africa to annihilate their own first innings total of 131 after thinking they got India out cheaply for 205, it would take their otherwise consistent batting top order to come to the party. And for the better part before tea on the third day of the second Test, it seemed that the South Africans had decided that going on the offensive was their best strategy. Graeme Smith started out in thunderous fashion and Alviro Petersen was looking astute.

       Then Sreesanth did what Alan Donald, who was commentating on air at the time, would have been holding his head had the camera panned to him. That is because Sreesanth’s brief stint with the South African “White Lightning” had the South African fast bowler tell Sreesanth to get a hold of his emotions on the field because they tended to disrupt his rhythm. However, Sreesanth being Sreesanth, Donald was witnessing the unfolding of his advice as Smith tried to put sense and put Sreesanth in his place with his own choice of words.

       However, Smith played the wrong game thereafter. The South Africans have obviously thought through their plans against India and constantly emphasize the need to be patient if victory is to be garnered against the no.1 Test team in the world. However, Smith’s patience suddenly wore thin and the need to teach Sreesanth overtook the purposefulness of his batting up until that point.

       In an attempt to play the hook shot, the South African captain top edged and ended up throwing away his wicket at a time when South Africa could have caused a few flutters amongst the Indian bowlers who have looked a different lot since the return of Zaheer Khan. Another hour or two from Smith at the crease and the winner of the match could have looked decidedly different.

   

     However, with Smith’s dismissal before tea, South Africa still need 233 to win the second Test and Sreesanth will feel this time his erratic behavior did yield him and his team one big dividend in Big Biff.