New Delhi:
Graeme Smith has achieved plenty of outstanding achievements in his playing career. He was the youngest South Africa captain to be appointed at the age of 22. He helped South Africa win a series in Australia for the first time in 2008 and he repeated the feat in 2012. In the 2008 series, Smith showed tremendous guts in trying to save a Test while batting with a broken hand during the Sydney Test against Australia. Against England, he helped the Proteas win on their shores for the first time in 43 years in 2008. Smith is the only skipper in Test history to have captained the side in over 100 Tests and he has the most wins with 53. Recently, Smith was bestowed with another honour as he was elected as a honorary life member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
The official handle of the MCC tweeted, "MCC has today announced the election of @OfficialCSA legend @GraemeSmith49 as an Honorary Life Member of the Club." To this, Smith responded, "Thank you @HomeOfCricket and the MCC for this incredible honour. I have so many amazing memories there and I'm excited to share more with you in the future." Former Australian off-spinner Tim May was also awarded Honorary Life Membership in recognition of his outstanding achievements in cricket. The pair follow Paul Collingwood, AB de Villiers, Mitchell Johnson and Adrian Morgan in being awarded Honorary Life Membership of MCC this year.
Smith's performances in England, were truly spectacular, smashing five centuries including 277 in Birmingham and 259 in Lord's during the 2003 series. His knock in Lord's created history as he broke the record for the highest individual score by an overseas player. His 259 beat Sir Donald Bradman's 73-year record and wrote himself into Lord's folklore. In 2008, his 154* in the fourth innings in Edgbaston gave South Africa a tense win and a series win for the first time since 1965.
Also Read | Happy Birthday Graeme Smith – A legendary skipper who helped South Africa scale the summit
Smith, who has an impressive record in One-Day International cricket for his country, scored 6,989 runs including ten centuries, expressed his excitement on being bestowed upon the honour. The left-hander went on to enjoy a monumental Test Match career. He struck 27 centuries amongst his 9,265 career runs and was named one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 2004.
