Smith surprised by selection

Proteas skipper aiming to wrap up series at Edgbaston

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 29th July 2008

Graeme Smith

Smith: Surprised by Broad's exclusion

To close the series out before the last game is a dream for everybody.

Graeme Smith
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South Africa captain Graeme Smith admits he is surprised by England's decision to drop Stuart Broad for the third Test at Edgbaston.

England's blossoming all-rounder has been rested by the selectors allowing Paul Collingwood to return to the side after he was dropped for the second Test defeat to the Proteas at Headingley.

The decision leaves England with a four-man bowling attack, with Collingwood's gentle medium-pace expected to offer the seamers some relief between spells.

And Smith, full of praise for 22-year-old Broad, admitted he was surprised to hear he would not be facing the Nottinghamshire paceman at Edgbaston.

"It is a surprise in a way - I think Michael (Vaughan) in general likes to carry the extra bowler," he told Sky Sports News.

"He (Broad) looks like a really good prospect for England. He is young he's got a really good heart, and he seems to always run in and give 100 per cent.

Famous win

"Obviously he's got to develop a lot as a man and as a cricketer, he's played some important innings' and already bowled some important spells for England at such a young age.

"So I think England will have their own reasons for dropping him - it is surprising in many ways."

Smith now has his sights firmly set on wrapping up the four-Test series in the Midlands with a match to spare.

South Africa have failed to record a series win in England since 1965, and Smith believes a strong start to the Edgbaston Test will put his side within touching distance of a famous touring win.

"To close the series out before the last game is a dream for everybody," he said.

"For us having never done it since readmission it's a wonderful opportunity but as I say we are just really focused on playing our cricket.

Tough cricket

"Coming out here for five days and meeting our challenges as we have done so far and hopefully that will mean a positive result.

"We have a lot of respect for England and the players that they have got. It is going to be a huge battle over the next couple of days it's going to be really tough cricket."

South Africa's 10-wicket mauling of England at Headingley in the second Test has put the tourists 1-0 up and in a commanding position heading into the Edgbaston clash.

And Smith believes the scale of the win in Leeds has given his side the upper hand psychologically, heading into the crucial third Test.

"We know that if we can play good cricket for the first couple of days then those kind of things will take care of themselves," he said.

"If we can really put in a good performance then we can open up some of those wounds and use some of those psychological battles.

"But we really expect England to bounce back and to come out fighting us - at 1-0 down in your own country, it's always something that hurts a lot."

Smith picked up a slight back injury during his side's recent tour game with Bangladesh 'A' at New Road but expects to be fit in time for the opening day's play.