SMITH: PROTEAS HAVE THE BELIEF TO BEAT AUSSIES IN CWC23 SEMI-FINAL

Betway SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith believes the Proteas Men’s team have nothing to fear when they meet Australia in the much-anticipated ICC World Cup semi-final in Kolkata on Thursday.

Smith, of course, has plenty of experience of playing against Australia In his previous life as long-standing Proteas captain, which includes leading the national team against the Aussies in the 2007 World Cup semi-final in St Lucia.

Unfortunately for Smith and his team, the Proteas came unstuck against a juggernaut Australian side that went on to win an unprecedented third straight World Cup championship title during an era of complete dominance for the men in canary yellow.

But Smith, however, feels that the stranglehold Australia previously had over the Proteas has now been broken by the current generation. 

The Proteas have beaten the Aussies in four straight ODI series since the 2015 World Cup and also been victorious in their last two World Cup encounters both in Manchester 2019 and Lucknow here at this on-going tournament in India.

“It has been a great campaign for the guys. All the top players are in form. I think they also know that they have beaten Australia consistently as well. We have the players to do that,” said Smith, who oversaw South Africa’s first Test series win on Australian soil back in 2008.

“The nice part for the Proteas now is that while a semi-final is a big barrier for us to overcome, we have consistently beaten them (Australia) on big stages now. 

“Breaking down those barriers was vitally important for South African cricket. Those Test series wins in Australia, and if you think of the current ODI record, it’s been a period of sustained success, which has helped overcome those barriers against Australia.”

Smith feels that the Proteas should attack Pat Cummins’ team with a two-pronged spin component in the form of Durban’s Super Giants captain Keshav Maharaj and Paarl Royals left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.

He would, in particular, unleash Shamsi to have a full crack at the Aussies.

“We’ve seen during the tournament that Eden Gardens has taken more spin than the other venues. Getting your selection right therefore comes into question,” Smith said.

“Against Australia, in these conditions, we can definitely play two spinners. Kesh has been brilliant and on a surface like this, (Tabraiz) Shamsi comes back into the equation.

“I would also talk to him about strategy. I would want him to look for wickets to open up the game.”

Having experienced the pressurised build-up to a World Cup semi-final before, Smith’s final words of advice to the Proteas was that they should try to “let the main thing stay the main thing” in order to stay focused and not get distracted by the extra hype surrounding the game.

“Every cricket aspect needs to be focused on. Just keep on doing what you’ve been doing,” he said.