Smith ready for big games

Georgetown, Guyana: Talking about one of their most satisfying victories, Graeme Smith, the South African skipper, considers the match against Sri Lanka the biggest test of his team's ability.

"Sri Lanka is the team that is being talked about as a side that is hard to beat. We dominated them about 90 per cent of the match. It was our best victory," he said with pride.

"We were pretty much in control against Sri Lanka before Lasith Malinga's superb spell," said Smith.

"It's encouraging to know we had something in the tank in the end. That's pretty encouraging."

When does he expect to reach the semifinal?

His reply was: "Everyone seems to be in a hurry to reach the semifinal. We play four matches in the next ten days and that will decide our fate."

After the match against Bangladesh, South Africa play West Indies and New Zealand in Grenada and then play England in Barbados.

"It is during the next ten days that we will have to play with a lot of intensity. My players are ready for the big teams. During the last few days, I made sure that they switched off from cricket for a while. Some of the players chilled out.

"It is important that we are in the right frame of mind to face the intense battle ahead of us. Our players are in good shape," revealed the skipper.

Has he being doing some study on the strengths and weaknesses of the team that he is set to face?

"We did study them but we cannot win matches by just focusing on our opponents' drawbacks. We need to focus on ourselves and control our game, making sure we do not mess around with anyone."

According to Smith, if any team has to do well in the World Cup, they should make sure to be on top irrespective of the strength of the opponent.

"It is important to put the opponent on the back foot. India went wrong against Bangladesh because they gave Bangladesh the chance. Conditions here are not meant to relax," he pointed out.

So can one expect a South Africa-Australia final?

Trying to hide his anxiety yet trying to be honest, he said, "Yes. That is what most of our young guys have been dreaming. But we do not want to think so much ahead. Let us first reach the semifinal.

"Barring Australia, I think we have been pretty much in control and that is encouraging. We let ourselves down against Australia after having opportunities to win that game," said Smith.

South Africa lost the match by 83 runs while chasing a massive 378-run target, but Smith said he was satisfied with his team's performances in the subsequent matches against Sri Lanka and debutants Ireland here.

South Africa's top-order batsmen, especially Jacques Kallis, were among runs in recent matches and Smith said he hoped the middle order would deliver when the situation arose in the remaining matches.

"I want the middle order to be in form as guys at number five, six, seven and eight have not so far had a good hit in the middle," he said.

"They look better and better in the nets, but nets cannot make up for the time in the middle."