Shock as Smith quits

Times Media - March 4 2014

TELFORD VICE, Cape Town

The cricket world was rocked last night when Graeme Smith announced his retirement from the international game.

The timing of the announcement - which came from Cricket SA (CSA) at 10.22pm last night, day three of the third test against Australia at Newlands - is sure to attract withering criticism.

Not only will it appear that Smith has deserted his team in the middle of a test, he will be seen to have done so in the throes of a match against their most vaunted opponents, and in the middle of a contest and a series that they would appear to be losing.

Going into the fourth day of the match, Australia are 234 runs ahead with all 10 second innings wickets in hand in the deciding match of a series locked at 1-1.

“This has been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life,” Smith was quoted as saying in a CSA statement.

“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.”

Smith, the longest-serving captain in world cricket, has led SA since 2003. He relinquished the T20 leadership in August 2010 and the one-day captaincy after the 2011 World Cup.

He is playing in his 117th test, has captained SA in 109 tests - a word record - and has presided over his team’s rise to the top of the world rankings.