Graeme Smith shouldn't step down

Following on a bruising and physically exhausting tour of England, the debate has risen about whether it is time for Graeme Smith to step down and whether or not AB Devilliers or Hashim Amla should step up and take his place as the captain.

I have to be honest and say I don't understand the logic here.

Graeme Smith is the South African captain - there shouldn't be a discussion here...

... if he gets hurt, fine pick a new face to caretake while he recovers but he is only starting to come into the point where he can be considered a mature captain and this is when he will take the team to the top and keep it there.

Smith doesn't NEED to step down to concentrate on his game. He averages around 50 in test cricket and 40+ in one day cricket so the argument shouldn't be raised.

I think Smith and the bowlers in particular need a good break before they go on to play Australia and him getting hurt now should give him that break that he needs to come out firing again.

I also don't see merit in splitting the side into two with a specialist one day captain and specialist test captain. One captain, one mentality and one style of cricket is what the side needs and the strongest captain should be the captain in all forms of the game...

Brit school discipline thrives with cricket

I saw this article on the IOL website and thought I would post the link here:

An ambitious scheme to boost self-confidence and discipline among British children by reviving competitive cricket in state schools is thriving after three years and its founders are determined to sustain it.

Rest of the article here

Some good points are raised in the article and maybe we should be grateful for the level of coaching and enthusiasm that South African kids receive.

- Sport must be fun
- Coaches have to buy into it
- Train the teachers so they can pass it on the enthusiasm to the kids
- Can the kids carry on playing when there isn't a coach there?

Its a nice initiative and wish the school the best of luck.