Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Reflection and finding a way to respond will be key for the Proteas in the four-day turn-around until the second Test starting in Port Elizabeth this coming Thursday.
AS IT HAPPENED: SA v Australia - FINAL DAY
Proteas captain, Graeme Smith, says his squad has enough confidence and positive reference to bounce back from a disappointing defeat, particularly having recently done so against Pakistan in the UAE.
"Always in a loss situation, good reflection is important to hopefully make good decisions and finding out how to improve yourself for the next game," a disappointed Smith said.
"We move to a new part of the country with new conditions that we need to be able to adapt to.
"This side has a lot of good reference points to fall back on even though the last four days have been disappointing," he continued. "I think there is enough confidence to help us in the next game."
Smith says it's important to move on, and looks forward to smart preparation and decision-making in Port Elizabeth.
"I doubt there is much mental scarring, we have lost a game of cricket and were beaten comprehensively," he said.
"It's important that we move away from that, there are still two big Test matches left in this series and we need to make sure that we perform really well in the next one, that's our focus.
"I feel that, even though it's been disappointing, this game will benefit us going into the next game," he said to the team starting slowly again.
"I think our bowlers have got good time on their legs and hopefully we will have a higher intensity going into the next game. From a batting perspective I think we have some good things to talk about, if we can post some good totals which we have done in the last period of time we will have the ability to put Australia under pressure."
He accepts that his side was comprehensively beaten in all three departments, and lamented the inability to take opportunities and to put the visitors under pressure.
"We never hit our straps in any department throughout the four days," he said.
"Throughout the four days we had mishaps with illness, injuries and niggles, everything just seemed to not fall into line. Ultimately we allowed Australia to play cricket on the front foot and we know that, when they do that, they are a very dominant team no matter what Australian team it is."
Mitchell Johnson was named man of the match for his figures of 12-127, and was undoubtedly the difference between the two sides.
"There is no doubt that he was the difference in this game," he said.
"He bowled a superb spell, he is in form and hot at the moment but we have to find a way to curb that and put him under pressure. I think the conditions certainly suited his style of bowling and he was able to extract every bit of life and uncertainty in that wicket which in turn put us under pressure. Credit to him for the way he performed in this game."
The Proteas will travel to Port Elizabeth on Monday morning.
AS IT HAPPENED: SA v Australia - FINAL DAY
Proteas captain, Graeme Smith, says his squad has enough confidence and positive reference to bounce back from a disappointing defeat, particularly having recently done so against Pakistan in the UAE.
"Always in a loss situation, good reflection is important to hopefully make good decisions and finding out how to improve yourself for the next game," a disappointed Smith said.
"We move to a new part of the country with new conditions that we need to be able to adapt to.
"This side has a lot of good reference points to fall back on even though the last four days have been disappointing," he continued. "I think there is enough confidence to help us in the next game."
Smith says it's important to move on, and looks forward to smart preparation and decision-making in Port Elizabeth.
"I doubt there is much mental scarring, we have lost a game of cricket and were beaten comprehensively," he said.
"It's important that we move away from that, there are still two big Test matches left in this series and we need to make sure that we perform really well in the next one, that's our focus.
"I feel that, even though it's been disappointing, this game will benefit us going into the next game," he said to the team starting slowly again.
"I think our bowlers have got good time on their legs and hopefully we will have a higher intensity going into the next game. From a batting perspective I think we have some good things to talk about, if we can post some good totals which we have done in the last period of time we will have the ability to put Australia under pressure."
He accepts that his side was comprehensively beaten in all three departments, and lamented the inability to take opportunities and to put the visitors under pressure.
"We never hit our straps in any department throughout the four days," he said.
"Throughout the four days we had mishaps with illness, injuries and niggles, everything just seemed to not fall into line. Ultimately we allowed Australia to play cricket on the front foot and we know that, when they do that, they are a very dominant team no matter what Australian team it is."
Mitchell Johnson was named man of the match for his figures of 12-127, and was undoubtedly the difference between the two sides.
"There is no doubt that he was the difference in this game," he said.
"He bowled a superb spell, he is in form and hot at the moment but we have to find a way to curb that and put him under pressure. I think the conditions certainly suited his style of bowling and he was able to extract every bit of life and uncertainty in that wicket which in turn put us under pressure. Credit to him for the way he performed in this game."
The Proteas will travel to Port Elizabeth on Monday morning.
