SPORT
Smith retires after
a
glittering career
Mangaliso Maduna
3 March 2014 will go down as the day to remember in
South African sporting history. It is on that day that the
Proteas longest serving captain, Graeme Smith, stunned
the whole cricket fraternity by announcing his retirement
from both domestic and international cricket. His retirement comes in the wake of his best friend and senior
Proteas team-mate Jacque Kallis’ retirement from Test
cricket in December last year. Smith‘s decision brought
the country to a standstill, as no one saw it coming.
Having made his debut at the age of 21, Smith succeeded Shaun Pollock as the skipper after the 2003 Cricket
World cup. In his reign as the captain, Smith led the Proteas to the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup. He also led the
Proteas to the top of the ICC World Rankings, as the no.
1 ranked test team in the world.
He was a true professional through and through. He
had the tenacity to keep going, even when all odds were
against him. His influence on and off the field was greatly noted, and he was always quick to defend his team
against type of criticism.
What he achieved in the 12 years his career spun
over is nothing short of exceptional. In total, he managed to score 9265 runs, 27 tons and 38 half-centuries
from a career of 117 test matches. In ODI (One Day
international)’s, he achieved 10 centuries and 47 fifties
as captain.
In a statement released by CSA (Cricket South Africa)
Smith was quoted as saying, “This has been the most
difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life. It’s
a decision that I have been considering since my ankle
surgery in April last year. I have a young family to consider, and I felt that retiring at Newlands would be the
best way to end it because I have called this place home
since I was 18 years old.”
“I have always been someone who has left everything
out there on the field for my team and for my country. I’m
extremely honoured and proud to have had the privilege
to lead so many wonderful players and to have been a
part of building the Proteas culture to what it is today. It
is a culture that every player can be, and is, immensely
proud of.” he added.
Smith will undoubtly be missed. He cultivated a winning
mentality within the team and had all the qualities and
attributes of a complete leader. He had the passion, motivation, and most of all, he wore the green and gold with
pride.
He will go down as one of the greatest cricketers to have
ever don the Proteas jersey. Wishing him all the best in
his future endeavors. Bon Voyage!!
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