Smith's side scored 211-5 to win the third and final Test by five wickets at Newlands in Cape Town.
"To come back from 1-0 down means you have to show a lot of character. I'm proud of them all," said Smith.
"With all the rubbish after the first Test it makes it even more meaningful."
Smith and nightwatchman Shaun Pollock resumed on 55-2 and added a brisk 56 to leave South Africa exactly 100 runs short when heavy rain forced a length delay.
"It was a really special victory for all of us and you can see the emotion in all the guys' faces
Graeme Smith"
After an early lunch, Smith fell for 55 and Pollock went soon after for 37 leaving Jacques Kallis (32) and Ashwell Prince (38no) to set up the victory inside the last hour of play.
But Smith admitted he was worried that the ever-present threat of rain could undo all South Africa's hard work after drawing the second Test in Durban.
"It was a little bit frustrating," said Smith, who also hit 94 in the first innings to earn the man-of-the-match award.
"After playing badly in Joburg and arriving in Durban under a serious amount of pressure, it was a very special effort by everyone to pick ourselves up and win that Test match.
"We brought a bit of confidence into this game, but I think the wicket suited the Indian team more than it did us, so to win here was a really special victory for all of us and you can see the emotion in all the guys' faces."
"To Rahul and his team - all the congratulations for the way they performed throughout this series
Graeme Smith"
Smith was also delighted on a personal level after bouncing back from scores of just five and 10 in Johannesburg with a second-innings 59 in Durban.
"I went through a tough period at the beginning of the season so it's always fantastic to come back in the way that I have and contribute to a special series win," he said.
"Things started to come right in Durban and I felt a lot better here in Cape Town and hopefully I can build on that in the Pakistan series and then on to the World Cup.
"I realise I'm an important cog with the bat and I've got to be working."
The skipper was also magnanimous in his praise for the Indian team under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid.
"They were superb," he said. "To Rahul and his team - all the congratulations for the way they performed throughout this series. They were an outstanding team and great assets and I wish them all the best for their future games.
"Hopefully at the World Cup we'll run into each other again and we can have a good drink."
No comments:
Post a Comment