Smith hails series win as 'proudest achievement'

Updated December 04, 2012 18:03:32

South African captain Graeme Smith has hailed the Proteas' second successive series win in Australia as the finest moment of his decorated career.

The Proteas, forced to bat out for draws in the first two Tests, dominated the Australians in the third and final Test at the WACA to post a 309-run win and retain their top ranking in Test cricket.

The Perth win made South Africa the first team in two decades to defeat Australia in Australia on consecutive tours, with the West Indies the previous team to manage it in 1992-93. England is the only other country to have done so.

As it happened: Third Test, Day Four

"It's hard to describe how satisfying this feels, to have done it twice is difficult to put into words," said Smith, a veteran of 105 Tests, 97 of them as captain.

"One win here seemed a very long way off when we lost 2-0 back in 2005, but now we have won twice.

"It's incredible - every single one of the players can feel extremely proud of themselves.

"This is the proudest achievement of my career."

The series win also gave South Africa a six-point lead at the top of the ICC Test rankings, the biggest margin in more than four years.

South Africa has done it by remaining unbeaten in 10 Tests this year, all on foreign soil.

The Proteas have not been beaten away since a 2-0 loss in Sri Lanka in 2006 and Smith said the lead had been well-earned.

"It is nice to go home with a six-point gap and go and play in front of our own fans on our home grounds," he said.

"It has been a long haul away from home, with some tough challenges, and to come through them has been really special."

Smith praised the fighting spirit of his side in regrouping after being outplayed in the first two Tests of the series.

Like retiring Australian batsman Ricky Ponting, Smith pointed to the second day of the Test as the defining point in the series.

The Proteas started the day under pressure after being bowled out for 225, but restricted the home team to 163, before piling on 206 runs in the day's final session on the back of attacking batting by Smith and Hashim Amla.

"Day two for me has got to go down as one of the highlights of South African cricket," he said.

"The way we bowled and the way we batted in that evening session to take the game away from Australia."

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia, south-africa

First posted December 04, 2012 11:49:34

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Southern Stars veteran Smith retires

Updated May 16, 2012 12:07:48

Veteran women's cricketer Clea Smith has announced her retirement from all forms of the game after representing Australia for more than a decade.

The 33-year-old said it was time to move on after making her state debut for Victoria in 1997.

Smith's retirement brings to an end a 14-year career which included one Test (against England in 2005), 48 ODIs and 13 T20Is for Australia.

"I have had wonderful experiences through cricket, achieved more than I thought I ever could and it feels like there are now other things in life I want to do," Smith said.

The versatile pace bowler was part of the Australian side which won the ICC World Twenty20 title in 2010.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Smith's experience would prove tough to replace.

"Clea has been a very important member of the Southern Stars squad and her passion and experience will be sorely missed," Sutherland said.

"We wish her every success in the future and I thank her for her commitment to Australian cricket over the last decade."

Tags: sport, cricket, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted May 16, 2012 12:07:48

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Smith and Johnson named in one-day squad

Updated May 10, 2012 15:16:09

All-rounder Steve Smith and fast bowler Mitchell Johnson have been recalled to Australia's one-day squad for the tour of the British Isles in June and July.

Smith, 22, last played for Australia in a one-day international against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in October last year.

Smith has played 29 one-day matches for Australia, scoring 343 runs with the bat at an average of 22.86, and taken 22 wickets for 755 runs at an average of 34.31.

He scored 492 runs for NSW in the Sheffield Shield last season, plus 189 runs in five matches in domestic one-dayers. He also led NSW to victory in the Twenty20 Big Bash League.

National selector John Inverarity said Smith had been chosen for his late season form for NSW, saying the 22-year-old had been picked as a back-up all-rounder.

"I see Steve Smith primarily as a batsman but he needs to improve, I'm keen to see him improve his leg spin, he is electrifying in the field," Inverarity said.

"We need bowlers to bat but we need batsman who can bowl a bit - Steve and Mark Waugh gave so much to the side with their bowling."

Another picked to make a return to international cricket is Western Australian paceman Johnson, 30, who last played for Australia against South Africa in the Johannesburg Test last November.

Johnson injured his toe in the South African series, ruling him out of the Australian summer, but his return of only three wickets at a cost of 255 runs in the series had put his spot in doubt.

Inverarity said Johnson was a "fine bowler", who he had recently seen bowl in Perth.

Johnson is in contention for the Australian World Twenty20 squad to be named in August, and selectors believe he needs quality competitive cricket before then.

Inverarity said the one-day squad had been picked with the 2013 Ashes against England in mind.

Australia will only have one wicket-keeper for the British Isles tour in Victorian Matthew Wade, while Tasmanian Tim Paine - who is returning from injury - will put on the gloves for Australia A's tour of England in July and August.

Inverarity said New South Wales keeper Brad Haddin will have "all the time he needs" to return after personal issues forced him to withdraw from Australia's recent Test tour of the West Indies.

Dropped from the one-day squad were Queensland's Peter Forrest, New South Welshmen Mitchell Starc and Peter Nevill and South Australians Dan Christian and Nathan Lyon.

Forrest, Starc and Nevill will go on the Australia A tour.

Blues pair Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja have been left out of both squads. Inverarity said their performances during the summer were unsatisfactory but their form during the English county cricket competition will be monitored.

Smith, Johnson, George Bailey and Patrick Cummins have been named in both squads. Cummins has recovered from a heel injury.

Australia One-day squad:

Michael Clarke (C) (NSW)
Shane Watson (VC) (NSW)
George Bailey (TAS)
Patrick Cummins (NSW)
Xavier Doherty (TAS)
Ben Hilfenhaus (TAS)
Mike Hussey (WA)
David Hussey (VIC)
Mitchell Johnson (WA)
Brett Lee (NSW)
Clint McKay (VIC)
James Pattinson (VIC)
Steve Smith (NSW)
Matthew Wade (VIC)
David Warner (NSW)

Australia A squad:
Ed Cowan (C) TAS
Peter Forrest (VC) (QLD)
George Bailey (TAS)
Jackson Bird (TAS)
Joe Burns (QLD)
Tom Cooper (SA)
Patrick Cummins (NSW)
Ben Cutting (QLD)
Liam Davis (WA)
Jon Holland (VIC)
Mitchell Johnson (WA)
Michael Klinger (SA)
Nathan Lyons (SA)
Tim Paine (TAS)
James Pattinson (VIC)
Steve Smith (NSW)
Mitchell Starc (NSW)

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted May 10, 2012 14:16:55

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Smith, Kallis bat Proteas into ascendancy

Updated March 09, 2012 19:57:13

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis both scored centuries and combined for a 200-run partnership as the tourists virtually batted New Zealand out of the first Test by the close of play on the third day.

Smith (115) and Kallis (107 not out) had come together with their side at 2 for 47 and with just a 12-run lead after Doug Bracewell had taken two wickets in one over before lunch to give the hosts hopes of pushing for an upset victory.

The experienced duo, however, consolidated their innings before lunch then built on it afterwards to guide South Africa to 3 for 268 by the close of play at University Oval in Dunedin, an overall lead of 233.

Jacques Rudolph, who was given out lbw to Bracewell shortly before the close but had the decision overturned when television replays showed the ball had marginally pitched outside leg stump, was with Kallis on 13.

Smith brought up his 24th Test century from 201 balls when he flicked a Daniel Vettori delivery through a packed onside field for a single, while Kallis achieved his 42nd Test century with a quick single into the off side.

The South African captain had fallen shortly before Kallis reached his ton, becoming Bracewell's third victim of the innings when he was bowled by the seventh delivery with the second new ball.

New Zealand had been buoyed before lunch when Bracewell had dismissed Alviro Petersen (25) and Hashim Amla (2) in the same over to leave South Africa struggling.

Momentum looked to be swinging the hosts' way after Trent Boult's cameo of 33 not out gave them a 35-run first innings lead.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, new-zealand, south-africa

First posted March 09, 2012 19:57:13

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Smith hits out after Proteas win

Updated January 07, 2012 09:42:44

Captain Graeme Smith hit back at the critics of his senior players after South Africa smashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the third and final Test at Newlands.

The win gave Smith's men a 2-1 triumph, their first series win at home in three years.

South Africa's defeat in Durban had prompted media speculation that Smith, all-rounder Jacques Kallis and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher should step down.

Kallis, though, was man of the match in Cape Town, scoring 224 with the bat, claiming 3 for 35 with the ball in Sri Lanka's second innings and taking a record-equalling six catches in the game.

Boucher did not bat but dropped two catches while Smith scored 16 in South Africa's first innings of 4 for 580 declared.

"Someone's head always seems to be on the chopping block ... but we haven't lost too many Tests at home, we've just lacked a killer punch and the second-Test defeat in Durban was a big disappointment for us," Smith said.

"There's no problem with Boucher and it was the first time I've seen him drop a catch in ages.

"As a gloveman he's been excellent for us, ultra-reliable. When we go to England, having a reliable wicketkeeper will be crucial.

"As far as my own game goes, I feel I'm batting well, as well as I have in a long time.

"I got out stupidly here but the whole summer I've battled hard, scoring a hundred against Australia and a half-century against Sri Lanka."

Smith praised his attack after it bowled Sri Lanka out for 239 and 342.

"That was our best bowling performance of the summer," he said.

"Each guy bowled well in his spell and created pressure because we worked well together in partnerships."

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan blamed his team's lack of consistency and domestic structure for the series defeat.

"We have to correct our domestic structure," he said.

"We have 15 clubs and just six of them are strong.

"We have promising under-19 players but when they come to the clubs it's not that strong at that level and then it's a huge difference when it comes to international cricket.

"If we get the domestic structure right we might be able to produce some good cricketers. Our bowling and batting is also not consistent, that's the other reason we lost the series."

Kallis, playing his 150th Test, took four catches to equal the South African record for the most catches by an outfielder in an innings as well as the mark of six catches in a Test set by Albert Vogler in 1909/10 and matched by Bruce Mitchell in 1931/32.

South Africa's win brought to an end a run of four winless series at home dating back to 2008/9.

The Proteas were held up on the fourth day by the determined Thilan Samaraweera, who scored a defiant 115 not out in 325 minutes off 215 balls.

Angelo Mathews scored 63 and the tail-enders had some fun as well as they helped the experienced Samaraweera to prolong South Africa's time in the field to nine minutes after the scheduled tea break.

Reuters

Tags: sport, cricket, south-africa, sri-lanka

First posted January 07, 2012 08:34:41

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Petersen to open with Smith for Proteas

Updated January 02, 2012 23:15:02

Alviro Petersen will open the batting for South Africa with captain Graeme Smith in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka starting at Newlands on Tuesday.

The Proteas also announced that fit-again Vernon Philander will replace fast bowler Marchant de Lange, despite De Lange taking 7 for 81 in the first innings on debut during the second Test in Durban.

Jacques Rudolph, who opened in the first four Tests of the summer against Australia and Sri Lanka, will move to number six to replace Ashwell Prince, who has been dropped.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph, Mark Boucher, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa

First posted January 02, 2012 23:15:02

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Beer fined for clash with Smith

Updated December 01, 2011 14:07:07

Cricket Australia (CA) has fined one-time Test spinner Michael Beer 50 per cent of his match fee for clashing with New South Wales' Steve Smith in Wednesday's one-day cup match at the SCG.

Western Australian Beer was reported by both on-field umpires Geoff Joshua and Paul Wilson for making inappropriate and deliberate contact with Smith.

The incident happened while Beer was bowling in the 35th over of the first innings on Wednesday.

Beer pleaded guilty to breaching CA's code of behaviour.

Beer, who played his only Test against England in Sydney at the start of this year, has been displaced in the national side by Nathan Lyon.

Beer recorded match figures of 1 for 174 while playing for Australia A in the recent tour match against New Zealand.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, perth-6000, wa

First posted December 01, 2011 14:07:07

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All-rounder Smith to have ankle surgery

Posted April 14, 2011 18:34:00

Young all-rounder Steve Smith will have surgery next week to fix an ankle injury which has bothered him throughout the Australian cricket season.

It means the 21-year-old, who made his international debut in all three forms of the game last year, is expected to miss the Indian Premier League (IPL) season with new franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

But the setback is not expected to keep him out of Australia's next tour, of Sri Lanka, which is almost four months away.

"Steve has had long-standing minor left ankle pain during the Australian summer," team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.

"Now is considered an opportune time to have surgery on the ankle.

"That will take place next week so he can adequately prepare for upcoming Australian cricket."

The leg spinner and middle-order batsman played in three Ashes Tests during the summer, as well as the Twenty20 and one-day series against England and the World Cup.

He was also part of the Australian team which completed a 3-0 clean sweep of its one-day series against Bangladesh with a win in Dhaka on Wednesday night.

- AAP

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