South Africa coach Simons could quit

COLOMBO: South Africa coach Eric Simons is considering resigning because of the team's poor performances in Sri Lanka.

South Africa drew the first Test but lost the second by 313 runs and they have already been defeated in the first two one-day internationals.

Simons said he will assess his position after the ICC Champions Trophy, which is being held in England next month.

"If I get to the end of the ICC and I feel it's not working, then I must go," Simons told a South African newspaper.

Simons has only recently extended his two-year contract with South Africa's United Cricket Board for another year.

But he said: "I've said all along that I'm examining myself as well. There is only so much a coach can do, and if someone else can do a better job they must get the chance."

He was particularly upset at South Africa's Test defeat in Galle which he described as "gutless".

"I don't usually shout and scream but I did after this one," he said.

"In sport you win some and lose some, but to capitulate the way we did is unacceptable.

"We are a young side, a learning side, but the one thing that is controllable is guts and determination."

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said the team were performing well below their best at the moment.

After losing in the second one-day international Smith said: "At the moment, as an all round team, we would be lucky if we were called club cricketers.

"The intensity is there now but we are letting ourselves down in crucial phases of the game with stupid mistakes, either in the bowling or the batting.

"We are in a hole and as a team we have got to get ourselves out of it now...We are playing bad cricket, but deep down inside I know what we can do, and we have to start doing that and performing to our standards.

"We know how quickly things can turn around. We can win the next three here and the Champions Trophy and everything is all rosy again."