Sep
29
“Strauss was right to deny a runner”
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Former England skipper Nasser Hussain feels Andrew Strauss did no wrong by denying Graeme Smith a runner during their clash. 
“Andrew Strauss was right to deny Graeme Smith a runner at the climax of England’s outstanding win over South Africa.
“It is down to the umpires to decide if someone can have a runner and, as I understand it, they were not happy for the South Africa captain to have one, so why should Strauss step in?” Hussain wrote in his column for ‘The Daily Mail’.
“Smith had cramp, which is a fitness issue rather than an injury, and it is impossible to criticise Strauss for saying ‘no’,” he said.
England went on to win the match and qualify for the semifinals but the decision to deny Smith a runner caused quite a furore in South Africa.
Hussain said Strauss was mindful of the criticism he faced following his decision to recall Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews after a run-out in England’s opening match.
“…in the build-up to Sunday’s game, Strauss had been criticised publicly by his coach, Andy Flower, over his generous decision to recall Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews after a run-out.
“Strauss must have been conscious of that criticism as he weighed up the situation with Smith,” he said.
Aug
28
Smith might miss 3rd match
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South Africa captain Graham Smith is a serious doubt for the third one-day match against England on Friday as he continues to suffer from tennis elbow. The 27-year-old has played through the pain in the last two one-day encounters and is in need of resting the injury.
Jacques Kallis is expected to deputise at The Oval where the tourists must win to keep the five-game series alive. The all-rounder quit the vice-captaincy last year after he was axed from the Proteas’ Twenty20 squad. Kallis has captained his country in the past, filling in for Smith on two separate occasions in 2006 and 2007 and taking charge of seven one-day internationals.
South Africa have lost the opening two matches of the series, the latest a humiliating 10-wicket defeat at Trent Bridge after the tourists could only score 83.
Aug
3
Smith wins South Africa the series
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Graeme Smith hit a magnificent unbeaten century as South Africa won the third Test comprehensively and claimed a first series win in England since 1965.
After beginning day four at Edgbaston on 297-6, England were bowled out for 363, setting the tourists 281 to win. Andrew Flintoff, Monty Panesar and James Anderson then all struck as South Africa collapsed from 65-0 to 93-4.
But Smith (154no) and Mark Boucher (45no) batted with great composure to hand their side a five-wicket triumph.
England will rue their failure to dismiss Smith who was the beneficiary of two poor umpiring decision and a squandered run-out attempt, all before he had reached his century.