Graeme Smith blames format of the WC for their exit!

[W63L35]

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith insisted the format of the World Twenty20 rather than their reputation as "chokers" was behind their exit.

The hosts went out on net run-rate after losing to India by 37 runs.

"Though we do find ways to get out of these tournaments there's a lot of disappointment knowing you've lost one game in the tournament and you're out.

"It does seem weird but we weren't as clinical with the ball and never really got a hold of the game," Smith said.

News conference: South Africa captain Graeme Smith

India were struggling on 61-4 before Rohit Sharma hit 50 and skipper Mahendra Dhoni 45 to turn the innings around with a stand of 85.

South Africa slumped to 31-5 and, despite a partnership of 69 between Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel, were well short of the 126 they needed to scrape through to the last four with the Indians.

"We knew batting second under lights with that bit of green tinge in the wicket was going to be difficult," the skipper admitted.

"It was disappointing to go five down as quickly as we did. Maybe a bit of experience was missing at times."


If they carry on playing the way they are they have a good chance

Graeme Smith on India

Despite his own team's failings the Proteas captain was quick to praise India and says they have the ingredients to surprise Australia in the semi-finals on Saturday.

"They bowled and fielded superbly, kept us under pressure all the way and finished the last six overs well with the bat," he added.

"Even at three down they still managed to be confident, play some shots and get themselves to a total.

"In this format of the game things can change so quickly and if they carry on playing the way they are they have a good chance.

"We knew they would come out with a lot of energy, they handled the more intense bigger moments better than us and finished well."


It was their home ground and the conditions were favourable for them, so we were under pressure

Mahendra Dhoni

Dhoni was delighted with his team's efforts in difficult conditions.

"We knew this would be among the toughest matches we'd play in the whole tournament," said the wicket-keeper/batsman.

"It was their home ground and the conditions were favourable for them, so we were under pressure and we didn't get the start we were looking for.

"If we'd got a decent start we were expecting to score 160 or 170, but 153 was a decent score which we thought we could defend, and that's what the bowlers proved.

"You have to throw yourself around for each and every catch - Dinesh Karthik's catch (to remove Smith) was amazing.

"It was a brilliant performance by Rohit Sharma, he's been sat out for ages and didn't play (on the tour of) England, but I was really happy with the way we played. There was a bit of grass on the wicket so we knew it would do a bit."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/7005758.stm

[iafzal]

How come SA is the one to lose like this and quite a few times now. Can it be the cricket betting that is rempant in SA?

[daddy]

no it's saffers nature to choke. steve waugh was right.

[kablooee87]

they didn't just lose one game. They got clobbered. If you can't chase down 126, you do NOT deserve to be in the final four.

[Genghis]

I think the author is just trying to sensationalise the article. Nowhere in that article does Graeme Smith blame the format for their exit.

[JustAnotherFan]

Originally Posted by iafzal How come SA is the one to lose like this and quite a few times now. Can it be the cricket betting that is rempant in SA?

What cricket betting? I think you are confused with Hansie and Indian bookies.

I can see a lot of things what went wrong. Crap fielding. Gibbs shouldn't have been out. Sometimes you need blue-eyed boy Kallis in a game for stability.

Also SA was playing for 126 to avoid Aussies in the semi's. If a team does then they deserve to lose. Simple.

Anyway, well done to India. They deserve the win.

I still think SA is one of the top T20 sides though.

[xbox]

This is happen when you are too confident and not respect your opponent. They requested for a grassy pitch and they got it. They thought they would run over India like they did it against Pakistan in ICC cup. Trust me if they were playing Australia they would never have a picth like this. Ravi Shastri after the game said which I totally agree with..."SA got caught with their pants down" lol. I was surprised to hear that comment on tv. But again SA deserved this. They had a better chance if they had a flat pitch because then they could eatup Indian bowlers.

[Milroastnescafe]

Shame. Was looking forward to beating them in the semi-finals again too.

[Genghis]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan Also SA was playing for 126 to avoid Aussies in the semi's. If a team does then they deserve to lose. Simple.

Well said ... I admire you as a South African fan to make such a comment.
It was quite clear that as soon as India had made the total, SA were playing to qualify but not to win. That mindset will never get you anywhere.

I agree you guys are prob the best twenty20 side, but when has that ever helped SA win an important game of cricket.

[JustAnotherFan]

Originally Posted by Milroastnescafe Shame. Was looking forward to beating them in the semi-finals again too.

Pakistan has never beaten SA in an ODI World Cup. Pakistan has never beaten SA in a T20 match. Last matches in SA, SA destroyed Pakistan in ODI, T20 and won the test series.

So what are you referring to?

[JustAnotherFan]

Originally Posted by genghis81 I agree you guys are prob the best twenty20 side, but when has that ever helped SA win an important game of cricket.

On the day in the game, any of the top sides can beat each other. I maintain it goes by who bats second. SL thrashed SA in warmups. SA beat Aus in warmups etc.

I believe Pakistan, Aus, SA, SL, India are the top sides. Other teams have some good players, but it doesn't make the team good enough.

[Usman Chadda]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan Pakistan has never beaten SA in an ODI World Cup. Pakistan has never beaten SA in a T20 match. Last matches in SA, SA destroyed Pakistan in ODI, T20 and won the test series. So what are you referring to?

He is an Aussie

[Master Blaster]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan Pakistan has never beaten SA in an ODI World Cup. Pakistan has never beaten SA in a T20 match. Last matches in SA, SA destroyed Pakistan in ODI, T20 and won the test series. So what are you referring to?

Maybe he is an Indian supporter . LoL

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

SA must be a gold medalist in choke-lympics !

[skr30]

^ nah, they'd probably lose in the semis.

[dinakar]

in my opinion too the format is a bit. they made the first round matches totally a farce.. forget about the points carrying forward to the second round, but atleast shouldn't be the second round grouping decided based on the team standings in the first round? did you ever hear in any other sports such a 'pre-assigned' second rounds?

[W63L35]

Originally Posted by from_da_lost_dim3nsion SA must be a gold medalist in choke-lympics !

.....a movie is already out;
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0442785/

[Boundary View]

Great to see Smith whimper like the baby he is. Not a nice bloke and glad to see him squirm.

[Milroastnescafe]

Originally Posted by Usman Sahib He is an Aussie

Yep. Sorry, I thought that was apparent.

[AWAN IN A MILLION]

bye bye SA .....

[Wazeeri]

India also lost only one match as did NZ as did Aus and Pakistan didn't lose any. He isn't blaming the format but that is a moan and he would do well to avoid it.

[Oxy]

South Africa and World tournaments dont sit well with each other.

SAffies usually find a way to balls up a 'win-win' situation into a 'lose-lose- scenario!

[waqar_ahmad]

Complain all you want Smith, the fact is that you are the biggest chokers in the world. Talent and skill are not the only requirements to win at this level

[Phuzz]

SA have only got themselves to blame, they only needed 126 to qualify and should have cruised to that total even if they weren't going to win.

[jackal786]

What smith wanted was carry over points from first round That way Australia would have got 2 less points. But he should remember he played windies and BD in a very easy group. After first round everything starts fresh. They don't have be deeply disappointed. But when all 3 teams had won 2 matches each i don't understand why he is complaining. I think he is targetting Australia for making it to next round despite losing to Zimbabwe in first round and losing to Pakistan in second round. But Australia thrashed SL and BD convincingly. India also lost only by 10 runs to NZ.


Technically he is not whining. But he is just using simple arithmetic like we won all the matches except 1 and yet we are out to console himself. Deep down he should know losing by 37 runs is a pretty big margin in 20/20. Saffers failed to beat England badly.

[OZGOD]

Comical stuff. I remember him blaming the format of the CWC in the WI for their exit too.

[OZGOD]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan What cricket betting? I think you are confused with Hansie and Indian bookies. I can see a lot of things what went wrong. Crap fielding. Gibbs shouldn't have been out. Sometimes you need blue-eyed boy Kallis in a game for stability. Also SA was playing for 126 to avoid Aussies in the semi's. If a team does then they deserve to lose. Simple. Anyway, well done to India. They deserve the win. I still think SA is one of the top T20 sides though.

What's the mood in SA JAF? Overshadowed by the Boks' form in the RWC?

[Savak]

What hypocricy. If you dont play well on the day you have to, you deserve to get kicked out. The WC format sucked. Pakistan and India got kicked out because they played poorly in their first 2 games of the tournament but we didnt complain even though the format was illogical. What are the saffies about? They wanted a green top, they should have been prepared to bat on it as well. Arrogance really does blind you at time. Now Shut up Graeme and sit at home.

[Cric-PhotoPassionate]

Originally Posted by Savak What hypocricy. If you dont play well on the day you have to, you deserve to get kicked out. The WC format sucked. Pakistan and India got kicked out because they played poorly in their first 2 games of the tournament but we didnt complain even though the format was illogical. What are the saffies about? They wanted a green top, they should have been prepared to bat on it as well. Arrogance really does blind you at time. Now Shut up Graeme and sit at home.

I agree with you. when SA and Ozzies are winning then no complain about formats. Double standred here. Why they didn't complained before the tournament?? It is happening in their own country.

[jafrioh]

yes, the most recent world cup on the West Indies

[iZeeshan]

Wow, that is a poor excuse...

[Long_Live_Pakistan]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan What cricket betting? I think you are confused with Hansie and Indian bookies. I can see a lot of things what went wrong. Crap fielding. Gibbs shouldn't have been out. Sometimes you need blue-eyed boy Kallis in a game for stability. Also SA was playing for 126 to avoid Aussies in the semi's. If a team does then they deserve to lose. Simple. Anyway, well done to India. They deserve the win. I still think SA is one of the top T20 sides though.

u may not believe it but i wanted India to beat SA in that match when i saw the pitch...what the hell......this is not a home series. SA is the HOST to a worldcup......what entitles them to play with grass content on teh pitch....they got too cocky and that is why they lost....

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