Graeme Smith`s retirement ushers in new era for South Africa
He was seen as a brash, arrogant and aloof South African but no one can dispute the impact Graeme Smith had on the world stage as he became the most successful captain in test history.
|Last Updated: Mar 04, 2014, 09:18 AM IST|Source: Reuters
Cape Town: He was seen as a brash, arrogant and aloof South African but no one can dispute the impact Graeme Smith had on the world stage as he became the most successful captain in test history.
Smith`s decision to retire from international cricket just nine weeks after Jacques Kallis quit will usher in a new era for South African cricket, which now finds itself shorn of experience and potentially in a leadership crisis.
The 33-year-old`s runs at the top of the order will be missed but so too will his strength of character and grit in times of adversity.
He has, in many ways, been the face of South African cricket over the last decade and played a key role in taking the side to the number one position in the test rankings.
Thrust into the captaincy role at the age of 22 following the resignation of Shaun Pollock after South Africa`s miserable first round exit at the 2003 World Cup on home soil, Smith admitted it took him four or five years to settle into the job.
While many South African cricket fans have struggled to warm to him, few would argue that he deserves a place among the game`s greats as he has won a record 53 tests as captain, many of those thanks to his own prowess with the bat.
Never the most elegant to watch, he bludgeoned his way to 27 test centuries, five of them double-hundreds, the last of which came less than five months ago against Pakistan in Dubai.
It has been his ability to grind out fourth innings runs, something that will likely be needed again in his final, ongoing, test in Cape Town, that has made him so well respected in the international game.
He led his side to two series wins in Australia and a triumph in England in 2012 that took the team to the summit of world cricket.
Despite facing the possibility of a series defeat to Australia in his final test match, he leaves the side at the very top of the game.
Smith had spoken in the build-up to the third test of still having the passion and desire for international cricket, of wanting to achieve more with this team.
A fifth batting failure in as many innings in the series may have led to him re-evaluating his future plans - the stark reality for South Africa is that they are now not just looking for a new opening batsman who can average close to 50 in test cricket but also a new leader.
There have only been a handful of regular captains of the national side since readmission to international cricket in 1991 - Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronje, Pollock and Smith.
Choosing the right man to be number five on that list will be crucial.
One-day skipper AB de Villiers has been groomed for the test role and is likely take on the job but it is a big task for a player who at times has been the mainstay of the batting and also acts as wicketkeeper.
But in truth there are no other solid candidates.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.