Biography: Graeme Craig Smith

Graeme Craig Smith
Born on 1st February 1981.
Left Hand bat and Right Arm off spin bowler.

Educated at King Edward VII School in Johannesburg, Smith played for Gauteng Schools and SA Schools in 1998-99.

He made his First Class debut for a UCB Invitation XI against Griqualand West in Kimberley in the 1999/00 season, scoring 187, the second highest score on first class debut by a South African. He made his provincial limited over debut for Gauteng in the same season.

The following year he moved to Western Province where, in his first season he made 676 First Class runs at 42.25, including 183 in the Supersport Series final against Border.

In the 2000/01 season his total of 738 runs in the Standard Bank Cup competition placed him third on the all-time list for most runs in a domestic limited over season..

Smith's senior International debut came on the 8th March 2002 in the 2nd Test against Australia at Newlands, where he scored 68 in the second innings. His Limited Over International debut was three weeks later in the 4th ODI against the Australians in Bloemfontein when he made 41.

His maiden Test century came in October 2002 when he made 200 in the first Test against Bangladesh at Buffalo Park. He followed that up with 151 in the second test against Pakistan at Newlands in January this year.

He was run out on 99 in the 4th ODI against Sri Lanka at Centurion in December 2002.

Smith captained Western Province on a few occasions this season, and led the SA A team on a short tour to Zimbabwe last month.

Although not in the original squad for the ICC CWC, Smith came into the side as a replacement for the injured Jonty Rhodes.

His parents are Graham and Janet Smith and his brother Gavin is two years his junior.

Graeme Smith becomes the 31st player to captain South Africa and the 7th since 1991.