Graeme Smith retires

[Gingerfinch]

One of the best openers of his era, and a damn fine, lead from the front captain. Will ABDV take over now?

[mikesiva]

Well, the Surrey boys are going to be happy, he's a domestic player to boot.

Yep...I now expect him to play a full domestic season this year, and since he's only 33, he has quite a number of years in him to give service to his county....

It does make you wonder if the salary he can earn at Surrey is comparable to what he could earn on a Saffer central contract.

[D/L]

Well, the Surrey boys are going to be happy, he's a domestic player to boot.

Yep...I now expect him to play a full domestic season this year, and since he's only 33, he has quite a number of years in him to give service to his county....

It does make you wonder if the salary he can earn at Surrey is comparable to what he could earn on a Saffer central contract.

Surrey have always been prepared to pay over the odds for players well past their prime.

Good luck to Smith, one of the modern day "almost greats".

[Arthur Crabtree]

Not a player I liked at all. But a very good and dogged bat.

Quite glad to see him go for both reasons.

[andy]

[quote="Dr Robert"]One of the best openers of his era, and a damn fine, lead from the front captain. Will ABDV take over now?[/quote

yeah you can gurantee that.

[m@tt]

Can ABdV captain, bat at 5 and keep? If he decides to lose the gloves, SA then have to choose between de Kock and Tsolekile and there have been rumours of unhappiness about that choice (quotas etc). Du Plessis is also getting some nominations elsewhere online.

[SaintPowelly]

Can ABdV captain, bat at 5 and keep? If he decides to lose the gloves, SA then have to choose between de Kock and Tsolekile and there have been rumours of unhappiness about that choice (quotas etc). Du Plessis is also getting some nominations elsewhere online.

I'd imagine de Kock takes the gloves and opens with AB as captain :

de Kock, Petersen, Amla, Elgar, AB, Faf, Duminy,Philander,Steyn,Morkel, Peterson

[Arthur Crabtree]

Can't have an opener who keeps in Tests can you?

[dan08]

I'm not sure if de Kock has the technique to succeed as an opener in Tests. I think he should start off in the middle order, so something like this: Elgar, Petersen, Amla, de Villiers (c), du Plessis, de Kock (wk), Duminy, Philander, Abbott, Steyn, Morkel.

[from_the_stands]

With any luck, perhaps Graeme Smith might replace Robin Jackman in the commentary box.

[Albondiga]

A good opening batsman and a much respected captain. I do, however, wonder why EVERY BALL bowled to him was not a foot outside the off stump.

[D/L]

He wouldn't have become Hoggard's "bunny" if he'd bowled a foot outside off stump, Albondiga.

Smith was particularly prone to the in-swinger delivered at the pads by a right hander over the wicket.

[Albondiga]

He wouldn't have become Hoggard's "bunny" if he'd bowled a foot outside off stump, Albondiga.

Smith was particularly prone to the in-swinger delivered at the pads by a right hander over the wicket.

D!L But what about the catches on the offside and in the slips not to mention the inside edge playing on to the stumps. There is also the frustration of slow scoring as he got a very large proportion of his runs on the legside :
Good player though and a tough cricketer who will be difficult to replace

[The Waugh Twins]

Not a player I liked at all. But a very good and dogged bat.

Quite glad to see him go for both reasons.

Ha,ha I second that.

[sussexpob]

Most overrated batsman of our time. Only scored decent knocks when fielders didnt take their chances. Never seemed like much of a decent bloke either, and a dogged but boring batsman to watch..... had the fortune of leading a consistently good team.