A good record in the subcontinent and experienced players will help South Africa on their tour of India after a tumultuous week in which coach Mickey Arthur resigned, captain Graeme Smith said. The Proteas left Johannesburg on Saturday for two tests and three one-day internationals against India, the world's number one ranked test nation, after Arthur quit on Wednesday due to differences with the South African board.

"It's been an emotional week and not many teams go to India and win," Smith told a news conference on Saturday. "But our record in the subcontinent is solid and the players who have been part of the set-up for a while have dealt with a few difficult things in recent years and handled them very well.

"I expect them to be as professional as normal, and I'm looking to them for responsibility and guidance for the youth," Smith said. Former fast bowler Corrie van Zyl, an assistant coach for the national team between 1998 and 2003, has replaced Arthur on an interim basis.

"My experience of things like the last week is that it builds a team rather than tears it apart," Van Zyl said. Former South African captain Cronje admitted in 2000 to receiving about $130,000 from bookmakers to influence the course of matches. He was banned for life.

Copyright Reuters, 2010