Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith is a professional cricketer who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1981.

He is predominantly a left-handed batsman but is also able to act as a part-time off-break bowler. 

Smith is the current captain of the South African Test side and has featured in all three formats of the game for his country. Up until 2011, he also led the one-day team but was succeeded by AB de Villiers.

He is the second person from South Africa to score over 9000 runs in Test cricket, the other being Jacques Kallis.

Smith was able to create one of the most successful opening partnerships in the history of the Proteas with Herschelle Gibbs during the 2000s.

The South African started his career at Gauteng in 1999 where he spent two years playing domestic cricket.

In 2000 he signed for the Western Province, which proved to be his first spell there as he later returned in 2003.

Smith's international debut came in Test cricket. He played against Australia on March 8, 2002 in Cape Town. He was able to score 68 runs in his second innings with the bat.

After being promoted to open the batting in their next series against Bangladesh, Smith made his mark by scoring a double century. That innings included 24 fours and arrived in 287 deliveries. South Africa went on to make 529 and won by an innings and 109 runs.

The following year, the opener scored double tons in back-to-back matches. In the First Test at Edgbaston, he reached 277, which is still his top score to date. Then, at Lords, he continued his good form with the bat to hit 275 against the hosts.

At the age of 22, Smith was handed the captaincy of the Test team, becoming the youngest ever South African captain. He led the side for the first time against Bangladesh.
The Johannesburg batsman played a crucial role in his country's victory in the West Indies in 2005. He was able to score a century in three consecutive matches on the tour. At the Queen's Park Oval he reached 148, a score of 104 came at the Kensington Oval, while he also recorded 126 at Antigua.

In 2008 Smith played in the inaugural Indian Premier League where he was purchased by Rajasthan Royals. He played with then until 2010 before moving to the Pune Warriors India in 2011. 

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