'World Cup's Disappointment Is Behind Us'

With the bitter memory of a premature exit from theWorld Cup still fresh in the mind, South African coach Eric Simons is nowdetermined to put his young team on the recovery path, saying the triangularseries will provide the opportunity to try out new ideas.

"The World Cup disappointment is behind us. We arelooking forward to this tournament and are determined to do well. We have a fewnew guys and they are all raring to go", Simons said.

The South Africans, co-hosts of the World Cup, failedto make it to the Super Six stage of the mega event by a whisker after theDuckworth and Lewis method was called into play in their crucial match againstSri Lanka but the coach said his boys had got over that shock.

The World Cup disaster prompted the selectors to sackShaun Pollock as captain and appoint the 22-year-old Graeme Smith in charge of ateam which has seen a number of World Cuppers being dropped.

Smith himself was not in the original World Cup squadbut was inducted into the team after an injury to Jonty Rhodes and the selectorsapparently found him to be the right man to lead the South African resurgence.

Simons and captain Smith have gone about their businessof re-building the team in right earnest and the new-found enthusiasm is evidentin the practice sessions.

Smith looks to be in control of the team and theplayers have readily responded to his style of leadership.The coach believes the key to doing well in the tri- series was to adapt to theconditions as early as possible.

"It was fantastic that we had two good practicesessions here. The boys have adjusted themselves to the weather here. It is goodto get opportunities before you start playing competitive matches."

SouthAfrica are scheduled to play one warm-up match against a Bangladesh Board XIbefore opening their campaign in the tournament with the match against India onSunday.

"The warm-up match will be very helpful for theteam. Rather than spending time in the nets, the boys will get chances to workon their game", Simons said.

Simons has a lot of faith on the new players selectedfor this tour saying they have the potential to succeed at the highest level.

"We are looking forward to the warm-up gamebecause it will give us an indication on the form of the players. We have anumber of all-rounders to choose from", he said.

"Smith, Pollock and Andrew Hall are all goodall-rounders. We have to see the pitch first and then decide who willplay", he said, adding "its not a problem. We have just 13players".

Jaques Kallis pulled out of the team at the last momentto attend to his ailing father but the selectors have not named a replacementfor him. The team management is expecting him to join the squad for the Testseries, if not the one-dayers, but would not like to put him under anypressure.

"There is no expectancy as such. We have left iton him since its very personal. He will have to take the decision depending onthe situation back home", South Africa's media manager Gerald de Kock said.

PTI