Graeme Smith will end his eight-year tenure as captain of the South African one-day international team at his third World Cup. In the second part of an interview with chief sports writer Kevin McCallum, Smith looks ahead to the tournament, and gives an insight to the mental, physical and tactical preparation of his side for this World Cup on the sub-continent.
Kevin McCallum: Do you get the sense that the expectations of the public and the media are a little bit less than they have been for past World Cups?
Graeme Smith: Walking around the streets (this week) you get a sense that there is a buzz and people are excited about the World Cup. People walk up to you and tell you things like “bring the trophy home”. I think the energy is there.
The way we are thinking as a team ahead of this tournament is quite different. In 2007 we went there with the expectation of winning the tournament, and put ourselves under so much pressure. Yes, you have to want to win the World Cup and that has to be your mindset, otherwise what’s the point of going there, but we’re much more relaxed in terms of the way we want to do things, and we want to take it step by step. I don’t know if that makes sense to you without sounding too clichéd, but we’re not going there putting ourselves under pressure from the start to be in the final. That’s the goal, obviously, but we won’t be approaching every game and every day looking too far ahead. If you do that then you lose sight of the next immediate task. We’re taking each game as a new challenge, another step, day by day. We want to be solid every day, try our best every day, build up the confidence and then hopefully get on a good run. We’re certainly more relaxed about it than we’ve been in the past.
KM: The fact that you had a hard ride against India in the MTN ODI Series at home was probably, in retrospect, a good thing. You learnt a lot more about the character of the players in coming back to win 3-2, and also pushed home the point that “decision making” by some needed to be sharper.
GS: That was great. I think the guys learned some great lessons and I think some guys grew up also in terms of knowing what is required of them. Not only the young guys, but guys who have been in the squad for 50 or 60 games, who have suddenly now have a different level of thinking.
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi against Pakistan we were 2-2 and won the last game. We came from 2-1 down against India and without Jakes (Jacques Kallis) our balance in South African conditions was tough to work out. In Indian conditions, with the squad we have picked for the tournament, it means we have a few more options. There were a lot of factors to consider in the India series, and I’m glad the guys came through. It showed strength of character, and that’s what you like to see as a captain and teammate.
Look, we have an important two weeks before the World Cup. It’s not so much about the warm-up games and winning them, but how we prepare and how we get ourselves ready for the 24th (first World Cup match against the West Indies).
KM: Is it possible to compare this team to the 2007 side? I know that’s not something players, coaches and captains like doing, but this team does have more variety than four years ago.
GS: When I look back on the ’07 team, I think we were a little bit too rigid in terms of players and the squad. We are a lot more open-minded now, we have a lot more options. We had a lot of the same “type” of players in ’07. We had a lot of experience back then. We don’t have a lot of World Cup experience in this team, but we have a lot of variety, a lot of energy, we’ve got pace, we’ve got spin and we have a lot of options, which is what I think we maybe lacked in 2007.
We stuck to a similar style of play in ’07, and now we can change the way we play. We can be more innovative and more off the cuff, and be a lot more unpredictable, while still having that solid base.
KM: Playing in India is very different, obviously. What sort of approach will you take?
GS: Conditions are going to be quite batter friendly so scores might be quite high. I think we have a solid top five and top six batting line-up. Finishing, with bat and ball, is something we need to be really strong on. I think that’s going to be crucial throughout the World Cup. Powerplay three, when that’s taken and how that’s used and how’s its managed with both bat and ball is also going to be important.
I really am excited by the energy in the squad now. The guys are backing each other and give their best. There’s no real baggage or apprehension from the guys, and that’s the difference for me from my three World Cups.
KM: You mentioned powerplay three and how important it is to use it properly. Is there a set plan for it, or will you move it around?
GS: For me, powerplay three is not so much about when you take it, but how you play it, the execution of it. We’ve spoken a lot about it and when to take it. I personally would like to take it when guys are in and there’s a good partnership going, rather than when guys are just starting out at the crease. The easiest way to do it would be to just leave it to the end so you don’t have to think about it. We’ve tried a few things through some of the games and we’ve decided to make a gut decision on the day, see how things are going and then go for it. What the guys in the middle need to discuss it their execution; what they need to do to get eight or nine runs an over. That way of thinking has made powerplay three a lot more simple for us.
From a bowling point of view, an aggressive mindset is always crucial. So often when you’re bowling in the powerplay you back off because you think the team is going to be attacking you. So we want to be aggressive and look to pick up wickets, which is one way of using it to your advantage. That’s something Australia did very well in 2007, they attacked that Powerplay whereas everyone else kinda stood back.
KM: It’s the most open World Cup I can remember. India were good here, Australia have just beaten England, England look decent and South Africa are hitting form. Can you pick a winner?
GS: It is a very open World Cup. England have some good players who will be fit for the World Cup. Australia are always very solid performers in this form of the game. Fatigue for the two of them might be an issue – I think England are home for three days before they travel to India for the World Cup. The sub-continent teams are always wily and street smart in their own conditions. They will always be a factor. Bangladesh will pull off a few surprises in front of all their fans.
KM: So what would the 30-year old Graeme Smith tell the 22-year old Graeme Smith?
GS: I’d tell him not to take the job at 22 (laughs). I look back sometimes and I wonder how I made it through, to be honest with you. Up until 2007 I wonder how I lasted in the job, and still managed to perform at times. The pressures and the tension and the responsibilities of the captaincy, and then still trying to figure out who I was and my place in the world was crazy. I was trying to grow up and figure out who I was as a person. I still don’t know how I made it through those first four years of my career, and am still in the job eight years later.
I’ve really enjoyed the last few years. Maybe I’m more conservative in the way I look at things, and having more experience and being able to deal with it is more important.
KM: You have, at most, nine games left as captain of the South African ODI team. Have Cricket South Africa spoke to you about the new captain? Do you think about these being your last games as captain, or does that not come into your thinking at all?
GS: Kev, I’m not nostalgic about it in any way. I’m very comfortable with the decision I have made. I want to give my best at this World Cup and walk away knowing that as a leader and as a player, I’ve given everything possible I could give. Being able to walk away knowing I did everything I could do – and hopefully that means success.
I haven’t had discussions about the captaincy. I don’t even know about the new coach. I have some knowledge I think could be valuable from the eight years I’ve had as captain.
When I look back, I think some of the things I have done with the team and for South Africa will be appreciated after the fact that I’m finished. I’ve been through an interesting phase for South African cricket. I’ve helped lay some large building blocks for the team behind the scenes and in the team. I’m proud of what I’ve been a part of. I want to end on a high.