On this day in 2003: Graeme Smith’s double century crushes England at Lord’s

Named as the captain of the national side at the age of 22, Graeme Smith shouldered a responsibility very few had to bear. But rather than buckling under the weight of it, Smith used it as a foundation to propel South African cricket higher. It all began with the England tour of 2003.

In the first Test of the series in Birmingham, Smith struck 277 which was not only his personal best but also the highest-ever Test score achieved by a South African batsman. The Test ended in a draw and we now moved to Lord’s for the second Test.

Smith pulverises England again

After winning the toss, Smith asked the home side to bat first. Captaining the English team for the first time, Michael Vaughan played a steady knock at the top. However, the rest of the side crumbled against the ferocious Makhaya Ntini. England could muster only 173 runs in their first innings. When South Africa batted, the total looked minuscule in comparison.

South African openers, Smith and Herschelle Gibbs, added 133 runs for the first wicket. After Gibbs fell for 49, veteran batsman Gary Kirsten stood like a rock beside Smith. Kirsten scored a century while Smith brought up his third double century in Tests. The opener was playing only his 12th Test. Smith and Kirsten carried the score to 390/1.

Smith continued well past his double ton and was eventually bowled by James Anderson when his individual score was 259. South Africa posted a colossal score of 683/6 declared. England produced a solid performance in the second inning but it was never going to be enough. Ntini captured another five-wicket haul, spending 145 runs this time. South Africa pocketed the Test by an innings and 92 runs.