Graeme Smith: Five best knocks of the Protea captain who retired on this day
Exactly on this day in 2014, Graeme Smith, one of the greatest captains in the history of cricket, stepped on the field for an international game one last time. The Cape Town Test against Australia was Smith’s last in his illustrious career. Smith bowed out of the game as South Africa’s most decorated skipper and one of the finest batsmen. He scored 9,265 runs at 48.25 in 117 Tests, captaining the side in a record 109 of them. He also played 197 ODIs and led his team in 150 of them while scoring 6,989 runs at 37.98.
Such was Smith’s impact and success as a captain that his performance with the bat is often forgotten. But Smith was definitely one of the best in the world especially in Tests during his prime. So on the seventh anniversary of his final day in international cricket, we are taking a look at five of his best knocks.
5. 90 vs Australia in 2006, Johannesburg:
This was the same ODI where South Africa chased down a world record total of 434. Whenever this classic ODI between South Africa and Australia is talked about, Graeme Smith’s important knock at the top takes the back seat. While Herschelle Gibbs’ monumental knock of 175 takes all the credit, it would not be wrong to say that Smith’s stunning knock of 90 was equally important for the Proteas as they chased down the mammoth total. The hosts needed a strong start after Australia posted 434 and Smith did exactly that. He shared a 187-run stand with Gibbs for the first wicket to lay the foundation and South Africa made the most of it.
4. 89* vs Australia in 2006, Johannesburg:
While Graeme Smith did not taste much success in T20Is, he was a fine batsman in the shortest format too. One of his best T20 knocks came against Australia during the home series in 2006. In the one-off T20I in Johannesburg, the South Africa skipper smashed an unbeaten 89 off just 58 balls to power his team to a mammoth total of 201 for 4. In reply, Australia fought well with the bat but eventually fell two runs short as they finished on 199 for 7.
3. 234 vs Pakistan in 2013, Dubai:
When Graeme Smith came out to bat against Pakistan during the Dubai Test in 2013, the target was clear for him. The captain fantastic needed to deliver once again as South Africa were trailing in the two-match series after losing the first game. The bowlers had done their job by bowling out Pakistan for 99 and the rest was on the batsmen. Well, Smith rose to the occasion once again and played a stunning knock of 234 while facing the likes of Mohammad Irfan, Junaid and Saeed Ajmal to power his team to a mammoth 517. The Proteas went on to win the game by an innings and 92 runs.
2. 154* vs England in 2008, Birmingham:
Graeme Smith loved playing against England and scored heavily against them. One of his finest knocks in international cricket came in 2008 when South Africa were up against England. Smith played a stunning knock of 154 in the second innings and helped South Africa clinch a five-wicket win while chasing 281 in Birmingham. It was just one of his fine knocks in the fourth innings. Smith has a stunning record in the fourth innings, averaging 54.75 in the 37 innings he’s batted in the fourth innings. He averages 85.69 in the fourth innings where South Africa have won.
1. 259 vs England in 2003, Lord’s:
Before the start of 2003 England’s tour, Graeme Smith was named South Africa’s captain in the wake of the disastrous campaign in the 2003 World Cup at home. Unsurprisingly, not many had expected South Africa to do well under Smith who was just 22 at that time. The Proteas were thrashed in the NatWest Series final before Smith proved his class in the subsequent Test series. In the first Test at Edgbaston, he played sublime knocks of 277 and 85 to help South Africa draw the Test. In the following game, he came up with one of his best knocks at the iconic Lord’s, slamming 259 as South Africa thrashed England by an innings and 92 runs. 259 is still the highest score by an overseas player at the Lord’s.
