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Craig HillSouth Africa Captain Graeme Smith Thrills Australians Crowds
January 7th 2009 12:54
Heroic South African skipper Graeme Smith has told how he was forced to bat in a borrowed pullover stained with hamburger juices after being dressed by team-mates in a desperate bid to halt Australia's late surge for victory in the 3 Mobile Test at the SCG.
Smith, who broke his left hand in the first innings and was also nursing an injured right elbow, courageously batted at No.11 as the Proteas went within 10 balls of pulling off one of the greatest escape acts in world cricket.
The captain, along with tailender Makhaya Ntini (28 not out), held Australia at bay for 29 minutes before he was bowled by Mitchell Johnson in the penultimate over of a dramatic game.
Smith revealed he had not planned to bat at all but was swept up in the emotion of his team's gutsy rearguard campaign.
"I didn't really expect to go out. Deep inside I didn't really want to get out there," he admitted after Australia's thrilling 103-run win.
"I probably decided 25 overs out, 26 overs out (that I was going to bat)."
"I arrived here without any kit and had some pants I'd shoved into my cricket bag to protect my bats."
"I stole a shirt off Jacques (Kallis) and a pullover off 'Harry' (Paul Harris) that still had his hamburger stain on the front left side of it."
"I had Morne (Morkel) dressing me and putting my shoes on and pads."
"I decided I was going to give it a go and give it my best shot and if I got a first baller or whatever at least I tried."
"Obviously there's a lot of pain. Once one ball hit the bat I thought 'okay, that's one out the way'."
"(I told myself) 'just keeping watching the ball and hoping that it hits the bat the whole time."
"It was about getting out there and doing the best you can."
Australian captain Ricky Ponting was full of praise for his opposite number, saying his decision to take to the crease 'showed a lot of character'.
"I guess that's what every team looks to from their leader, is to show that sort of fighting spirit and to stand up when they're needed and get out there and do a job no matter how sore or tired or whatever you might be," Ponting said.
"Graeme's been carrying his elbow (injury) right through the Test series, you could see that."
"But to come out with a broken finger today - I'm sure it would have been pretty numb - and I'm not sure how much feeling he had in that (left) hand today, there would have been a few injections in it I'd imagine."
"But just to come back out and try and do the best for his team was a great effort."
Smith and Ntini looked to have done enough to stave off defeat before Johnson got one to jag back and bowl the Proteas captain six minutes from stumps.
Smith refused to use his injuries as an excuse.
"He probably would have got me if I had both arms available," he declared.
"It cut back off a crack (and) Mitchell has bowled superbly all series."
"I saw they were having a little group meeting just before that over and I was hoping that they were going to give the ball to someone else."
South Africa took the series 2-1 following victories in Perth and Melbourne and Smith conceded Sydney was one that got away.
"We had our opportunities in the game early on," he said.
"We dropped our catches for the first time in a long time and it probably cost us the game."
"It was part of a great series, this finish, and it sets up a terrific home series in South Africa."
Smith, who broke his left hand in the first innings and was also nursing an injured right elbow, courageously batted at No.11 as the Proteas went within 10 balls of pulling off one of the greatest escape acts in world cricket.
The captain, along with tailender Makhaya Ntini (28 not out), held Australia at bay for 29 minutes before he was bowled by Mitchell Johnson in the penultimate over of a dramatic game.
Smith revealed he had not planned to bat at all but was swept up in the emotion of his team's gutsy rearguard campaign.
"I didn't really expect to go out. Deep inside I didn't really want to get out there," he admitted after Australia's thrilling 103-run win.
"I probably decided 25 overs out, 26 overs out (that I was going to bat)."
"I arrived here without any kit and had some pants I'd shoved into my cricket bag to protect my bats."
"I stole a shirt off Jacques (Kallis) and a pullover off 'Harry' (Paul Harris) that still had his hamburger stain on the front left side of it."
"I had Morne (Morkel) dressing me and putting my shoes on and pads."
"I decided I was going to give it a go and give it my best shot and if I got a first baller or whatever at least I tried."
"Obviously there's a lot of pain. Once one ball hit the bat I thought 'okay, that's one out the way'."
"(I told myself) 'just keeping watching the ball and hoping that it hits the bat the whole time."
"It was about getting out there and doing the best you can."
Australian captain Ricky Ponting was full of praise for his opposite number, saying his decision to take to the crease 'showed a lot of character'.
"I guess that's what every team looks to from their leader, is to show that sort of fighting spirit and to stand up when they're needed and get out there and do a job no matter how sore or tired or whatever you might be," Ponting said.
"Graeme's been carrying his elbow (injury) right through the Test series, you could see that."
"But to come out with a broken finger today - I'm sure it would have been pretty numb - and I'm not sure how much feeling he had in that (left) hand today, there would have been a few injections in it I'd imagine."
"But just to come back out and try and do the best for his team was a great effort."
Smith and Ntini looked to have done enough to stave off defeat before Johnson got one to jag back and bowl the Proteas captain six minutes from stumps.
Smith refused to use his injuries as an excuse.
"He probably would have got me if I had both arms available," he declared.
"It cut back off a crack (and) Mitchell has bowled superbly all series."
"I saw they were having a little group meeting just before that over and I was hoping that they were going to give the ball to someone else."
South Africa took the series 2-1 following victories in Perth and Melbourne and Smith conceded Sydney was one that got away.
"We had our opportunities in the game early on," he said.
"We dropped our catches for the first time in a long time and it probably cost us the game."
"It was part of a great series, this finish, and it sets up a terrific home series in South Africa."
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