Disappointed Smith to wait for another ICC event

Centurion:

Expressing disappointment after yet another failure at an ICC event by bowing out of the Champions Trophy, South African captain Graeme Smith said his side was trying their best but somehow have not being able to cross the line.

"I don't know why. It is not about lack of performance or lack of trying. Everything has been done at the moment. We have the potential. We have to back ourselves and get over the line at some point of time," he said last night after side's 22-run loss against England to bow out of Champions Trophy at home.

"There are lots of opportunities (to win ICC tournaments) and hopefully we do it at some stage may be next year. There is no point in making excuses. It is up to the players who are sitting in the dressing room to perform and make it count," he added.

Smith is disappointed that his side were to bow out of the tournament at the group stage in a big tournament as they failed to chase down 324 against England.

"It is hugely disappointing to go out of the tournament at this stage. It was about giving your all and try as deep as possible and hope somebody would stay with you. Unfortunately that did not happen," said Smith who scored a brilliant 141 but failed to find support from any of his team-mates.

"We were very close and we lost wickets at crucial moments. Had it been something just more than 300 we could have chased down but above 320 was tough," he said.

Smith said his side will have to improve in bowling if they want to do well ahead in the season.

"In two out of three games we had to chase down above 300 that puts a lot of pressure on the batsmen. We have to improve in that aspect. England are coming here and there is a big season ahead," he said.

He also gave credit to the Englishman for their all-round performance.

"We have to give credit to them. They batted and bowled well. Owais Shah and Paul Collingwood were outstanding and Eoin Morgan had a fantastic innings. They also bowled really well. They took the battle to us and we could not match them," Smith admitted.

Winning captain Andrew Strauss said he had not seen England batting so well in a long time.

"It is the best I have seen England batting in a long time. The way the guys play their shots was amazing. Owais Shah played an incredible innings and Paul Collingwood backed him wonderfully. That set the platform for Eoin Morgan to play that cameo. So 320 odd runs in any wicket is a great total. Then we defended well," he said.

Asked about James Anderson who was the pick of England bowlers with 3/42, Strauss said, "In the last 18 months he has been excellent for England. He has got the swing and when not swinging he can work out the plan B. The way he has been bowling in the powerplays has been excellent."

"To win this kind of tournament we need the five bowlers to do their job," he added.

Strauss, who called back a Sri Lankan batsman in their opening match, felt that South African captain Graeme Smith should have been given a runner towards the close of his innings.

"Graeme wanted a runner as he developed cramps but I suppose the umpires were not that happy to allow him a runner.

But after scoring a hundred I think you are tired and so I feel Graeme should have been given a runner."