Smith yet to confirm consulting role

CAPE TOWN — Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith said Saturday an announcement on his rejoining the team in a consulting role to help boost confidence and impart ideas was premature and he was still considering the offer. Smith worked with some of the under-pressure team’s batsmen on the eve of the second Test against England at Newlands after their 241-run defeat in the first test in Durban, where he had been critical of their form in his radio and television analysis. “They are low on confidence,” he said of South Africa’s current batsmen, “and I was asked after Durban to come down and work with them. “I’ve since been offered an extended role but it is something I need to consider as I already have commitments. The way it was announced was not right,” he told BBC’s Test Match Special, where the 34-year-old former Test opener is serving as a pundit. South Africa’s Test side is ranked top in the world but has not won in its last seven Tests, hammered in India in November and comprehensively beaten by England in Durban Wednesday. “I was trying to find a feel good factor as they are low on confidence,” said Smith of his work Friday. “If you are out of form you can spend too much time over-analyzing and working yourself over mentally.” Smith said it was key South Africa’s top six batsmen share the pressure. “You’ve got to almost bat for the guy on the other end,” he advised. South Africa captain Hashim Amla Friday said Smith would be with the team for the rest of the four-Test series, which his former skipper has since denied.