Greame Smith takes up Irish citizenship

[gattaca]

Graeme Smith, captain of the South Africa Test team, has been granted Irish citizenship. Smith, 32, married the Irish singer Morgan Deane in August 2011, and the pair have been in Dublin in recent days to tie up the details. Deane posted a photo on Instagram of Smith with his certificate. Smith has not had to relinquish his South African citizenship. While the development will have no immediate implications for Surrey, the county with whom Smith has a long-term relationship, it would mean that, should he retire from international cricket, he would be eligible to play for them without counting as an overseas player. Smith has previously insisted that he is keen to continue to represent South Africa until at least the 2015 World Cup, although he is not guaranteed to be included, having not passed 30 in his last eight ODIs. At some stage, it is thought he is likely to step back from the international game and concentrate upon Surrey. Having signed a three-year contract to captain the London county in late 2012, Smith's first season at Surrey was curtailed by injury. He only played in three Championship matches, as Surrey were relegated from Division One. http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/711915.html

[G_B_]

dual nationality i assume. what the means is he cannot be classified as a foreign player at Surrey county club as the article mentions. So what we may is Smith stepping down from international cricket in 2-3 years.

[gattaca]

dual nationality i assume. what the means is he cannot be classified as a foreign player at Surrey county club as the article mentions. So what we may is Smith stepping down from international cricket in 2-3 years.

I misread it.

[gattaca]

So he has a retirement plan.

[G_B_]

with De Coq stepping up in a big way Smith will realistically be restricted to a test role. He is nearly 33 and another 3 years imo before he retires from international cricket and plays full time for Surrey for the next 4 years or so.

[vvvslaxman]

India should help team like Ireland by loaning players like Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Subramaniam Badrinath.

[alexander]

Glad Greame has a stable future.

[Tailender]

I think his wife/gf is irish

[G_B_]

^ its written in the article she is Irish. Dont people actually read the OP and not just the headlines?

[Lord]

India should help team like Ireland by loaning players like Praveen Kumar' date=' Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Subramaniam Badrinath.[/quote'] don't think they'll accept such 'help':giggle:

[Detonator]

Thank God, he didnt choose england citizenship. Wld ve been wierd to see him in that awful red jersey.

[Sachin=GOD]

Another potential player for ENg :hmmm:

[Muloghonto]

Another potential player for ENg :hmmm:

Err no. Smith is 32. Unless he quits right now, he is not going to qualify in time. He will at the very least play for South Africa in one capacity or another till the world cup 2015. Then he has to go to county cricket, apply for British Citizenship (assuming his wife is Irish, not Northern Ireland Irish), wait another four years to qualify, which is 2019 and he would be 38 by then. he will most likely play for South Africa for another 2-3 years, then play county and IPL.

[I6MTW]

Smith can play for Ireland.

[Soorma_Bhopali]

Smith can play for Ireland.

Tht can be his post -retirement plan ..play for SA till 36 age ..then 36-40 years, play for Ireland

[Pakistan]

Tht can be his post -retirement plan ..play for SA till 36 age ..then 36-40 years' date=' play for Ireland[/quote'] Team UN might steal him from the Irish like they stole Morgan.