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The current South Africa Cricket Team captain Graeme Smith has decided to retire after the last test match between South Africa and Australia. Although Graeme's decision to retire from all forms of international cricket came as a surprise to cricketing fraternity, we must respect him for deciding to call time and wish him good luck for the future.

Graeme Smith, the forthright, direct, and upfront cricketer

What can one say about this special men. He made a phenomenal career on the back of grit, determination and courage and hard work. He was a brash lad who grew up right from young leader to match winner and quickly became the heartbeat of South African cricket team.

Smith made his first-class debut for South Africa at the age of 21, and ends his illustrious career with 17 228 International runs and as the most capped test captain in the history of the game. He has always been someone who has left everything out there on the field for his team and for his country. Whether he was a great captain or not is a matter of debate but he certainly lead the very talented bunch of players which itself is some task. As a batsmen his record is pretty good.  Graeme Smith has ended his test career with 9257 runs in 116 matches scoring those runs at a healthy average of 48.72. In ODI format too the batting record of Graeme Smith is envious to say the least. 6989 runs at an average of  37.98 from 194 matches is a decent stat for any modern day opening batsmen especially when you consider the South African conditions. The ball moves in the air and bounces too. Although there is nothing for spinners in rainbow nation but Smith showed batting prowess during his career by scoring plenty of runs in subcontinental conditions in India, Pakistan, and Sri lanka.

I would like us to remember Graeme for his nerves of steel and his match-winning performances that were synonymous with some of the most remarkable fourth innings victory chases of all time.
As a personality Graeme would be remembered as forthright man. His batting style was similarly direct and upfront. Anything down to leg side or slightly drifting towards the pads was sure to disappear screaming thorough the leg side through 'midwicket' fielding position in game of cricket.

Fact that Graeme Smith held the captaincy reins after the Hansie Cronje saga and under the difficult circumstances and again the fact that since then he was able to built the side and make it an extremely competitive side tells something about the character of Graeme Smith. After all if South Africa is currently the no.1 side in ICC teams ranking for test cricket, much credit goes to 'biff' (nickname of Graeme Smith).

Cricinfo puts its better "His achievements as a batsman are significant, but the most important monument to his career is the fact that under Smith, the confidence of South Africans, both within and outside of the national team and its structures, has been rebuilt."

He was favorite bunny of Zaheer Khan, fast bowler of India, but he never tried to avoid his wrecker-in-chief and in fact was able to dominate the bowler on quite a few occasions.

At time Graeme Smith could look ugly as he was never a stylish batsmen. But he was very courageous. Who can forget him battling against Mitchell Johnson with a broken thumb.

South Africa now face the same dilemma Australia did a few years ago - how to rebuild a team when key players decide to hang up the boots. First Kallis, now Smith and who's next? It does tend to happen in clusters. Ab de Villiers is just 30 and being a batsman has a few good years left so that's one player the Proteas can still build their team around, but Dale Steyn is 6 months older and being a quick, injuries and general wear and tear will probably catch up with him earlier. 32 - 33 seems to be about the use by date for most genuinely quick bowlers, but Steyn is clever as well so he might be able to go on a bit further. There is no doubt that is the key retirement that SA should be anticipating and planning for. Philander is never going to blast a team out and Morkel is, well Morkel ! You get the good, the bad and the ugly - sometimes in the one spell! Overall it doesn't look too bad for SA.