Graeme Smith
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Raina took the game away from us
I have to admit this was not the best of ways to kick off our ICC World Twenty20 campaign. The loss to India on Sunday was due to a combination of things. Giving away 75 runs in the last five overs was 20-odd runs too many, especially on a wicket on which <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2010/05/03/raina-took-the-game-away-from-us/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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SA are seen as one of the favourites
The ICC Champions Trophy is our first competition after a long, and well-deserved break, from international cricket. The boys are rested, refreshed, in-form and raring to go especially if our 200-run win over the West Indies in a warm-up the other day is <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2009/09/21/sa-are-seen-as-one-of-the-favourites/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Consistency has been the key
I know tomorrow's match against India is purely academic but still it would be great to finish the Super Eight stage unbeaten and take that momentum into the semi-finals. We will be resting Jacques Kallis tomorrow as he has a slight niggle in the back. Th <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2009/06/15/consistency-has-been-the-key/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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We are a tough team to beat
Yesterday's match against New Zealand was not easy but we bowled well and showed that we can do well under pressure. We have a lot of talent and skill in the side, but any team can beat any one on their day and the only way to go about things is to enjoy <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2009/06/10/we-are-a-tough-team-to-beat/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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We really have our backs against the wall now
We really have our backs against the wall now, but maybe that's a good thing going into our final league match, against Kolkata Knight Riders, tomorrow. We know we have to beat them to give ourselves a better chance of making it to the semi-finals, and we <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2009/05/20/we-really-have-our-backs-against-the-wall-now/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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The key for us is to be consistent
We probably should not have won that match against Mumbai on Thursday night, but Munaf was just brilliant! It was he who won us the game, and once we got the important wicket of Nayar — who was playing really well — in the earlier over, Mumbai <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2009/05/16/the-key-for-us-is-to-be-consistent/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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We have to control our destiny from here
As we all know by now, Warnie is down with a hamstring. He didn't train on Wednesday, but has not said whether he will be playing or not: perhaps he'll take that call on Thursday, before we take on the Mumbai Indians. It goes without saying that we n <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2009/05/14/we-have-to-control-our-destiny-from-here/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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We cannot afford to be complacent
A score of 160 or so against Chennai Super Kings yesterday would have been ideal, but 140 was a good total to defend taking into account the way the pitch was playing: square and slow. Chennai are the team in form and Hayden and Badrinath did very well to <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2009/05/11/we-cannot-afford-to-be-complacent/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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We are moving closer to the final stretch of the tournament
Another victory and a comfortable one at that, this time over the Bangalore Royal Challengers. We were very happy to get the better of them, more so because we lost to them earlier in the tournament. We are feeling very confident and hopefully it will sta <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2009/05/08/we-are-moving-closer-to-the-final-stretch-of-the-tournament/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Nothing can stop us from going all the way
Yesterday's win against Kings XI Punjab was a very positive one for us, especially on the batting front, and it felt great to be the first team to break the 200 barrier in IPL II. It was a good toss to lose since it was a very good wicket to bat on and I <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2009/05/06/nothing-can-stop-us-from-going-all-the-way/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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We are starting to produce wins
After that really close match against Deccan Chargers, the team decided to take a small break and headed out to Shamwari Game Farm just outside Port Elizabeth. We just wanted to get together as a team, bond and focus before the hectic week that is coming <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2009/05/04/we-are-starting-to-produce-wins/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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It is important to have a good leader
Another win under our belt, and a much needed one. More so since we brought the Daredevils' winning streak to a halt. We had not being playing to our potential so far, and since a lot of our matches were in Cape Town, it was tough for the batsmen not used <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2009/05/03/it-is-important-to-have-a-good-leader/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Ganguly batted out of his skin!
Probably thanks to the pitch, this is turning out to be a really gripping Test match. As I had said in my article yesterday, day two would be extremely interesting, and so it has turned out to be. This match has all the ingredients of a classic Test, and <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2008/04/18/ganguly-batted-out-of-his-skin/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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Sehwag’s innings was the best I have seen
India certainly dominated proceedings on day four of this Test. Or let's say, Virender Sehwag did. The trouble is, because of the flatness of the pitch, and the high moisture content in the air, the ball is doing nothing at all: neither through the air, n <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2008/04/04/sehwags-innings-was-the-best-i-have-seen/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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We aren’t really losing sleep over Kirsten’s presence
This is what we play for-the tough, gritty battle of Test match cricket is something that any cricketer worth his salt revels in-and we are glad to take up the challenge of beating India in their backyard. The build-up to this tour has not been ideal, wit <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2008/04/04/we-arent-really-losing-sleep-over-kirstens-presence/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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We have some plans in place for Sehwag
From what we see and hear of Ahmedabad, we believe the track will offer a more equal contest between bat and ball than Chennai did. However, of the last four Tests at the Motera stadium, only one has apparently ended in a result. The curator has said that <a href="http://healthout-dr.bagmane.corp.yahoo.com/yahoocricketcolumns/2008/04/04/we-have-some-plans-in-place-for-sehwag/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>