Graeme Smith (Gallo)

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South Africa have lost their last three Tests at Kingsmead, against Australia, England and India, with the last win in Durban coming against West Indies in January 2008.

But Smith said that he and his team-mates would be using their poor record at Kingsmead as motivation for the test against Sri Lanka.

“It’s been extremely disappointing the way we have played at Kingsmead,” Smith told a news conference in Durban.

“For me it is a motivation to try and put that right. I don’t come here with any self-doubt or any doubts as to why we haven’t performed here. It is a fresh start and I want to perform well here and everyone in the team feels the same. The positive mindset of wanting to turn things around is something that we are all focused on,” he explained.

South Africa started their three-Test series against Sri Lanka with a bang thanks to an innings and 81-run shellacking of the tourists at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Sri Lanka’s experienced batsmen did not fire in the first Test as they battled to get to grips with a swinging and seaming ball but Smith said that the Proteas would not be taking the likes of Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan lightly.

“In the past South Africa has been on the backend of some big partnerships from Sri Lanka. We fully respect what they are capable of,” said Smith.

“It’s our goal to keep them on the back foot as long as possible, to not allow them to find that rhythm and freedom with which they like to play. If we can keep them under pressure then we are doing our job. They are class players, especially Mahela and Kumar, so if we can keep our foot on them then that will be great,” he added.

Durban had been subjected to hot weather in the week building up to the Test, although rain fell on Friday, the Proteas’ first day of training in the coastal city.

The hot and windy weather has meant that the pitch was rock hard before the rain fell which should provide good bounce and carry for South Africa’s fast bowlers although they may struggle to find the extravagant seam movement they produced at Centurion.

Smith admitted that he had not seen the pitch as it was under covers because of the inclement weather but said that the Kingsmead wicket, once regarded as one of the bounciest wickets in South Africa, had been rather fickle in recent years.

“It’s been quite unpredictable in terms of how the wicket has played the last few times I have been here,” he explained.

“It always used to have a lot more pace and bounce than most of our other grounds. It has got a bit slower over time and taken a bit more spin. We will have to adapt well as a team which is something that is crucial to the way we play in Durban and that is something that we haven’t done well (recently),” he added.