Smith announces retirement

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has announced his retirement, drawing stumps on a record-breaking career that will end after this current Test against Australia.

The 33-year-old began his Test career in March 2002 at the same venue, Newlands in Cape Town, against Australia, and will hang up the boots with 117 Tests and 197 one-day internationals to his name. 

With one innings still to play, Smith has 9262 Test runs at an average of 48.49, with 27 centuries. 

Shortly after stumps on day three, cricket.com.au senior writer Andrew Ramsey had called Smith's future into question: "Speculation abounds that Smith might reconsider his future in the Test arena and focus instead on the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, in the belief that helping South Africa secure the major international trophy that has eluded it since re-admission would crown his career," Ramsey wrote. "His current form would suggest even that – despite being a comparatively young 33 - might be a stretch."

The Proteas skipper also boasts the world record for matches as Test captain, having broken Allan Border's mark of 93 and pushed his own mark to a staggering 109, with a winning percentage of 48.62.

In ODIs, the left-handed opening batsman made 6989 runs at 37.98 with 10 centuries, captaining his country on 150 occasions, with 92 victories.

Quick Single: Leader, warrior, fighter, gentleman

"This has been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life," Smith said in a statement. "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."

While the outcome is still to be determined, Smith's current series against Australia has been a forgettable one with the bat; he has made just 42 runs in his five innings at 8.4.

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the support from my parents and brother, my wife and children, my friends, my sponsors, my fans and to Cricket South Africa," he continued. "I thank and honour the players who I have played with and those who have supported me and helped me to be the person and captain I am today. I have been fortunate to have had many highs, amongst them leading and being part of the best Test team in the world. I will cherish these memories for the rest of my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I bid my career a fond yet sad farewell.".

Australia’s Test team paid tribute to Graeme Smith, who took to the field in what might be his final day as South African captain with his team 234 runs in arrears and with all 10 Australian second innings wickets still intact.

"Graeme Smith has been an outstanding player for South Africa over a long period of time and has led the team extremely well through both good times and bad for more than a decade,” a statement issued on behalf of the squad read.

"It is a great testimony to his leadership that South Africa has enjoyed an extended run as world No.1 over the last couple of years.

"The Australian squad has great respect for Graeme, he has been an extremely hard player on the field but a complete gentleman off it and we wish he and his family all the best for the future, whatever that may hold."

CSA Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat was full of praise for the contribution made by the Proteas captain.

"Although Graeme's decision to retire from all forms of international cricket comes as a surprise to all of us, we must respect him for deciding to call time," Lorgat said. "Knowing him as well as I do, having been instrumental as a selector in appointing him as a young captain, he would not have taken this decision lightly or without a great deal of thought.

"He has captained the Proteas for more than a decade and he will draw a lot more satisfaction from the fact that he leaves our Test team at the top of the world and in such good health rather than from all the personal records he has achieved as the longest-serving captain the game has ever seen in the demanding Test format. He also led South Africa to the World Cup semi-final in 2007.

"I would like us to remember Graeme for his nerves of steel and his match-winning performances that were synonymous with some of the most remarkable fourth innings victory chases of all time. These included setting up the 414 runs chase against Australia at Perth and his series-clinching innings at Edgbaston in 2008, not to mention the unbeaten century the last time he faced Australia at Sahara Park Newlands in 2011.

"His role in setting up the famous 438 win over Australia in 2006 was also a performance never to be forgotten.

"He can leave the game with pride and he thoroughly deserves the gratitude of our nation for leading the Proteas with much distinction. From a personal point of view I am thrilled that I was part of the panel that appointed him captain in 2003 when his first major assignment was a tough tour to England and I feel privileged to see him now move on to the next stage of his career. He has been a mighty warrior, a leader of men and an exceptional part of our international cricket.

"Following the recent retirement of Jacques Kallis from Test cricket, there is no doubt that we are now ready to move into a new era and it is our job to build on the solid foundations that these great players leave behind."