“It’s got to be the best. No disrespect to anything that’s gone before us, we’re very respectful to the history of our game and all the people who’ve had opportunities before us and who never had opportunities. But for us, it’s got to be the most incredible season South Africa has ever had, given the results. I don’t think anyone would argue with that,” Smith said.
The left-hander felt the balance of power has now shifted in cricket. “I think the balance of power is evening out in world cricket,” Smith said. “Credit to Australia, they’ve dominated world cricket for a decade. I think they’ve obviously enjoyed that time. It doesn’t mean that they’re going to be beaten in future tours and be easier to beat. But I think the balance has evened out a bit. For us it’s going to be an ongoing challenge to keep achieving these standards we’ve set ourselves,” he said.
‘We’ll drop chokers tag’
Team mate and bowling mainstay Dale Steyn, who finished with ten wickets in Melbourne said performing on a similar chord would soon get them rid of the ‘chokers’ tag.
“I just feel so relieved or privileged I am not sure exactly how I feel to be part of a team that has come down here and been successful,” said Steyn.
“This side is young with its De Villiers, Duminys, Amlas and Morkels who are mostly playing their first Test matches here and they are going to carry on for a long time. We don’t have that kind of history that word chokers keep on coming up and if we can start our careers like this and take it forward, we can start a new generation of cricket,” he added.
Steyn feels the Proteas have a lethal attack with a great captain at the helm.
“We have a great attack with a lot of maturity about it represented by Makhaya (Ntini) and Jacques (Kallis), then you get the other three of us and we seem to be learning all the time. And we are also supported by a great captain,” he said.