Sensational Smith

Quick Single: Leader, warrior, fighter, gentleman

277 v England, The Oval, July 2003

Smith was 22 years, 173 days old (pictured above) when he first began writing his name into the record books, as he became the youngest Test captain to score a century. The imposing left-handed opener then showed his appetite for serious runs, kicking on to make 277 - and backing it up the following week with 259 in his very next Test to give South Africa a huge win at the home of cricket, Lord's. In doing so, he became just the fourth player to register double centuries in consecutive Tests. By this point, he had three double hundreds in his first 12 Tests, had already assumed the captaincy, and was on his way to a glittering career.

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90 v Australia, New Wanderers Stadium, March 2006

In the one-day international of all one-day internationals, Smith's role has been somewhat underplayed with the passage of time. Staring down the barrel of Australia's remarkable 434 - the first 400+ total in ODI history - the South Africa skipper had no choice but to counterattack immediately. He did so in stunning fashion, blazing 90 from just 55 balls to make a fanciful chase suddenly appear a reality. When he departed, South Africa were 2-190 from 22.1 overs, and while a Herschelle Gibbs special saw them home in the greatest ODI of them all, it couldn't have happened without Smith laying the platform.

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154 not out v England, Edgbaston, August 2008

This match-winning, series-winning, bat-carrying classic illustrated the best of Smith over 341 intense minutes. Set 281 to win, the Proteas wobbled to 5-171 before Smith was joined by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, and the pair combined for an unbroken stand of 112 in a day five final session that went beyond three hours to clinch an historic victory by five wickets. It was the first fourth-innings century ever made in Tests at the venue, and South Africa's first series win in England since 1965.

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108 v Australia, WACA Ground, December 2008

Another record-breaking fourth innings target, another Smith century. A see-sawing Test match led to a classic finale: South Africa would be chasing 414 to win. In the first innings, South Africa had experienced their first taste of Mitchell Johnson in Test cricket, and found him near unplayable. Second time around, with the surface holding true, Smith took to the gargantuan target - and Johnson - with alacrity, crunching a century from 138 balls to put his side on the path to success and a one-nil series lead. On day five, they got there, and 10 days later Smith and co had inflicted a first home series defeat on Australia since 1992-93, and their first series success over the world's No.1 Test side since their readmission to Test cricket. 

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3 v Australia, Sydney Cricket Ground, January 2009

The single-figure score pales in comparison to the special centuries he produced, but this innings typified the character of the man who brought courage and conviction to the leadership of his nation. Hospitalised with a broken left hand after being on the wrong end of a vicious Johnson snorter in the first innings, Smith bravely headed out to the middle in an attempt to save the match for his side late on day five. While never the most popular figure with Australian crowds due to his forthright nature and refusal to take a backward step, it was those same traits that earned him a grudging respect, and on this occasion, a standing ovation as he strode to the middle. He lasted 17 deliveries before the cause was lost, but the result mattered little; the mere fact that Smith had made it to the middle, fighting to salvage a draw for his team despite having already won the series, gained him universal admiration. 

Quick Single: Graeme Smith announces retirement