The Hindu : Sport : Graeme Smith

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 25, 2004

Sport

Sport

Graeme Smith — captain courageous

By S. Dinakar

When on song Graeme Smith can be a dominating batsman. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan

KANPUR, NOV. 24. With Graeme Smith what you see is what you get. He's the direct `in-your-face' kind, who will not stay silent when there is a need for him to say something.

He was very much the angry young man during the team-meetings when South Africa's World Cup hopes were rapidly dissipating into thin air last year.

Bothered by the lack of passion in the home side's performances, Smith spoke his mind, undaunted by the bigger names and reputations around him. Still not established in the side, he was putting his place on the line and this indeed is the essential Smith for you — a bold cricketer who will not blink during adverse times, someone with definite leadership qualities.

Even as the South African dreams in the premier ODI competition met a watery end on a night of despair in Durban, the selectors gleaned a shaft of light amidst the darkness in Smith, whose integrity and commitment shone through forcefully.

Confident

Chief of the South African panel of selectors Omar Henry said, "He's a confident man, and we wanted him to take the South African cricket forward along with the youngsters with support of the senior cricketers."

The 23-year-old Smith says: "I have always been a honest guy, an open guy, a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. That's the way I am, that's the way I have been brought up, and that's the way I like to play my cricket. I want to be me, not be anyone else, and I want to be the best man I can be for the team."

His tenure at the helm so far has been a mixed one in Tests, with the Proteas outplaying the West Indians at home, and drawing in England and New Zealand, but going down to Pakistan and Sri Lanka on away soil. Thus the ongoing sub-continental campaign in India holds much significance for Smith and his men.

Praiseworthy

And the South Africans, against the odds, have surely earned more points than the host in the first Test, surpassing the 500-run mark for the first time in India and then fighting back well on the field after the onslaught by the Indian openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir to grab the psychologically important first innings lead.

Alley of Proteas

The placid nature of the surface at the Green Park might have been an alley of the South Africans, and they might not have dished out the most positive brand of cricket, however, peering back at the how the pre-Test predictions went, the visitors would have been pleased with the result.

Prior to the Test, Smith, who dwelt on how mistakes in themselves could enhance the process of learning, had discerned the brighter side of being labelled the under-dog. "Now we have the opportunity to prove everyone wrong."

There is more than a hint of Sourav Ganguly in him and the manner he backs the men he trusts. The South African captain was firmly behind the decision to send Andrew Hall up the order and the shift worked like a dream for the Proteas.

Over to Smith: "I will back a guy one hundred per cent if I believe he can do the job. If he comes out with fire in his belly, you give him the best opportunity to express his ability."

The captain's contributions with the willow of 37 and 47 here would have left him disappointed for not kicking on after starts, however, his is still an outstanding Test record — before the current series, Smith had made 2350 runs in 26 Tests at 57.31, building a highly-rated opening partnership with Herschelle Gibbs in the process. When on song, Smith can be a dominating batsman who is particularly strong on the leg-side.

He comprehends well that the pressures of leading the cricketing outfit of a country passionate about sports can be massive. "Ours is a sporting nation that demands results. When you play international sport you wear those pressures and show a lot of attitude, hunger, and motivation. You can do all the practice in the nets, but handling the pressure is all that counts."

Asked to pick the striking quality in Smith, Henry said, "his self-belief."

Smith and South Africa would require more of this vital attribute when they enter the Eden Gardens in what could potentially be a stiffer challenge for the Proteas.

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