Graeme Smith’s immense courage, skill, sportsmanship and leadership has made the just concluded series against Australia one to remember.
He started as he intended to proceed, playing three Test matches with the severe discomfort of “tennis elbow”. His courage went to another level when he removed the cast on his broken finger in his attempt to get an unlikely draw in the third game.
Throughout the series, he led his team with cleverness, determination and a competitive spirit that never spilled over into unsportsmanlike behaviour. Remember how he requested the third umpire determine whether he had got his fingers under a catch.
Throughout the series, he batted with great skill and prowess.
Captain since the age of 22, he is one of those rare players who truly earn and deserve the captaincy of their national team because they lead from the front and excel in the most difficult and challenging times.
He joins the likes of Border, Eales and Liz Ellis.
Hoy
Guest
I must say I am concerned for the state of Australian cricket. Since when has it been up to a player to determine when to retire. It is all very well to give older players respect for their time in the team, but a selector must do just that, and select the best team, not the sentimental favourite. I don't think Clarke has a killer instinct to captain, but it looks like a sure bet that he will be the next captain. Why? What has he done to show that he can captain any better than Ponting, who looks lost. Sure, Pup looks the goods and is certainly marketable, but maybe that is the problem with half the side here. Looks over quality.
Keith
Guest
Fair enough Rolling Maul, but in defence of Percy It seems like a good 80% of the criticism the guy got can be traced back to his ridiculous name and silly haircut. Other than that he seemed like a reasonable bloke who didn't quite have the talent that some people kept expecting from him. Graeme Smith had a great series and was everything a captain should be on and off the pitch. These Proteas will continue to thrive under his leadership. I've got a feeling test cricket is coming into a bit of a golden age.
Who Needs Melon
Guest
Rolling Maul: You have NOT got it wrong.
Rolling Maul
Guest
As a rugby fan I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of South Africa and they have always come across to me as quite arrogant but their cricket team have really impressed me. To the point where I'm quite jealous - why can't we have a Graeme Smith? He can have a laugh, doesn't appeal for everything, knows how to toy with the press and digs deep when it counts. Whats going on with the Aussie cricket team or have I got it wrong? They don't have to be winning all the time to impress me, it's how they go about playing the game. This may be contentious but here we go - I think there is lots of room for charities in sport and that offers them great profile but there is a time when a team should be looking at what they are payed to do and that is play cricket! I don't want to see them in the press with pictures of them and their girlfriends, their new tattoos dedicated to each other, their WAGS sitting and texting through the match... they are starting to look like the English soccer team when its more about the clothes you wear, the haircut, your car and your girlfriend than the team. Smith reminded me of what the Aussie cricket team used to be like when it was about getting out on the pitch and playing the game - not everything else that happens off the pitch. Remember when Border gave it to McDermott in the ashes in 93 and told him to shape up or go home (maybe Lee could have done with that).. or when Dean Jones went on with the dodgy tummy in Madras in 96 because Border told him that if he didn't want to be there that there was another Aussie just waiting to take his place on the pitch. You can say that the game has changed but the players don't have to because it's about passion at the end of the day and it appears to be lacking, at least the passion that I used to expect from the national team. Well done Smith.. hats off.. great effort and well deserved.. now go home and do a bit of PR work with your national rugby team to help them endear themselves to the world and erase Percy Montomery from my mind forever!