Graeme Smith granted Irish citizenship

Johannesburg: South African Test captain Graeme Smith has reportedly been granted Irish citizenship, two years after he married Irish singer Morgan Deane in August 2011.

While the development will have no immediate implications for Surrey, the county with whom Smith has a long-term relationship, it would mean that if he retires from international cricket, then he would be eligible to play for them without counting as an overseas player. According to Sport24, Smith and Deane have been in Dublin in recent days to tie up the details. Smith will lead South Africa in a much-anticipated Test series against Australia next month, the first of which starts in Centurion on February 12, the report added.