G_B_ Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 Elizabeth @legsidelizzy 56s Bloody Hell. Graeme Smith has just announced his retirement from International cricket. Its all over twitter.
G_B_ Posted March 3, 2014 Author Posted March 3, 2014 Smith announces retirement from International cricket Posted by: csa on Monday, 3 March 2014 Castle Lager Proteas Test captain, Graeme Smith, will end his 347-match International career after the third Sunfoil Test against Australia at Sahara Park Newlands. Smith broke the news to his team mates after close of play earlier today. Speaking of his decision Smith said: "This has been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life. It's a decision that I have been considering since my ankle surgery in April last year. I have a young family to consider, and I felt that retiring at Newlands would be the best way to end it because I have called this place home since I was 18 years-old. "I have always been someone who has left everything out there on the field for my team and for my country. I'm extremely honoured and proud to have had the privilege to lead so many wonderful players and to have been a part of building the Proteas culture to what it is today. It is a culture that every player can be, and is, immensely proud of," Smith continued. "I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the support from my parents and brother, my wife and children, my friends, my sponsors, my fans and to Cricket South Africa. I thank and honour the players who I have played with and those who have supported me and helped me to be the person and captain I am today. I have been fortunate to have had many highs, amongst them leading and being part of the best Test team in the world. I will cherish these memories for the rest of my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I bid my career a fond yet sad farewell," the 33-year-old added. Cricket South Africa reacted with surprise to Smith's decision, but CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, was full of praise for the contribution made by one of the true legends of the game. "Although Graeme's decision to retire from all forms of international cricket comes as a surprise to all of us, we must respect him for deciding to call time," commented CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat. "Knowing him as well as I do, having been instrumental as a selector in appointing him as a young captain, he would not have taken this decision lightly or without a great deal of thought. "He has captained the Proteas for more than a decade and he will draw a lot more satisfaction from the fact that he leaves our Test team at the top of the world and in such good health rather than from all the personal records he has achieved as the longest-serving captain the game has ever seen in the demanding Test format. He also led South Africa to the World Cup semi-final in 2007. "I would like us to remember Graeme for his nerves of steel and his match-winning performances that were synonymous with some of the most remarkable fourth innings victory chases of all time. These included setting up the 414 runs chase against Australia at Perth and his series-clinching innings at Edgbaston in 2008, not to mention the unbeaten century the last time he faced Australia at Sahara Park Newlands in 2011. "His role in setting up the famous 438 win over Australia in 2006 was also a performance never to be forgotten. "He can leave the game with pride and he thoroughly deserves the gratitude of our nation for leading the Proteas with much distinction. From a personal point of view I am thrilled that I was part of the panel that appointed him captain in 2003 when his first major assignment was a tough tour to England and I feel privileged to see him now move on to the next stage of his career. He has been a mighty warrior, a leader of men and an exceptional part of our international cricket. "Following the recent retirement of Jacques Kallis from Test cricket, there is no doubt that we are now ready to move into a new era and it is our job to build on the solid foundations that these great players leave behind." Smith made his first-class debut for South Africa at the age of 21, and ends his illustrious career with 17 228 International runs and as the most capped Test captain in the history of the game. " http://www.cricket.co.za/news_article.aspx?id=3528§ion=news&subsection=news_all
G_B_ Posted March 3, 2014 Author Posted March 3, 2014 Makes sense to be honest, pushed out of the protea ODI team by De Coq. Out of the t20 team for a long while. He is reportedly on £200,000 a year for Surrey. He has a young family and he recently became an Irish citizen which means he wont be a foreign player for Surrey. AB to be captain and De Coq to come into the side and keep wicket.
fineleg Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 An excellent opener for SA and good captain. Well played GS. Wish Indian players learn (including ZK and IS!) to retire at right time (even if it means a bit earlier).
G_B_ Posted March 3, 2014 Author Posted March 3, 2014 An excellent opener for SA and good captain. Well played GS. should have carried on IMO. His opening partner Alviro is not going to stick around for long either. He too is struggling for form and has a good contract with Somerset. I think Smith should have stepped down as captain and played for another 2 years. Yes he had a torrid time v Johnson but to be frank most openers in world cricket at the moment would. Cook was reduced to nothing in the ashes. Challenging times for South Africa. Kallis most people expected but Smith i though would be around.
Crookbond Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 @ESPNcricinfo: Big news: Graeme Smith announces his retirement from international at conclusion of Test series v Aus. #savaus
putrevus Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 leaving at the right moment Kallis is gone, SA will have massive changes now, If steyn who looked off and on during this season, then proteas will be undergoing some massive changes.
Deleted_User_1 Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 An excellent opener for SA and good captain. Well played GS. Wish Indian players learn (including ZK and IS!) to retire at right time (even if it means a bit earlier). In your dreams!
G_B_ Posted March 3, 2014 Author Posted March 3, 2014 Thats one thing about twitter. I got to know this news within seconds of cricket journalists tweeting. nothing beat twitter for speed. Accuracy remains an issue.
G_B_ Posted March 3, 2014 Author Posted March 3, 2014 leaving at the right moment Kallis is gone' date=' SA will have massive changes now, If steyn who looked off and on during this season, then proteas will be undergoing some massive changes.[/quote'] no he is not. He is barely 33 years old. People are talking about KP retiring at 33 being unfulfilled.
SLICKR392 Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 Read some tweets during the game today about Smith's retirement. But they were only assumptions. Big news. He still had about 1-2 years in and would have easily crossed the 10K mark.
putrevus Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 no he is not. He is barely 33 years old. People are talking about KP retiring at 33 being unfulfilled. He is 33 but he is overweight and out of form.He has a cozy retirement plan in place the moment he took Surrey's job it was beginning of the end of Smith in SA colors. He has been under spotlight as a captain for too long, it weighs you down mentally.
Magneto Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 no he is not. He is barely 33 years old. People are talking about KP retiring at 33 being unfulfilled. Going by his current form, he might have been dropped if he wasn't captain anymore. It was being anyway being speculated at the beginning of the season that he might leave international cricket for his Surrey contract, and he did exactly the same eventually.
alexander Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 A great opener. Will never forget his back to back double tons against us.
SLICKR392 Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 Going by his current form, he might have been dropped if he wasn't captain anymore. It was being anyway being speculated at the beginning of the season that he might leave international cricket for his Surrey contract, and he did exactly the same eventually. He wasn't all that out of touch. Scored 2 50s against us, IIRC. And prior to that he scored a double ton against Pakistan. It was only in this series where he couldn't manage to score. Still think he should have played 1 more series before taking this decesion.
Magneto Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 He wasn't all that out of touch. Scored 2 50s against us' date=' IIRC. And prior to that he scored a double ton against Pakistan. It was only in this series where he couldn't manage to score. Still think he should have played 1 more series before taking this decesion.[/quote'] Four 50+ knocks AND one double century in the last 20 innings. Yeah, not that bad. Might have been the beginning of the decline though.
The Realist Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 Smart move, go while they stiill miss you. At the other extreme it a shame has-beens like Fatty Khan are still hanging around like grim death.
SLICKR392 Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 Four 50+ knocks AND one double century in the last 20 innings. Yeah, not that bad. Might have been the beginning of the decline though. Seemed like a decline. But the time wasn't running out for him. No tons in losing cause. That's quiet something. :hatsoff:
SLICKR392 Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 A great opener. Will never forget his back to back double tons against us. He scored them against England, not Pakistan, if I'm not wrong.
Pagalpanti Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 I think he retired a year too early. Its not like he was totally past it. To get a double ton vs Pak attack is no easy feat. A year would've given SA good time to settle the no.4 spot which Kallis left.
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