Biography of Graeme Smith: – Graeme Smith is a South African International cricketer; he was born on 2nd February 1981 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
He bats left-hand and bowls right-arm off break, he is known for his explosive batting and aggressiveness in his play.
He is strongest when bowled the short pitches or full-length deliveries, his aggressiveness made him one of the most successful batsmen in South Africa.
Biography of Graeme Smith
- Born:- 2 February 1981 (age 36), Johannesburg, South Africa
- Height:- 1.91 m
- Spouse:- Morgan Deane (m. 2011)
- Test Debut:- 8 March 2002 v Australia
- ODI Debut:- 30 March 2002 v Australia
- Last ODI:- 27 November 2013 v Pakistan
He was made the youngest captain for the Proteas not for his skills but for his bold decisions that benefited South Africa the most than any of his predecessor.
See Also: Biography of Shaun Pollock
Biff, as he was named by teammates, he was a good manoff the ground and the most destructive coming to the pitch. Graeme Smith contested in County leagues before making an International debut, and later in the Indian Premier League.
He has the record of scoring two consecutive double centuries in two test matches, also the highest run scorer at Lord’s by a foreign player. The biography of Graeme Smith is thoroughly described and will be updated regularly.
Graeme Smith Stats & Records
Smith had a lively International career, he earned respect and fortune in the 12-year career. He started as a domestic player for Gauteng and then flown to England to play for Hampshire in the County season of 2002.
Overall, in 117 test games, Smith narrowly missed ten thousand runs mark by 700 runs, he made 9,265 runs with a batting average of 48.25 with the top score of 277 against England at Edgbaston.
Smith pocketed 27 centuries and 38 fifties in test career, his 8 wickets in the test career show bits of his restricted ability with the ball. Overall, Graeme Smith took 169 catches in his test career.
In 197 One Day Internationals, Graeme Smith scored 6,989 runs with an average of 37.98, ten centuries and 47 half-centuries, and the highest score of 141. In the bowling department, he took 18 wickets overall and 105 catches.
In 160 first-class games, Graeme Smith has a total of 12,653 runs with one of the greatest overall average of 49.23, his staggering 36 centuries and 50 fifties are enough to specify him one of the supreme cricketers in South Africa.
Smith captained South Africa in 101 test games, a world record as a captain. He is also the most successful test captain ever in International cricket with 53 games.
He has the world record of most number of centuries i.e. 15 as a captain. Graeme Smith is also the fastest South African cricketer to 1000 runs.
Controversies
Graeme Smith had a dispute in 2005 against West Indian batsman Dwayne Bravo. Bravo accused Smith of racist comments after he got out scoring a century.
A hearing listened to both the cricketers and found no substantial evidence to charge Graeme Smith for racist comments.
Smith demanded an apology while Dwayne stood to his allegations that created a tense situation between the two cricket boards.
Domestic & International Career
Smith started his Domestic career in 1999 and played for Gauteng in the next two seasons. He was awarded a contract with English County Club Hampshire in 2000.
In the same season, Graeme Smith started playing for Western Province and then for the Domestic franchise Cape Cobras for 10 years.
Smith made his International debut in 2002 in a test match against Australia. He was tested at one-down for the first test, he scored a fifty in his second inning.
Later, he was promoted to open the innings in the test series against Bangladesh. He scored 200 in the third Test against Bangladesh.
In the next series, Smith retained his brilliant form with 151 runs opening the batting along with Gibbs. After the 2003 World Cup, Smith was given captaincy for both test and ODI squads. After given the cap, South African toured England, he tour was best-ever for Graeme Smith.
He scored career-best 277 in the first test of the series and then another double ton in the next match, he scored 259 runs to lead England to victory.
The next year was unsuccessful contrary to the dream run of 2003, he experimented as a captain as a recession period for Cricket South Africa.
In 2005, Smith was running victorious again with the first triumph against West Indies. Smith scored three centuries in consecutive Tests in West Indies. Against Australia series, South Africa lost by 2-0 and then another loss of 3-0 at home.
Smith was the captain when South Africa chased down the highest-ever total in the history of ODI cricket on March 12, 2006. Smith was phenomenal in making a good start producing 90 runs off 55 balls.
In 2007, Pakistan toured South Africa for World Cup preparations ahead of World Cup 2007. Graeme Smith smashed four sixes in an over to Rana Naveed. Smith was the only South African captain to win 20 consecutive ODI matches in the year 2005.
Before the ICC World Cup, South Africa was on top of the list in ICC ODI Rankings. In the World Cup 2007, Smith scored four consecutive centuries.
As a captain, Graeme Smith aced the record book as the most successful captain in history. He is most effective Test captain to date winning 53 test games for his team. In 149 ODI games, Smith has won 92 ODIs and lost 51. In 27 T20 Internationals as a captain, Proteas won 18 matches and lost only 9.
Graeme Smith Family & Personal Life
Graeme Smith was born in Johannesburg on 2nd February 1981. His father Graham is of English origin. His mother Janet is Irish. Graeme Smith married Morgan Deane in Cape Town in August 2011.
His wife, Morgan Deane is a famous Irish model and pop star. Their first child, a daughter named Cadence Christine Smith was born in July 2012.
Their son Carter Christine Smith was born on 15th July 2013. Smith and Morgan parted their ways in February 2015 and announced their retirement after four years and two kids.
Smith started dating Romy Lanfranchi who was introduced to Smith in January 2016 by a mutual friend. Romy gave birth to his third child, another son in December 2016.
