Graeme Smith is not the kind of person anyone would want to have "unfinished business" with. Not only does he looks like he belongs at the back of a rugby scrum, but one snarl would be enough to show that he could finish one off with words alone. The first Test in Dunedin is what Smith regards as a book without a closing chapter. If he has his way, Hamilton would be where the text is completed and Wellington the place where the covers are firmly shut.
"There was a whole day [day five] that was set up for either side to be successful on. I wouldn't say anyone bounced back or anyone outplayed the other," Smith said ahead of the second Test. "It's unfinished business from the first Test really."
There's little doubt that Smith was, as they like to say in New Zealand, a wee bit annoyed that South Africa didn't go 1-0 up in Dunedin. He made constant references to there being "a reason for New Zealand bringing us here [Dunedin]." Whether that meant the cold, which was due to leave South Africa feeling uncomfortable (and it did) or the possibility of rain forcing a draw (and it did), he did not elaborate on.
Whatever it was, there is a glaring relief in the camp that they have moved on to warmer, more welcoming conditions. "We are a lot more comfortable with the weather at the moment," Smith said. "The boys were pretty happy to get on the plane out of Dunedin. It's definitely been a lot more comfortable here."
Smith expects that to reflect in the performance. "We set quite high standards for ourselves as a Test team," he said. "This is our first away trip of the season. There are another two big ones [in England and Australia] to come. So this is an important stepping stone for us. We wanted to do well here in New Zealand and these two Test matches are a crucial part of that. If we could go on to win both of them, we would be very, very happy with that."
South Africa's main concern was their first-innings performance in Dunedin. Had they been able to put on a big total then, the complexion of the Test may have changed. In the second innings, three centuries from their heavyweights, Smith, Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph, set the side up for a big total. Smith said they don't want to leave it to the second innings again, though.
"We've let ourselves down at certain periods," he said. "We've got ourselves into positions of strength and we haven't really capitalised on it a few times this season. That's something we're working on as a top six."
In Hamilton, it will again require careful effort, because the pitch looks like it will be difficult to get in on. Smith and Co. have addressed the issue and spoken about not adopting an approach that is too aggressive early on. "It's just about getting it together, in terms of a couple of guys at once, to make partnerships count," he said. "Especially on a wicket like this, if two guys get in, it's important that those two guys go on for as long as possible, because sometimes those first 20 balls can be tough."
Initially a sea of green, the pitch had an afternoon of sun and should be less hostile than it first appeared. "It's hardened up a lot since yesterday. It's got a pretty good grass covering, and we've seen quite a lot of that this year back at home, so it's not something that surprises us or scares us," Smith said. "But I think day one will be an interesting time to bat."
It will probably be a more interesting time to bowl and South Africa have a fully fit battery of pace. Images of Dale Steyn's crushed toe became one of the favourite images on television during the first Test, but Smith said it looked worse than it really was. "If I look around the fast bowlers in the room, they've got all pretty horrific looking toes," he joked. "Dale is 100% and ready to go."
Edited by Nikita Bastian