Publications
Partners
Port Elizabeth - The Proteas are hoping for conditions that will "provide good cricket" in the second Test against Australia starting at St George's Park on Thursday.
Proteas captain, Graeme Smith, says it will be important move on from the conditions and results in Centurion, and to adapt to the conditions in PE as quickly as possible.
"One thing I have learnt is that when you ask for things you generally don't get them, we tend to stay away," Smith said in response to what kind of wicket he would like.
"We will be happy with a good Test wicket, we would obviously love a result wicket but generally a good Test wicket."
The captain says the quick turnaround in matches will benefit his squad, who have once again had a slow start to a series.
"It's difficult to say why we have started so slowly in series, maybe we don't like to throw the first punch," he said.
"I think it's important to have the ability to respond and to know how to respond, experience plays a big role.
"The guys have a lot of reference points in terms of confidence and performances to fall back on."
"We got straight back into our work and have had some good discussions," Smith said of the preparation leading into the match.
"I'm hoping that the first hit-out will allow us to get to our best, if anything I feel that we have lacked a little bit of real competitive cricket coming into the series.
"That was shown in the first Test match where we were certainly outplayed.
"We have to get ourselves back into this series over the next five days and I'm hoping we will be better for it."
Port Elizabeth is also known as the "Friendly City" and Smith is looking forward to the usual jovial support from the fans.
"For us it's always been a great place to play," he said of the city, which is celebrating 100 years.
"There is a great atmosphere and the fans really get behind the team.
"There is a vibe around the city even when driving around, you can feel the excitement of having the Proteas in town.
"It's a big occasion, a South Africa- Australia Test match is a highlight for a lot of people."
Proteas captain, Graeme Smith, says it will be important move on from the conditions and results in Centurion, and to adapt to the conditions in PE as quickly as possible.
"One thing I have learnt is that when you ask for things you generally don't get them, we tend to stay away," Smith said in response to what kind of wicket he would like.
"We will be happy with a good Test wicket, we would obviously love a result wicket but generally a good Test wicket."
The captain says the quick turnaround in matches will benefit his squad, who have once again had a slow start to a series.
"It's difficult to say why we have started so slowly in series, maybe we don't like to throw the first punch," he said.
"I think it's important to have the ability to respond and to know how to respond, experience plays a big role.
"The guys have a lot of reference points in terms of confidence and performances to fall back on."
"We got straight back into our work and have had some good discussions," Smith said of the preparation leading into the match.
"I'm hoping that the first hit-out will allow us to get to our best, if anything I feel that we have lacked a little bit of real competitive cricket coming into the series.
"That was shown in the first Test match where we were certainly outplayed.
"We have to get ourselves back into this series over the next five days and I'm hoping we will be better for it."
Port Elizabeth is also known as the "Friendly City" and Smith is looking forward to the usual jovial support from the fans.
"For us it's always been a great place to play," he said of the city, which is celebrating 100 years.
"There is a great atmosphere and the fans really get behind the team.
"There is a vibe around the city even when driving around, you can feel the excitement of having the Proteas in town.
"It's a big occasion, a South Africa- Australia Test match is a highlight for a lot of people."
Special moment for Quinton de Kock who became the 82nd Proteas Test player since readmission this morning - CSA
