If his words are to be believed, Graeme Smith may not continue as captain of South Africa for much longer than the 2011 World Cup.
Graeme Smith became the youngest captain to captain South Africa at the age of twenty-two years in the aftermath of a disastrous 2003 World Cup at home that saw Shaun Pollock given the boot.
From his school boyish eagerness to a mature powerhouse and match winner, Smith’s journey has been remarkable. And therefore, it comes as a shocker that six years hence on, he is even contemplating on relinquishing the captaincy in over a year’s time.
South Africa have struggled to find a captain of mettle. While Kepler Wessels served as the firm disciplinarian in the important early years post apartheid, South African cricket saw rise under young captain, Hansie Cronje.
But South Africa reeled thereafter under the match fixing that was the undoing of Cronje and South African cricket. Smith assumed the mantle at a rather critical juncture and passing through several criticism, Smith seems to have found his niche, earned the respect and showed that much like Wessels, he is in the mould of a courageous captain and more aggressive with confidence on a world beating team.
Now while the no.1 tag in the ICC ODI rankings fluctuate, South Africa have assumed the top spot in the ICC Test rankings, and the sublime maturity of Smith should see his successor gain a team that will have had sufficient experience at the international level.
But rather than groom his successor, Smith is waiting for the next best man to rise to the occasion, make a case for himself and take over the reins.
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