The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : India is the favourite: Smith

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 26, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

India is the favourite: Smith

KOLKATA, NOV. 25. The South African team skipper Graeme Smith termed his side as the underdog against an experienced Indian team in the ensuing second Test match beginning at the Eden Gardens here from Sunday.

The South African squad, along with a few Indians, arrived here this afternoon to a warm welcome by the Cricket Association of Bengal.

Pleased with his team's showing at the first Test at Kanpur, Smith said, "we had a solid game at Kanpur and we are proud the way we played there."

The youngest skipper of South Africa said he was disappointed that the match could not produce a result.

"India is the favourite going into the second Test. It will be a massive triumph if we can pull of a victory here," he told newspersons at the team hotel.

Smith said his side would continue to strive to perform better and force a result.

He conceded that India had world-class spinners in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh and expected the Eden Gardens pitch to assist the duo more than the Kanpur pitch.

He praised the batting display of opener Andrew Hall and termed his coming of age as one of the positives of the first game. "We will continue to work hard to improve upon our earlier showing.

This team is a young side and it will look to turn the tables on India. I hope my boys will handle the spinners well," he added. — Our Special Correspondent

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