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 | |  Monday, 18 March, 2002, 10:52 GMT Win boosts SA morale  Waugh awished Ponting well for the one-day series South African captain Mark Boucher said he was happy to go into the one-day series against Australia on the back of their five wicket victory in the third Test in Durban. Boucher hit the winning runs as South Africa ended a losing sequence going back five Tests against the world champions. Australia won the series 2-1 but South Africa enter the one-day series, that starts on Friday, on the back of a morale boosting win.
"It's been a tough couple of weeks, but I'm really proud of the guys who really pulled together. It was a big win for us," said Boucher. "There's been a bit of niggle on the pitch but that is where it should be kept. Well done to Australia - they are deserved Test champions. "It is nice to get to the one-day series with a victory but it is a different format from now on." Boucher revealed that he had received a telephone call from former South African president Nelson Mandela on the morning of the fourth day. "He wished us well for today, and to tell the guys to keep their spirits nice and high," Boucher said.
"He told us it was not whether we won or lost that mattered and reminded us that winning as well as losing was a learning curve. I was astounded when he called." Australian captain Steve Waugh said that both sets of players found it tough playing back-to-back Tests. And he said that he was looking forward to playing in the Test series against Zimbabwe after being axed as captain of the one-day side. But he played down speculation that he and brother Mark might be dropped by Asutralia after mediocre batting performances. ""It was disappointing to lose the final match, but if someone had offered us 5-1 a few months ago we would have been happy with that," he said. "It is difficult playing back-to-back Test matches - both sides were mentally fatigued. "South Africa deployed themselves well in the last innings and that is where they won the match.
"I was pleased with the way I batted in the second innings and Mark played pretty well in both innings. Were trying our best, the rest is up to the selectors. "I'd rather be playing the one-dayers. Itll be nice to have a break but hopefully I will be back for Zimbabwe." "Good luck to our guys and to Ricky Ponting, who will be captaining the side in the one-day series." Man-of-the-match Herschelle Gibbs apologised to team-mate Gary Kirsten after running out his opening partner in South Africa's second innings. Kirsten perished after a mix-up between the two batsmen that ended their first wicket stand of 142. "We needed a few partnerships and it is amazing what you can achieve with a few partnerships," said Gibbs. "I don't know what I was thinking when I called for the run. I was actually so shocked that I forgot to send him (Kirsten) back. "I will try to make it up to him later on." | |
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