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Crowds key to Ashes, says Smith | Crowds key to Ashes, says Smith |
(about 1 hour later) | |
England's successful defence of the Ashes will depend on their coping with hostile Australian fans, South Africa skipper Graeme Smith believes. | |
South Africa endured a torrid time at the turn of the year in Australia and accused fans of shouting racist taunts. | South Africa endured a torrid time at the turn of the year in Australia and accused fans of shouting racist taunts. |
The incidents led the International Cricket Council to introduce a new code of conduct on racism. | The incidents led the International Cricket Council to introduce a new code of conduct on racism. |
"How England deal with the crowds could be the biggest factor in the Ashes series," Smith said. | "How England deal with the crowds could be the biggest factor in the Ashes series," Smith said. |
"The racism stuff was hard for us. Most of us enjoy banter - we had grown up in that environment - but I think the racism and some of the crowd behaviour in Australia was very wrong." | "The racism stuff was hard for us. Most of us enjoy banter - we had grown up in that environment - but I think the racism and some of the crowd behaviour in Australia was very wrong." |
He also suggested England skipper Andrew Flintoff should find ways to get the Australians to focus attention on himself so as to give his team-mates time to adjust to the environment. | He also suggested England skipper Andrew Flintoff should find ways to get the Australians to focus attention on himself so as to give his team-mates time to adjust to the environment. |
"As a leader in Australia, Andrew is going to have to carry a lot of heat. | "As a leader in Australia, Andrew is going to have to carry a lot of heat. |
"England is obviously going to be targeted a lot by the (Australian) media and the public, so how they deal with that is going to be crucial to their success. | "England is obviously going to be targeted a lot by the (Australian) media and the public, so how they deal with that is going to be crucial to their success. |
"They've got to look at their team and decide who is going to handle the pressure best and that's probably the skipper. | "They've got to look at their team and decide who is going to handle the pressure best and that's probably the skipper. |
"It will allow the youngsters in the team to get on and play their cricket and not to deal with other issues as much." | "It will allow the youngsters in the team to get on and play their cricket and not to deal with other issues as much." |
South Africa lost the Test series in Australia 2-0 earlier in the year. | South Africa lost the Test series in Australia 2-0 earlier in the year. |
England's defence of the Ashes starts in Brisbane on 23 November. | England's defence of the Ashes starts in Brisbane on 23 November. |
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