Dhoni is the man we are after, says Smith
By IANSFriday, February 5, 2010
NAGPUR - South African captain Graeme Smith said they would be targetting Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni as he is a key member of the team and putting him under pressure might affect the rest of the side.
Smith underlined this as their strategy for the two-Test series that begins here Saturday.
“He (Dhoni) seems a good, controlled leader. We have gathered a lot of information on him from the time he made his debut as Test captain,” Smith told reporters Friday.
“We see him as the key figure in their side. He carries a lot of responsibility so if we can create a lot of pressure on him, maybe we can open up a few chinks.”
Just before the tour of India, South African coach Mickey Arthur resigned and the entire selection panel was sacked. Corrie van Zyl was announced as coach for the tour while an interim selection panel was also put in place.
Smith asked his players to move over the past eventful few days in South African cricket and concentrate on the job at hand.
“Last week was quite a tough time for all the guys, including myself. There were a lot of mixed media reports which weighed a lot on our heads,” Smith said.
“It has been a rushed preparation for Corrie and Kepler trying to come to terms with everything. But each guy is finding a space in the environment. Ultimately, this tour would be judged on results.”
Smith said the start of the series will be very important.
“There will be no room for error. It obviously puts a lot of emphasis on the first Test. We have to be lot more precise. There is no way to get back in the series if you allow things to slip early on.”
He said the team would be looking to do an unfinished job of beating India.
“In the last two years we had won in England, and then in Australia and we came close to beating India. The opportunity to beat India excites us and that is our goal now.”
“The key will be to adapt to the conditions, but it is also important we play our style of cricket,” he said.
Smith said they are still undecided on the spinners’ slot.
Left-arm spinner Paul Harris did not have a good home tour against England and was dropped from the final Test in Johannesburg. They have a choice in off-spinner Johan Botha, though Smith indicated that Harris could be the first choice.
“Paul is the man with the mantle at the moment and it would take a lot for that to change. I think Johan can add a lot of value but these are things we need to take a look before taking a decision.”
