Graeme Smith: The born leader who made South Africa believe

Turning the tide as a leader

Despite all the success at home, including series wins against India and Pakistan in 2006/07, South Africa had not regained their Test potency of the late 90s.

While Smith’s team shone bright at the 2007 Cricket World Cup and the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which they also hosted, the Proteas ultimately flattered to deceive.

However, it was towards the end of this year that South Africa got a second wind under Smith.

Souring the farewell of Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Proteas showed great determination in Pakistan to win both the Test and ODI series towards the end of 2007, with Smith leading the way with 474 runs across the white and red-ball contests.

A historical landmark was achieved early in the following year when Smith partnered with Neil McKenzie in an opening stand of 415 against Bangladesh, thus breaking Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy’s 1956 feat to become the highest-ever batting partnership for the first wicket in Tests.

South Africa won easily in Bangladesh, before holding a strong Indian lineup for a 1-1 series draw in India. Early promise turned for the better as South Africa won a Test series in England for the first time since their readmission to cricket, with Smith leading the way with a series-winning performance in Birmingham, with his 154* sealing a chase of 281.

The Proteas’ grit and courage were, however, best in show Down Under, when they handed Australia their first-ever home Test series defeat since the 1992/93. Smith marshalled the troops with aplomb while also smashing a match-winning hundred at the WACA and scoring fighting twin 50s in Melbourne.

His resolve for a fight was best displayed in the dead rubber in Sydney, when despite a broken arm, the batter walked out to face Mitchell Johnson in full flight. This was South Africa’s maiden Test series win in Australia.

Smith had a year to remember, finding a place in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year and scoring 1656 runs in 2008, the fourth-most by any Men’s player in a calendar year.

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