Shaun Pollock has no regrets about losing his job ascaptain of the South African team after a disastrous World Cup campaign and isdetermined to play his part in the rebuilding process of the side.
"I don't think I will look back in regret. I amproud of what I achieved as captain. Now I have to move forward and play my partin the rebuilding process" Pollock, who was fired after the first-roundexit of his team from the World Cup, said.
After the World Cup, The team-man that he is, Pollockhas no problems playing under the 22-year-old Graeme Smith, the youngest everSouth African skipper, and wants the new captain to get on with the job and"find his feet".
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"You have to let Graeme get on with the job andfind his feet. He needs the support of all the seniors," he said.
"I won't say anything to him at this stage, I wanthim to do it in his style. Let him settle down." The star all-rounder, whohas had an impressive track record as captain, said the new team management hadthought of a different role for him and may even contemplate elevating him inthe batting order as the pinch hitter.
"Obviously as a senior player, I will try to giveas much support to Graeme as possible. I have to try and perform and take asmany wickets as possible. Graeme feels I should bowl first change. Since I amnot used to doing that, I am trying to learn.
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"It is a question of making the necessaryadjustments considering the conditions. There has also been some talk of movingme up the batting order," Pollock said.
The former captain said the post World Cup retirementsof some of the senior players had given an opportunity to the youngsters to comeinto the team and cement their place.
"These youngsters have a lot of ability. Now that we have selected them, weneed to back them and give them as much opportunity as possible to find theirfeet," he said.
Pollock said the hype and the high expectations of theSouth African people took a heavy toll on the team during the recent World Cup."Once we started losing, there were many negative articles written and itsomehow started affecting the players."
"Obviously, now the pressure has been taken away(from me). I enjoyed the job of leading the South African team and now you haveto keep going whether you are captain or not," he said.
On some of the players dedicating their performance inthe World Cup to the late Hansie Cronje, Pollock said the whole issue was blownout of proportion by the media.
"The Cronje issue was a delicate thing but theplayers had not meant it in the way it was presented in the media. If anybodyhad talked about Keppler Wessels, it would not have made much of an issue. Butthe Hansie episode was a sensitive thing."
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On hindsight, Pollock felt that the team could havedone without the Hansie Cronje controversy during the World Cup.
"Yes, I think the timing was unfortunate."
PTI
