Smith wants to press home advantage

Graeme Smith hopes to put England under early pressure at Edgbaston

Buy this photo

South Africa captain Graeme Smith says the Proteas can put England “under pressure” as the tourists look to triumph in the third npower Test at Edgbaston.

The left-handed opener is looking to turn up the heat on England by taking control in Birmingham as the Proteas look to win a series in this country for the first time since returning to the international fold at the end of the apartheid era.

Smith, 27, said: “Is what is happening with England giving us a helping hand? As an opposition team, every time you can see the other team is under pressure, it does benefit you.

“We know if we can play really good cricket for the first couple of days at Birmingham, we can maybe open up some wounds and put some certain players under a lot of pressure in this Test.

“But that can only happen if you play good cricket and England are a competitive team. They’ve bounced back many times before and they’ve got the players to do it.

“We’ve got respect for that and we know we’ve got to play well to make those things count for us.”

Smith is surprised England are going into the Edgbaston game with only a four-pronged attack given the fact they need to take 20 wickets to level the series.

The return of Ryan Sidebottom and Paul Collingwood sees Darren Pattinson and Stuart Broad making way as England look to strengthen their batting, with Tim Ambrose reverting from number six to number eight.

Smith said: “It is kind of what we expected in terms of England bringing back the extra batter. We expected they would go that way.

“But it does surprise me they are only picking four bowlers. I said before the series that I expected Michael (Vaughan) to want to play the extra seamer.

“I think they probably feel this is their best all-round team. It is a surprise to us but it is the team they have selected and the one we’ve got to take on starting tomorrow.

“I am pretty happy with all the facets of our game and we need to pick that all up again tomorrow.”

Smith is hopeful of recovering from a back problem sustained in the three-day game against Bangladesh A at Worcester over the weekend, while paceman Andre Nel will replace the injured Dale Steyn.