Overseas Specialists: 10 batsmen who performed better overseas in Test cricket

(6) Graeme Smith (South Africa)

South Africa never lost a test match when Graeme Smith scored a century.

Home- Matches: 61, Runs: 3986, Average: 41.52, Highest: 200, 100/50: 10/19.

Away- Matches: 56, Runs: 5279, Average: 55, Highest: 277, 100/50: 17/19.

Average Difference: 13.48.

Graeme Smith is one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time. The Southpaw made his Test debut at the age of 21 and was soon thrown into the deep end. He was made the captain of the team at a young age of 23, and Smith reveled in it.

Batting in South African conditions is a tough job, and the opening batsmen always cop the short end of the stick. Smith played 61 Tests in South Africa and scored 3986 runs at an average of 41. These numbers may not seem that impressive but considering the conditions in South Africa, they are phenomenal. But Smith's legacy will be how he made South Africa the best traveling team in the world and as an opening batsman, he was at the heart and center of it.

Smith announced himself with aplomb scoring back to back double hundreds in England in 2004. His love affair with English conditions continued in the future as well. He scored 1355 runs in England at an average of 67 with 5 hundreds.

Smith led his team to England on 3 occasions, and all 3 tours ended with the resignation of England captains. Smith also found great success in West Indies and UAE averaging 73 and 70 in the two countries.

Smith was the first South African captain to win a series in Australia. He won back to back series there in 2008 and 2012. He scored 748 runs at an average of 39 Down Under with 2 hundreds and 3 half-centuries. Smith averaged above 50 in New Zealand and Bangladesh, and in the high 40s in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

It is worth noting that out of Smith's 5 double hundreds, 4 have come away from home (2 in England, 1 in Bangladesh and 1 in UAE). Smith ended his career with 5279 runs away from home at a stupendous average of 55, including 17 hundreds and 19 half-centuries.