No scar but need to curb Mitchell Johnson: Smith

‘There is no doubt Mitchell Johnson was the difference in this game and we have to find way to curb him and put him under pressure in the next two Tests,’ said Smith as South Africa licked their wounds after losing the first of the three-Test series. Johnson’s 12-wicket haul came as a result of some vicious deliveries, one of which cut Ryan McLaren behind the ear and the other hit Hashim Amla full in the face.

The left-arm pacer bowled consistently around the 150km mark and scythed through the home team’s batting to produce career best figures. ‘I believe the wicket played a big part,’ said Smith.
‘It’s important that we move away from that, there are still two big Test matches left in this series.’