Graeme Smith: South Africa's Captain Courageous
Most Successful Test Captain & Top Run-Getter in 2008
Graeme Smith achieved in 2008 as captain of South Africa what Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronje and Shaun Pollock failed to do. Smith led the Proteas to a test series win in Australia, the first time in 16 years Australia was beaten on home soil. South Africa thus announced that Australia was no longer number one in international cricket.
South Africa & Smith: Success in 2008
South Africa was the most successful test side in 2008, with 11 wins out of 15. And Smith was the top run-getter, with 1656 runs, six centuries and an average of 72.
South Africa shook off a reputation for choking in crunch situations, with two successful fourth innings chases, both masterminded by Smith. Against England at Birmingham, chasing 281 for victory, Smith guided South Africa home with an unbeaten 154. Smith then laid the foundation of the 414-run chase against Australia at Perth with a century.
South Africa also showed the resolve to extricate themselves from trouble. In the first test at Lord's against England, South Africa defended successfully for two days, after being made to follow on. Smith was one of three century-makers in the match-saving effort. South Africa went on to win the next two tests and the series. It was the first time the Proteas won a test series in England after returning to international cricket in 1991.
Nearly six years into captaincy, Smith seems to have come of age.
Graeme Smith Becomes Captain
Smith was a surprise choice as South Africa captain in 2003, after Shaun Pollock was removed following the team’s first round exit in the World Cup on home soil. Only 22 then, Smith had played just eight test matches, all in South Africa. He was not even in the original squad for the World Cup, and made it only as a replacement for an injured Jonty Rhodes, who withdrew during the tournament.
Smith's claim to fame till then was the furore he created in 2002 after his debut series against Australia. He accused Australian players of sledging, along with detailed examples, in the South African edition of Sports Illustrated.
Smith as South Africa Captain
Smith’s first test series, against England, saw him achieve stratospheric heights as a batsman in the first two tests, with scores of 277 and 259. But South Africa could not hold that momentum, and England levelled the five-test series 2-2.
Series losses to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India, all abroad, followed. South Africa went on to lose to England 2-1 at home as 2005 dawned.
2005 did see Smith slam centuries in three successive tests in the West Indies. But Australia brought him back to earth, as South Africa crashed before the world champions both at home and abroad. Smith could not score a single fifty in five tests.
But one clash did give signs that South Africa was ready to remove the choker tag. At Wanderers in the deciding ODI, with the series tied 2-2, Australia notched up a record score of 434 for 4, the first time any team had crossed the 400 mark. South Africa chased and won, with only one ball and one wicket to spare. Smith and Herschelle Gibbs launched what seemed an improbable chase, and moved the score to 190 in just over 22 overs. Smith made 90, while Gibbs smashed 175.
Smith’s first significant series win abroad came in 2007, as South Africa beat Pakistan.
It's been a victorious tale ever since. South Africa easily beat New Zealand and the West Indies at home, and emerged from India with a 1-1 draw. Smith had the satisfaction of seeing India crushed for 76 in Ahmedabad, en route to an innings victory. Historic triumphs over England and Australia followed.
Smith may have led South Africa for six years, but he is still only 28 and has many years ahead in the game. South Africa's home series against Australia starts later this month, as Smith looks to cement his team’s bid to be the number one cricket side
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