It was a collective failure, says Graeme Smith

Beausejour, St. Lucia, Apr 26 (UNI) South Africa captain Graeme Smith has described their seven-wicket crushing defeat at the hands of Australia in the cricket World Cup semi-final as a collective failure but refused to read much its impact on their future.

''I do not mind losing, there are ups and down but today's loss was little disappointing. It was a collective failure and I can not blame anyone for that,'' he said in post-match press conference.

''We had a calculated game plan and we wanted to exert the pressure early on Australia. I lost my wicket and then Jaques Kallis and after that we could not get back the momentum.

''Throughout the tournament, our top order played very well and here today we collapsed. I have taken it as one off incident, and will not be a defining one for the team in future,'' said Smith, trying to put up a brave face.

He dismissed the notion that lack of variety in South African bowling attack have made them more vulnerable.

He also defended the decision to bat first, saying ''the wicket played truly throughout the day and it is we who have failed badly.'' Smith said his side could not allow the defeat to haunt the team for long as they have important assignments coming up.

''The gap between Australia and others are narrowing and I do not think the result of the semi-final will determine our course in future.

''We played some fantastic game and some we were very average. We have to little bit more consistent and we have great future,'' he said.

He emphasised more on the coming tours of India and the West Indies and assured that his side will have to find the grooves soon as they are hosting the Twenty20 World Cup in September.

UNI