Smith backs extra spin on Lankan tour
Former Proteas skipper feels heat could be telling in two-test series
As the SA cricket side prepare to take on Sri Lanka in next week’s test, former captain Graeme Smith feels the Proteas may have to go with two spinners against the islanders to cope with notoriously sweltering conditions there.
SA face the Lankans on Thursday in Galle, in the first of two tests, with the South Africans eager to start off on a high following an historic 1-0 series victory on the island four years ago.
Smith, speaking after addressing delegates at the KFC mini-cricket seminar held in Hluhluwe this week, said high temperatures in Sri Lanka made it almost impossible to go with an all-out pace attack. “The conditions there are extremely hot,” said the now retired Smith.
“But selection will also be determined by the pitch. Sri Lanka are in a rebuilding phase so we are way better than them. But on their slow pitches and with those conditions, the teams are even. “Captain Faf [du Plessis] and coach Ottis [Gibson] will have to make a decision. “I would certainly love to see two spinners given that fast bowlers won’t be able to give you more than 24-ball spells.”
The Proteas have picked Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi and Shaun von Berg as their spin options, but the return to fitness of Dale Steyn boosts a pace attack already containing Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi.
Smith added it was key for SA to win an away series following a successful summer at home, during which they obliterated Australia and India in the test format.
“We had tough away tours in India and England [in 2016 and last year], so we have to get back to winning ways on the road,” he said.
Smith, meanwhile, also weighed in on this week’s decision by the International Cricket Council to make balltampering a level-three offence, which carries a ban of six tests or 12 one-day internationals.
“It was about time the ICC got tough after the recent stuff. What we saw from Australia [when the ICC banned Steve Smith for just one match after ball-tampering in the Cape Town test against SA earlier this year] was not strong enough.
“Guys now will have to think twice before doing that stuff.”