Graeme Smith has announced he will retire from international cricket at the conclusion of the final Test against Australia in Cape Town.
Smith, 33, is playing his 117th Test match – 109 of which have been as captain, a world record – and currently stands on 9257 runs. He revealed the news to his team-mates after the third day’s play at Newlands. He said finishing on his home ground felt like the perfect ending and that it was something he had been considering since ankle surgery last year.
“This has been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life,” he said. “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.”
In the current series, with one innings remaining, Smith has made just 42 runs and has been troubled particularly by Mitchell Johnson. He has not scored a half-century for eight innings – although did make 234 against Pakistan in October – and if South Africa lose against Australia it will be their first series loss since 2008-09. There were rumours before the India series late last year that Smith, who took on the captaincy in 2003, threatened to resign over selection issues.
His statement continued: “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. 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.”
One of many of the notable statistics in Smith’s career is that none of his 27th Test hundreds have come in a defeat. Stand-out performances that he will be remembered for include back-to-back double hundreds against England in 2003, his series-winning innings at Edgbaston in 2008, captaining South Africa to a series with in Australia, during which he came out to bat with a broken hand in Sydney, and maintaining South Africa’s formidable record on the subcontinent.
Smith’s retirement follows quickly on from that of Jacques Kallis who quit Test cricket at the end of last year, although Kallis is aiming to extend his ODI career to take part in the World Cup. Smith’s one-day career had appeared to be on the wane when he was dropped after last year’s series against Pakistan in the UAE; in 197 ODIs he scored 6989 runs at 37.98 with 10 hundreds.
One of the impacts of Smith’s retirement is that he will now be able to play for Surrey as a non-overseas player due to his Irish citizenship. The first year of his deal was cut short by his need for ankle surgery. When he signed his contract with Surrey there were suggestions at the time that he could end his South Africa career there and then.
Haroon Lorgat, the Cricket South Africa chief executive, admitted Smith’s decision had come as a shock and praised his “nerves of steel”.
“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,” he 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.
“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 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.”
Smith led South Africa through their most successful period in Test history. They have been on an unbeaten run away from home for almost eight years and have not lost at home in five years. He has been in charge of the top batsman, top bowler and leading all-rounder, all at the same time. He has taken them to No.1 in the world and kept there for 19 months. He has been their talisman and their frontman, a frontman in every way including the literal, opening the batting in difficult conditions and averaging almost 50 as he approaches the end.
Many people will not understand why the end should come now but the truth is that it has been coming for some time. Almost a month before the day Smith announced his decision to walk away, he gave his first hint that he would do so. He posted a picture on Instagram of his wife and and two young children with the caption. “Always miss these guys when away!….. last one I promise.” Now we know what that meant.
Thank you Smithy i really enjoyed the times you saved our bacon. You made many people nervous but i always liked the way you stubbornly showed the the proverbial middle finger. The flaws in your batting was always a big talking point but you produced the runs, no one can ever deny that.
I certainly will miss you. That stability we had was mostly due to your gritty fighting spirit. Some interpreted it as cocky i felt your were just the right man to lead SA.
Help us to save this last match and go out with a big bang like JK.
Good luck with the rest of your life. This big part you shared with us was simply fantastic.
Cricket is a results-driven game and eventually the lack of positive numbers will catch up. Smith has gone eight innings without a half-century, which is not that many especially considering that less than six months ago he scored a double-hundred against Pakistan in challenging conditions against a challenging attack in the UAE. Still, what Mitchell Johnson has done to him in this series has exposed old weaknesses and it seems Smith has had enough of scar tissue being exposed.
Not for the first time in his career, Smith will exit in ungainly fashion. South Africa are two days away from the end of the series against Australia, a series which they will have to fight hard to draw. Should they manage that, they would extend their unbeaten run to 15 series. If they do not, it will be the first time since March 2009 that they have been defeated.
nortierd
March 4th, 2014 at 02:07 SAST
There we have it, proof tha Smith reads blogs, so many people asked for him to be dropped, he did the honorable thing and retired.
Those that felt he was undeserving of his starting place, let’s see how things transpire in the next 12-18 months and if we still remain nr 1 in the world.
I guess AB will take over the captaincy, but I can’t help thinking that they must somehow bring De Kock in permanently now.
We have lost an icon at 1 and in the middle order in the space of 2 series, both players that were more revered and respected in the opposition countries and teams’ than with their own countries supporters.
Good luck Biff, most of us saw you go from a brash youngster to an astute leader and one of the world’s best openers.
2 Things I can’t help thinking, firstly, during the 2005-2006 tour Down Under ( correct me if I have my years wrong ) he took it open himself to take most of the heat to protect his team mates, I wonder if making the announcement now isn’t his way of galvanizing the team to one last effort to try and save the test, maybe even himself, to force himself to play that one last all important knock? The Aussies must have been buzzing yesterday after close of play, but he has managed to take the gloss off their position and change the focus of the test. The outcome might in all probability still be an Aussie victory, but they know they will have to work a hell of a lot harder now, his team mates will want him to end on a high with at least a drawn series.
Secondly, 33 in modern cricketing terms is still relatively young. Steve Waugh and Ponting still led their sides till well into their 30’s. I’m sure Smith still has a few years left as a test player should he have wanted it, but I guess even a player who has withstood some good sledging by the Aussies has had enough of the constant negativity he has to read and hear about from his own supporters.
Good luck Biff, I was also a detractor when you started out as a brash, loudmouth youngster, but I have seen you grow into a leader and a man of which the country can be proud of. You reached highs that many couldn’t even dream of, so enjoy your peace and quiet that will follow and thanks for the memories.
Well played sir.
We are going to miss him.
2 @ superBul:
Excellent post Superbul. I feel exactly the same. We will miss him. Now really hope somehow we can come back and save thisj test.
I also felt who won the toss here and batted first would have the better chance of winning this test. So if by some chance we can hold on for a draw here i would be very pleased.
nortierd wrote:
Agree.
Daar gaan n grote. So goed soos Kallis was dink ek steeds Biff was meer werd vir die span.
His attitude never bothered me, some people just have to motivate themself that way, get the whole country on their back heels and show them with your performance.
We will suffer from now on, the selectors already showed in this series they dont have a plan or strong leadership. We might go into a era like the Aussies did when Steve retired, falling around and every Tom Dick and Harry will get National colours.
I will stick to Faf du Plessis , but watch my words he will be in and out a few times.
Scalp number two for Domingo.
This will mark the start of the Proteas decline.
@ gunther:
I fear you may be correct there Gunther.
Tom Moody hitting the nail on the head.
Something stinks.
@ gunther:
Agree 100%, the loss of Smith, Kallis and Boucher right now is a massive loss and near impossible to just cover. The are obvious reason for him to retire now? Some personal I am sure, some maybe not??
He made a double ton against Pakistan only a few months ago? strange….
But Thank you Smitty for all you have done, you will always be one of the greatest cricketers SA has had as well as Sports leaders.
@ gunther:
Yep, selection issues.
Lorgat and that dreadful Manack Husain sticking their noses into everything.
To be honest, SA don’t deserve to win this series or even draw it for that matter.
And it doesn’t have much to do with their batting or bowling. The SA fielding has been abysmal all series.
How many catches have been dropped and misfields etc etc. Warner alone has been dropped, what, 8 times through the series?
That is all the coaches fault im a afraid, Domingo must shoulder ALL the blame for that.
@ John Galt:
I see Lorgat was very quick to take the credit for selecting smith as a youngster.
SA cricket have brought this upon themselves.
Can Abbott only bowl at 135kph?
@ gunther:
Yep, and hes making Ray Jenning re apply for the U19 coaching job. After coaching them to our first ever WC win in any cricket. Only in SA.
Haha, ya he was bowling at 138ish in the first innings. Anyway he’s only supposed to be the holding role, he went for 2.5 runs and over in whereas everyone else went for 4s. Reckon hes been unlucky too.
@ gunther:
No Gunther, gets to around 144, not sure why our guys are bowling within themselves?
philander you can’t bowl there at your pace buddy.
@ Sharks_forever:
Well 138 is the best he’s managed in the game and he was given the new ball?
Who else is bowling within themselves?
@ gunther:
Probably just him mate, but who knows what the team tactics are?? Like John says he is doing the holding role??? I am not 100% sure but when watching him bowl for the dolphins a couple of weeks ago he was hit the 142,143,144.
Is this such a bad thing?
The man has a good average, but he blows too hot & cold due to poor technique.
End of an era.
@ Loosehead:
Hahaha listen to you how can he blow so hot and cold with an outstanding average?
You do know how they work these things out?
but the average is a statistic to prove how consistent you are, an average of 52 like Amla is really very good, an average of just above 49 like smith he hell impressive, and an average of 35 by Duminy is simply pathetic.
Yet Smith has been “inconsistent” his entire career, I can’t remember a time people were not calling for his head, I doubt we will get an opener to average 49 very soon, this is a big blow to our test side and their ambitions.
Sharks_forever wrote:
Why would anyone be bowling within themselves? to save themselves for the next test? haha
An opener averaging 48 is exceptional bearing in mind half of his innings would have been on SA pitches statistically the hardest to bat on in the world.
Our ground fielding also going for a loop?
How much do consistent batsmen need to average in South Africa? 60? Over a career of over 100 test matches?
nortierd wrote:
That is an interesting take on things. When players in the past have announced they will retire after a series either during or even before the series I have often thought it a very selfish thing and that they should have put their teams first and waited until after the series to go public, it has almost felt to me as if by making these early announcements they have put themselves in the limelight at a time the team should be focussing on its task at hand. Examples are some of the early announcements by some England captains.
However, your view, in the context of this one, makes sense. Hopefully Biff will get a big score in his last Test innings.
Here is an interesting stat about Smith and hopefully the trend will continue for the Proteas in their 2nd innings (the 4th of this match): “He has been the undisputed statistical Caesar of the fourth-innings chase – 1141 runs (comfortably an all-time record) at an average of 87, with four centuries (Ponting, with three, is the only other player with more than two) and a total of ten scores of 50 or more (Ponting, Langer and Hayden are behind him, with seven each). “
21 @ Loosehead:
Hello Loosehead, regarding the poor technique here are some quotes from an article written by Andy Zaltman a standup comedian in England: “As a batsman, he was cussed, dangerous, ugly and skilful, a master of the crux of a match. Yes, he batted with the elegance and refinement of a motorway pile-up. Aesthetically, for what that is worth, he was a Frankenstein’s Kirsten. But in terms of his transformatory impact on matches and series, he has been one of the great Test batsmen of the 21st century.” – so he was successful in spite of ‘poor technique’
“There were times when he was almost comically vulnerable to swing, as when Matthew Hoggard left him face down in Johannesburg, as if he was desperately searching for his lucky termite Nigel in a crack in the patch, whilst the umpire’s finger rose majestically skywards. As an England fan, however, these sporadic failings served only to make his triumphs against us all the more massively irritating. And all the more impressive.
If Jacques Kallis was a one-man walking coaching manual, Smith often appeared to be the product of a rogue laboratory experiment to design a robot to teach young children what not to do whilst batting . Hands, arms, legs clodding off in all directions. Bat clumping down at mathematically unfeasible angles. Ball pounding the midwicket fence when it should by rights have been nestling in third slip’s hands.
Despite his technique from the outer reaches of peculiarity, Smith’s extraordinary eye (he has also pouched of 169 catches, mostly at slip), and his even more extraordinary will, generally prevailed.”
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