Graeme Smith Announced Retirement from International Cricket

[koushik]

South African captain,
Graeme Smith has
announced a surprising
retirement from all forms
of the game at the
conclusion of the current
Test against Australia at
Newlands, Cape Town.
33-year old Smith has
featured in 117 Tests,
109 of them as captain
and has played a total
number of 347
internationals across all
formats of the game. The
Proteas captain is said to
have informed his team-
mates about his decision
at the end of the third
day at Cape Town.
Having led his side to 109
Tests, Smith is the most
capped Test captain in
the history of Test cricket.
"This has been the most
difficult decision I have
ever had to make in my
life," said Smith.
"Its 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,"
said the captain who has
also obtained Irish
citizenship after his
marriage.
He added: "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.
"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."
Smith's form has been on
the wane and has scored
just 42 runs in 5 innings
at an average of 8.4 in
the ongoing series
against Australia. Despite
that, his retirement
comes as a shock with
many cricketing pundits
expecting him to lead the
side at least until the
2015 World Cup, to be
held in Australia and New
Zealand.
The South African captain
had given no inclination
about his 'retirement
plans' during the press
conferences and had also
expressed hope that runs
were just around the
corner.
Cricket South Africa chief
executive Haroon Lorgat
said Smith's decision
came as a surprise to
him. "We must respect
him for deciding to call
time," Lorgat said of
Smith, who has helped
keep his side No.1 in the
ICC's Test rankings since
August, 2012.
"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. He
would not have taken
this decision lightly or
without a great deal of
thought," he added.
Smith signed a 3-year
contract with England
county side Surrey in
2012 and is expected to
continue playing at
domestic levels.
Vice-captain and wicket-
keeper batsman, AB de
Villiers is expected to be
named as the new South
Africa captain although
Faf du Plessis, the T20I
captain is also a
contender for the post.

Posted via BC Mobile Edition UA

[koushik]

Carrer Stats
Test-117
Run-9262
Av-47.99
50-38
10-27
HS-277
-----
ODI-197
RUN-6989
AV-37.78
50-47
100-10
HS-141

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[koushik]

*27 TEST CENTURIES!NOT
ONE IN A LOSS
*4 DOUBLE CENTURIES AS
CAPTAIN.ONLY LARA(5)
HAS MORE.
*MOST TESTS AS A
CAPTAIN
*MOST WINS AS A TEST
CAPTAIN
*MOST TEST RUNS AND
HUNDREDS AS CAPTAIN
*4 HUNDREDS IN THE 4TH
INNINGS.ALL IN
WINS.WORLD RECORD!
*JUST 19 SHORT OF BEING
LEADER RUN SCORER IN
4TH INNINGS OF A TEST
*YOUNGEST TO CAPTAIN
SA
*ONLY CAPTAIN TO
MASTERMIND SUCCESSFUL
400+ CHASES IN BOTH
TEST AND ODI.
*HIGHEST SCORE AT LORDS
BY A NON- ENGLISHMAN
*HIGHEST PARTNERSHIP
WITH NEIL MCKENZIE
FOR OPENING STAND IN
TEST CRICKET
*ONLY TEST BATSMAN TO
RETIRE IN HIS 9000'S
*FIRST PROTEA CAPTAIN
TO WIN IN AUSTRALIA.
ALSO FIRST IN ENGLAND
IN 43 YEARS.

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[Gowza]

Unexpected, was the closest current player to reach 10,000 test runs.

[aklemalp]

Will always remember him for his back to back double centuries in England way back when I was in my First year in high school. And for him captaining a side when he was that young.