When Graeme Smith last came to Australia, he was known only as a cocky and aggressive captain who could not back up his predictions in the media. He was genuinely disliked in the general public. But today, he was given a standing ovation by the Australian crowd, usually given for a player in his last match. But no, Smith wasn't playing in his last match, he was coming in at number 11, heavily injured to try and help South Africa draw a dead rubber.
In the first innings, Mitchell Johnson bowled a delivery that hit a crack, and reared back to hit Smith which broke a bone in his left hand. He was forced to retire hurt, and ended up going to hospital only to return back at the ground with his arm in a cast. (Smith out for 6 weeks with broken finger). He was unable to bat again in the first innings and didn't field for the rest of the game.
Adding to his worries was an elbow tendon injury which had been troubling him for months. He was already going to miss the next 5 weeks to try and heal the elbow to full strength. After picking up the broken finger, he flew down to Melbourne on day 3 of the test to get blood transferred into it to help it heal better.
Before this series, Smith had only average 22 against Australia with a highest score of 69. But despite the elbow injury, he has performed brilliantly throughout the whole tour, scoring a hundred in Perth and back to back half centuries in Melbourne.
Early on day 5, South Africa coach said that the only possibility of Smith batting would be "If there is one over or two overs to see out the game for a draw, or one or two required to win". And that's exactly what happened, he walked out to bat at number 11 with just over 8 overs left and just half an hour remaining in the day. Despite the Australians thinking he wouldn't bat and that they had won the test.
He had his hand heavily taped up and faced a barrage of short balls from the Australia quicks. Makhaya Ntini was given most of the strike as they survived for another 6 overs before; with 1.4 overs and just 5 minutes remaining to draw the test, Johnson was able to hit a crack and bowl Smith to give Australia victory.
Even though South Africa lost, the crowd applauded Smith for one one of the gutsiest efforts in recent times. In doing so, he won man of the series for his batting during the whole tour. That decision to walk out to bat may have just snatched it from Dale Steyn's hands.
It hasn't just been his courage and overcoming his poor form against Australia, it was also his captaincy. His brilliant thinking helped sway the first 2 tests back South Africa's way, and lead to the downfall of Australia's top order a number of times. He was able to place his fields precisely to where Hayden was playing rash strokes, he was able to strangle Mike Hussey, and his decision making stopped Australia from making big scores. Only twice did an Australian batsman make a hundred in the series. Ricky Ponting in Melbourne, and Michael Clarke in Sydney.
If Smith hadn't won over Australian fans by the 5th day in Sydney, he sure did when he took that brave step and went out to bat.
Kudos Graeme Smith.
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