October 31, 2003	Friday	Ramazan 4, 1424

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JOHANNESBURG, Oct 30: South African cricket captain Graeme Smith conceded on Thursday that his team lacked a genuine strike bowler on their recent tour of Pakistan and admitted “one or two places are up for grabs” for the West Indies tour.

South Africans returned from their month-long Pakistan tour where they won One Day Series 3-2 but lost Test series 1-0.

“I was really impressed with how seamers performed on those tracks,” said Smith, “but I think we did need a guy with genuine pace who can make something happen on tracks that aren’t particularly helpful.”

As was the case in England during winter tour, South Africans struggled to bowl out the opposition twice and appeared bereft of ideas when it came to countering Pakistani onslaught during ODI series.

Both Smith and coach Eric Simons have made selectors aware of their concerns and are looking to domestic performances to bolster weak spots in the side ahead of the Windies’ arrival in December.

“There are one or two spots that we are not entirely happy with and positions are up for grabs,” added Smith. South African performance however should be viewed in light of circumstances in which the tour took place.

Initially the tour was called off but pressure from International Cricket Council saw South Africans embark on a revised tour a week late amid massive security.

“We went straight into ODIs after last playing a limited overs match two months before,” explained Smith. “We were rusty on a lot of disciplines, like at- the-death bowling. But that came right by end of the series.

“Then, after ODIs we had to play Test series without even a four day tour match in between.” Security and a revised schedule apart, South Africans also suffered the wrath of ICC.

All-rounder Andrew Hall was banned from playing last ODI fixture and both Test matches after an altercation with Yousuf Youhana while Smith missed final ODI game after expressing himself rather inappropriately.

In response to crack down, Smith called for consistency in future ICC rulings. “It must apply across the board,” said Smith. “Our guys were banned for doing stuff we used to get away with.”—PPI