VIDEO: Captain earned respect the hard way

GRAEME Smith earned the praise of some of his illustrious contemporaries yesterday as a technically wanting but characterful cricketer and strong leader who put his team ahead of his own aspirations. His reward was to play a major role in building the side that has been officially recognised as the best in the test arena since August 2012.

Smith’s retirement from international cricket was announced late on Monday night – day three of the third and deciding test against Australia at Newlands.

A combination of flagging form – he did not reach 50 in his last nine test innings – the legacy of an ankle surgery last year and an accident involving his daughter is thought to have prompted his decision to quit at the relatively young age of 33.

Read more today in The Herald and watch a video interview with Smith here: