5 best Innings of Graeme Smith

We will take a look at the five best innings of Graeme Smith. The former South African Captain will always be counted amongst the greatest captains in the annals of international cricket. Given the responsibility at the age of 22, he led the South Africans to the number 1 position in Tests and himself led by example by playing some great knocks.Here’s the list:

#5 234 vs Pakistan, UAE 2013

The last great innings from a great batsman. Smith gave a fresh breath of life to his Test career with a wonderful and well crafted double century to bat Pakistan out of the game after they bowled them out for 99 in the first game.

Smith looked in total control and dominated the Pakistani bowling. He was coming off a very lean batting patch and the voices asking for his retirement became louder than ever. But Smith managed to answer them with this wonderful knock and got the Man of the match award for this innings.

Pakistan had won the first Test of the 2 match series and put tremendous pressure on Smith to win this game to level the series or lose the series to them. Well, Smith answered in kind and this innings proved to be his last great knock till his retirement in 2014 against Australia.

#4 108 vs Australia, Perth, 2008

As familiar with Smith’s penchant for great 4th innings scores, this innings was a very important one. Smith’s 108 laid a great foundation for AB deVilliers and JP Duminy to chase down a mammoth total of 414.Graeme Smith orchestrated a great and clinical chase along with valuable contributions from Kallis,Amla and than, de Villiers and Duminy got South Africa home completing a wonderful chase

#3 154 n.o. vs England 2008 Edgbaston, England

Graeme Smith is known as the 4th innnings behemoth. No other Test player has a better record than him in 4th innnings of a Test match.

In the Edgbaston test against England in 2008, Smith proved why he got that moniker. England set South Africa 281 runs to win. South Africa got a horror start and ended up 93/4. But Smith manage to repair some damage with AB de Villiers and got South Africa near to the target.After De Villiers departed, Smith continued on his quest for a Proteas win along with Mark Boucher, who made an invaluable 45. But Smith was the hero of the match with him carrying his bat through and scoring a truly match winning great innings of 154 not out.

#2 The greatest ODI of all time

Many remember the 5th ODI between South Africa and Australia in the 2006 series for 2 major reasons.1.Australia scored 434 with help of Ricky Ponting’s 164.2.South Africa managed to chase that down with Herschelle Gibbs scoring a blazing 175.But in all the chaos, every one forgets Graeme Smith’s important contribution of 90 runs at the top. The reason this innings is his greatest ODI innings is because of the circumstances under which it was played.Smith himself admitted in post match press conference that he decided that for South Africa to have any chance of chasing this total, the openers had to give them a very good and fast start. He also said that being the captain and the opener, he took it upon himself to just let loose on the Kangaroo bowlers and the result was the blazing fast 187 run partnership with Gibbs.Smith scored 90 runs off 55 balls and laid a great foundation on which Gibbs and then Boucher built for a Proteas win.

#1 259 vs England, Lord\'s 2003

Graeme Smith established himself as a tormentor of sorts of the England cricket team in Test cricket.On his first tour to the country as captain, Smith made an authoritative 259 at the legendary Lord's ground.

Smith played the swinging ball with ease despite his awkward technique. With the help of Gary Kirsten, who was playing his last Test, Smith tormented the English bowlers on his way to a wonderful double century.

The proteas made 682/6 dec., and with some fine bowling performances by Makhaya Ntini, won the match by an innings and 92 runs.