Smith backs Proteas not to carry 'baggage' from first Test loss into Port Elizabeth

South African captain Graeme Smith has said that his team will not carry any baggage with them into the second Test against Australia, starting on Thursday.

The hosts lost convincingly in the first of a three-Test series, mainly through the outstanding efforts of Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson, who decimated the South African batting line-up, returning a career-best 12/127.

According to Sport24, Smith said that his team would not carry too much baggage from the first Test at Centurion Park and put it behind them, adding that they need to maintain the crucial mindset of how they can win in the second Test at Port Elizabeth.

Stating that his team has made a habit of getting off the mark too slowly, Smith further said that they need to have the ability to respond, in which experience plays a big role, adding that he is hoping that the first hit-out will help them get back to their best as they have lacked a bit of competitive cricket coming into this series.

Smith also backed the short gap between the two Tests to be good for his side, adding that they would draw on the experience of coming back to level the series against Pakistan in the UAE 1-1 in the second and final Test after losing the first one.

While the Proteas were widely criticised for their under-par performance in the first Test, Smith highlighted the good results the team had achieved over the last 18 months, saying that one dismissal does not make them lose credibility.