GRAEME SMITH
Captain, left-hand batsman; right arm off-spin bowler |
 | FACTFILE DOB: 1.2.1981 Team: Western Province Test debut: v Australia, Cape Town 2002 ODI debut:v Australia, Bloemfontein 2002 |
Only a year on from his debut, Smith found himself in charge of the South African team when the decision was taken to sack Shaun Pollock as captain after the World Cup. Despite his relative inexperience, he has already shown he is his own man and unafraid to bruise an ego or two if he feels it necessary.
The verdict is still out on Smith's captaincy despite successes in two Tests and a triangular one-day series in Bangladesh, but he can lean on coach Eric Simons, his former mentor at Western Province, for advice.
There is no doubt about Smith's potential with the bat and he begins the tour averaging 49 in Test cricket and almost 40 in one-day internationals.
The highlight so far was a magnificent innings of 200 against Bangladesh last October, although his 151 against Pakistan three months later - when he shared an opening stand of 368 with Herschelle Gibbs - may have given Smith greater satisfaction.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 