Smith savours series lead

LEEDS – South Africa will savour Monday’s victory over England at Headingley, where they went 1-0 up in the series, though they are aware history is against them, captain Graeme Smith said.

South Africa have not won a test series in England since 1965 and since their return from sporting isolation they have taken the lead in the three series they have played in 1994, 1998 and 2003 only to fail to go on and triumph. “We are going to enjoy this moment (first),” Smith told reporters.”Edgbaston is a little time away but it is something we have been aware of all the time.The important thing is that we are on the up.”Edgbaston is a pressure cooker atmosphere for any away team, but in the meantime we will relax things a little and prepare and hopefully play as well at Edgbaston as we have here.”Smith and his opposite number Michael Vaughan both acknowledged that England’s below-par total of 203 on the first day presented the tourists with an opportunity to take the lead in the four-match series.The South Africa skipper paid tribute in particular to the way AB de Villiers played for his 174 – saying “it was a man’s innings” – after getting booed by the crowd for his part in a controversial catch incident.SENSIBLE BATTING While Smith said England “played frantically” to be bowled out in just 52.3 overs, Vaughan admitted his side batted “like millionaires” before South Africa showed a more sensible and circumspect approach.”We are a better batting unit than 203 – 350 would have put us in the game,” Vaughan said.”South Africa went out and batted how you can bat on a Headingley pitch.”Vaughan alluded to how selection changes upset team morale.Little-known swing bowler Darren Pattinson came in, Andrew Flintoff came back and regulars Ryan Sidebottom (injured) and Paul Collingwood (dropped) went out.Pattinson’s call-up invited criticised as the more experienced Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Sajid Mahmood and Simon Jones were all overlooked.Vaughan, though, said it was unfair to blame Pattinson, who he “felt sorry for”.”It does look like a confused selection,” Vaughan said.”But the selection of one person doesn’t lose you a test match.We lost the test match because we didn’t play good enough as a collective unit.”He added: “We didn’t feel as much as a unit this week as we did the week before.I have a huge belief that we need to be a unit in test match cricket and have that togetherness.Two changes don’t help.”Over the next week it’s important the guys get away and work and come back to the squad on Sunday and react like we did at Lord’s and get that buzz back.This week it wasn’t there.”Nampa-Reuters”We are going to enjoy this moment (first),” Smith told reporters.”Edgbaston is a little time away but it is something we have been aware of all the time.The important thing is that we are on the up.”Edgbaston is a pressure cooker atmosphere for any away team, but in the meantime we will relax things a little and prepare and hopefully play as well at Edgbaston as we have here.”Smith and his opposite number Michael Vaughan both acknowledged that England’s below-par total of 203 on the first day presented the tourists with an opportunity to take the lead in the four-match series.The South Africa skipper paid tribute in particular to the way AB de Villiers played for his 174 – saying “it was a man’s innings” – after getting booed by the crowd for his part in a controversial catch incident.SENSIBLE BATTING While Smith said England “played frantically” to be bowled out in just 52.3 overs, Vaughan admitted his side batted “like millionaires” before South Africa showed a more sensible and circumspect approach.”We are a better batting unit than 203 – 350 would have put us in the game,” Vaughan said.”South Africa went out and batted how you can bat on a Headingley pitch.”Vaughan alluded to how selection changes upset team morale.Little-known swing bowler Darren Pattinson came in, Andrew Flintoff came back and regulars Ryan Sidebottom (injured) and Paul Collingwood (dropped) went out.Pattinson’s call-up invited criticised as the more experienced Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Sajid Mahmood and Simon Jones were all overlooked.Vaughan, though, said it was unfair to blame Pattinson, who he “felt sorry for”.”It does look like a confused selection,” Vaughan said.”But the selection of one person doesn’t lose you a test match.We lost the test match because we didn’t play good enough as a collective unit.”He added: “We didn’t feel as much as a unit this week as we did the week before.I have a huge belief that we need to be a unit in test match cricket and have that togetherness.Two changes don’t help.”Over the next week it’s important the guys get away and work and come back to the squad on Sunday and react like we did at Lord’s and get that buzz back.This week it wasn’t there.”Nampa-Reuters