Opening batsman Graeme Smith was on Sunday confirmed by the United Cricket Board CEO Gerald Majola as the new South African cricket captain at a press conference at Newlands in Cape Town.
Smith takes over from all-rounder Shaun Pollock, who was axed from the job on Saturday. He becomes the seventh player to captain South Africa since re-admission in 1991.
Pollock speaking from Durban gave his full support to the new captain.
”I have spoken to Graeme and I have wished him well. I believe he has a lot of potential and could be a great captain for the country and he will have my full support,” said Pollock.
The 22-year-old Smith, who becomes the youngest current international captain, was tipped as a future national skipper last year and led the South African A team on a three match tour of Zimbabwe in January.
Smith confirmed that Pollock had contacted him. ”I had a good chat with him last night and he gave me his support and said he would back me on the field.”
He added he had been contacted by all the senior players in the side who had also offered their support. ”Captaining your country is a responsibility of the highest order and I accept with great passion, excitement and humility,” said Smith, who added that he had captained teams throughout his school career.
The left-handed batsman made his Test debut against Australia at Newlands during the ill-fated 2001/2002 home series yet emerged, along with Neil McKenzie, as the only batsmen to enhance their reputations. ”Leadership has always been part of my cricket that I enjoy and thrive on. I hope it will affect me in a good way,” he said.
His shock omission from the initial South African Cricket World Cup squad was seen as a blow to his chances of one day captaining his country. However, following middle order batsman Jonty Rhodes’ unfortunate injury Smith was thrown a lifeline and performed admirably in the few matches he played in.
Pollock became captain in April 2000 after Hansie Cronje was banned for life following revelations that he had taken money from bookmakers. ”I never met Hansie Cronje,” Smith told the press conference, ”and I never played with him or against him. He was a good leader but in the end he tarnished the game.
”We are starting afresh, there are no issues involved,” stated Smith who, if he captains South Africa in the first Test against Bangladesh, will become the fourth youngest Test captain in the history of the game.
South Africa have risen to number one in the international Test rankings, although former number one, Australia, has two series in hand. Smith is relatively new in the team and has not yet made a major tour with the Proteas, who are set to tour Sharjah, Bangladesh and England later this year under his leadership.
However, in only eight Tests, he has shown himself to be a formidable competitor, averaging 55.09 with two centuries — including a double hundred against Bangladesh — to his credit. In 22 one-day internationals, he has an average of 41.14. The squad, for the tour of Sharjah and Bangladesh was also announced in Cape Town.
The squad sees several changes to the one that took part in the Cricket World Cup. Recalled to the senior squad are Western Province left arm spinner Paul Adams, his provincial team-mates, left arm seamer Charl Willoughby and right arm seamer Allan Dawson, as well as Northern Titans batsmen Jacques Rudolph and Neil
McKenzie.
Two players, Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes, have retired from all international cricket, while Gary Kirsten has retired from One-Day International cricket. Western Province’s Ashwell Prince will replace Boeta Dippenaar for the two Test matches in Bangladesh.
The squad leaves for Sharjah on March 28 to take part in the CBFS Sharjah Cup, before travelling to Bangladesh where they will play in a Triangular ODI tournament and then two Tests against Bangladesh. South African squad for Sharjah and Bangladesh: Graeme Smith (captain — Western Province), Paul Adams (WP), Mark Boucher (Border Bears), Allan Dawson (WP), Boeta Dippenaar (Free State Eagles), Herschelle Gibbs (WP), Andrew Hall (Easterns), Jacques Kallis (WP), Neil McKenzie (Northern Titans), Makhaya Ntini (Border Bears), Robin Peterson (Eastern Province Jumbos), Shaun Pollock (KwaZulu Natal), Jacques Rudolph (Northern Titans), Charl
Willoughby (WP).
The national selectors also named a 15-man South African A squad to tour Australia in April. The squad will be led by Northern Titans all-rounder Gerald
Dros. South Africa A Squad to tour Australia Gerald Dros (captain — Northern Titans), Ahmed Amla (KwaZulu Natal), Adam Bacher (Highveld Strikers), Nicky Boje (Free State Eagles), Albie Morkel (Easterns), Andre Nel (Easterns), Justin Ontong (Boland), Dewald Pretorius (Free State Eagles), Ashwell Prince (WP), Roger Telemachus (WP), Thami Tsolekile (WP), Charl Langeveldt (Boland), Martin van Jaarsveld (Northern Titans), Morne van Wyk (Free State Eagles), Quinton Friend (WP).
The SA A squad will depart for Australia on March 30. They will play six limited over matches and two three-day matches against Australia A.- Sapa