Date:31/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/31/stories/2008123156441800.htm

Sport - Cricket

‘Smith’s men have set high standards’

Durban: Cricket South Africa on Tuesday congratulated Graeme Smith’s men for their historic series win over Australia, describing the team as a committed unit that has set high standards in the game.

South Africa won the second Test by nine wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead over Australia for the first time since the early 1900s.

“There have been outstanding individual efforts such as by Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, and Paul Harris, which were coupled with outstanding catching and ground fielding,” CSA CEO Gerald Majola said in a statement.

“But in the end, this was a team effort that begun four years ago when the Board of CSA accepted a three-strategic plan from Mickey Arthur to take the Proteas to the top and consequently appointed him as the national coach.

“Since then, we have witnessed the captain and team mature into a committed unit that has set high cricketing standards in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Caribbean,” he added. — PTI