Cricket: Wessels happy to stand down

KEPLER WESSELS has offered to resign as South Africa's captain to allow the younger Hansie Cronje to take over.

Wessels broke a finger during South Africa's Test victory over Australia in Sydney this week, and Cronje was in charge on the field for the vital final day.

Wessels said: 'I am at the point of my career where, if it has to finish, I feel I would have achieved what I set out to do. I would have no bad feelings. In fact, I would be very happy.'

He said he would be pleased to concentrate on batting if he was selected for this year's return series against Australia in South Africa. 'I'm very pleased with the way the team has come together,' Wessels said. 'I would have no qualms about playing under Hansie, no problem at all. Hansie is ready to take over at any time.'

Australia's captain, Allan Border, has blamed his side's 'bad attitude' in chasing targets for their surprise defeat. 'We will have to sit down and analyse how we are going to approach these last-day targets, which are seemingly very gettable but of which we always make hard work,' Border said.