By IANS,
Kolkata: South African skipper Graeme Smith Thursday gave full credit to India for the hosts’ performance on the final day of the second Test and took heart from the fact that very few foreign sides have managed to finish with a drawn series in India.
After having won by an innings in the first Test at Nagpur, South Africa collapsed to a similar defeat at the Eden Gardens, to finish the series 1-1.
“You must give credit to India for the way they performed today (Thursday). The fact that we could draw a series in India is a credit for our players,” Smith, who has been ruled out of the ODI series, told mediapersons.
“If you see the recent records of the teams that have toured here, not many teams have been able to push India like we have done in these conditions. That’s the positive for us more than anything else,” he said.
“We must give credit to (our) players who have come to India twice and have come so close. Lot of positives have come out of the two Tests. We have not lost a series here.”
In 2007-08, India and South Africa finished a three-match series 1-1. Describing the series as �fantastic’, Smith said both teams enjoyed the intensity of the battles.
However, he expressed disappointment at not having won the series this time.
Praising the determination of the middle and the late order Thursday, as South Africa were fighting to save an innings defeat, he said: “Some guys just got stuck in and it worked for them and some didn’t. Hashim was brilliant and guys like Morne (Morkel) and Wayne (Parnell) stuck in there.
“They both faced 60 balls each… It’s really good for a tailender under these conditions. There are lessons to be learnt though,” he said.
“It was incredible effort from Morne, Wayne and Hashim. They have showed real character.”
Smith said his side would challenge India’s top Test ranking when the two meet in South Africa in the year end.
Analysing the Eden Test, he said: “We started the Test in a really solid way. At 200 for two, we were really sitting pretty. We just got into situation where we lost quick wickets and the guys coming may be lacking a bit of confidence. Pressure was created from the other end. As it was in Nagpur from our point of view. Once we fell behind, India took control. I think they played better than us”.
On his left little finger injury which has ruled him out of the One Day series, Smith said: “I am just going to take some rest before this team gets home from India. It’s the medical team that takes those decisions. Bones need some time to heal. Hopefully it heals quicker.”
“It was really frustrating last year and half for these sore fingers that occasionally got broken. I just have to take rest now and hopefully come back fresher. There is a whole lot of cricket left this year ahead,” he signed off.