Agence France-Presse
Cape Town, Jan 1: Former South African captain Graeme Smith linked up with the South African team as an adviser Friday ahead of the second Test against England which starts at the Newlands here Saturday.
“Graeme was a wonderful cricketer for South Africa and a wonderful captain,” said current skipper Hashim Amla. “He will be with us for the rest of the series helping us out on various technical issues.”
South Africa will make at least two changes following a crushing 241-run defeat in the first Test in Durban. Amla announced that Kagiso Rabada will replace the injured Dale Steyn. He also dropped a strong hint that Quinton de Kock would come in as a wicketkeeper-batsman, with AB de Villiers relinquishing the gloves and playing as a specialist batsman.
“However, the final call be taken by the selectors,” Amla informed. “If Quinny (De Kock) does come in he will take a load off AB and he has also been in very good form with the bat. If he does play, the selectors will have to decide who they will leave out. It will be a tough decision, whether it is Faf (Du Plessis) or JP (Duminy) because these have been integral guys in our team for many years.”
Fast bowler Kyle Abbott will undergo a fitness test ahead of the match after feeling tightness in his left hamstring at the end of the first Test. If Abbott does not play, he will be replaced by either Chris Morris or Hardus Viljoen, who are both uncapped.
Amla said he was not concerned that Smith, who captained South Africa in 108 Test matches before retiring two years ago, had made some strong criticisms of South Africa’s batting and selections.
“When you win or lose a cricket game you are either going to be praised or there is criticism,” said Amla. “That’s just the nature of international sport.”
