Graeme Smith: 'I enjoy the passion and determination'
What are your first memories of captaincy
Neil Manthorp
17-Jun-2003
The first half of an exclusive interview with Graeme Smith, South Africa's youngest-ever Test captain
What are your first memories of captaincy?
I captained at under-13 aged group when I was 12. I always played a year younger than most of the other boys. I captained every team from then on until inter-provincial at under-19 level. I don't have very much experience of not being captain, I've always done it.
I captained at under-13 aged group when I was 12. I always played a year younger than most of the other boys. I captained every team from then on until inter-provincial at under-19 level. I don't have very much experience of not being captain, I've always done it.
First conflict?
At under-19 level I had a little run-in with Jacques Rudolph. We'd played against each other all the time for years, and then at under-19 level he captained Northerns and I captained Gauteng. It was a pretty heated exchange, my first taste of what can happen when the adrenalin is flowing during a big game. It was the key game of the tournament. We had always got on, and still do, but it was war at the time!
At under-19 level I had a little run-in with Jacques Rudolph. We'd played against each other all the time for years, and then at under-19 level he captained Northerns and I captained Gauteng. It was a pretty heated exchange, my first taste of what can happen when the adrenalin is flowing during a big game. It was the key game of the tournament. We had always got on, and still do, but it was war at the time!
Clash with a team-mate?
That hasn't really happened. You only get problems if you leave things undecided, if you leave people unsure about what they should be doing and what is expected of them. If everyone knows how the captain wants to run things then they are more likely to respect you - and if a guy steps out of line then you can pull him back in.
That hasn't really happened. You only get problems if you leave things undecided, if you leave people unsure about what they should be doing and what is expected of them. If everyone knows how the captain wants to run things then they are more likely to respect you - and if a guy steps out of line then you can pull him back in.
But most of your experience has been captaining players your own age?
Most of my teams have been a year older than me, but otherwise it's been limited to the last 12 months when took over at Western Province for a couple of games and took South Africa A to Zimbabwe. And my first couple of Test matches, of course.
Most of my teams have been a year older than me, but otherwise it's been limited to the last 12 months when took over at Western Province for a couple of games and took South Africa A to Zimbabwe. And my first couple of Test matches, of course.
Any discomfort with leading older, more experienced players?
No, not all. Some people said captaining Steve Elworthy was like captaining your dad, but he was fantastic and later, had some very kind things to say about me. I've always got on very well with older players, I don't know why. I have lived my life a bit "older" than some guys, and most of my best mates are older than me.
No, not all. Some people said captaining Steve Elworthy was like captaining your dad, but he was fantastic and later, had some very kind things to say about me. I've always got on very well with older players, I don't know why. I have lived my life a bit "older" than some guys, and most of my best mates are older than me.
Most satisfying conflict resolved?
I'm not sure the conflict was resolved, but it was comforting to know I was backed up. It happened in Bangladesh during a one-day international against India. I caught Sourav Ganguly scuffing up the pitch with his studs and I took him on, I had a real go. The satisfying aspect for me was the way my team backed me up when they saw me getting involved. I knew we were fighting together and backing each other up. I'd been told about Sourav's tactic of being really "nice" and over-friendly when confronted about something he's done and, sure enough, he started trying to be best buddies with Mark Boucher and some of the other guys - but they were having none of it. In fact, they went at him as hard as I had.
I'm not sure the conflict was resolved, but it was comforting to know I was backed up. It happened in Bangladesh during a one-day international against India. I caught Sourav Ganguly scuffing up the pitch with his studs and I took him on, I had a real go. The satisfying aspect for me was the way my team backed me up when they saw me getting involved. I knew we were fighting together and backing each other up. I'd been told about Sourav's tactic of being really "nice" and over-friendly when confronted about something he's done and, sure enough, he started trying to be best buddies with Mark Boucher and some of the other guys - but they were having none of it. In fact, they went at him as hard as I had.
You enjoy that confrontational side of the game?
I enjoy it because of the passion and determination involved. You are representing your countrymen, every one of them, against another nation, it's huge. It's massive.
I enjoy it because of the passion and determination involved. You are representing your countrymen, every one of them, against another nation, it's huge. It's massive.
What about the South Africans who want to be represented by a well-mannered gentleman who does not point his finger and be aggressive on the field?
I believe the sport has gone past that gentlemanly era. It's still right, and important actually, to have respect for your opponents and the people who play the game, and there is definitely a standard of behaviour to be maintained. Ugly clashes between players should be avoided and, in some instances, punishment is necessary. But it's the job of a batsman representing his country to dominate the bowler and vice versa for the bowler. You've got to do all you can to get the upper hand. There's going to be tension and aggression, there's a pile of emotion. People are going to crack now and then - people must try to understand that.
I believe the sport has gone past that gentlemanly era. It's still right, and important actually, to have respect for your opponents and the people who play the game, and there is definitely a standard of behaviour to be maintained. Ugly clashes between players should be avoided and, in some instances, punishment is necessary. But it's the job of a batsman representing his country to dominate the bowler and vice versa for the bowler. You've got to do all you can to get the upper hand. There's going to be tension and aggression, there's a pile of emotion. People are going to crack now and then - people must try to understand that.
So the old traditions of the game have overtaken by the modern era?
No, that's not what I'm saying - not at all. The traditions of the game are vitally important. That's why I'm so excited about playing in England where the traditions and heritage of the game are greater than ever. All I'm saying is that a balance must be found where the modern edge, the competitive hardness, of international cricket can still fit in with the great history created by all the men who've played cricket for the last couple of centuries.
No, that's not what I'm saying - not at all. The traditions of the game are vitally important. That's why I'm so excited about playing in England where the traditions and heritage of the game are greater than ever. All I'm saying is that a balance must be found where the modern edge, the competitive hardness, of international cricket can still fit in with the great history created by all the men who've played cricket for the last couple of centuries.
Is there enough appreciation of the sport's history in South Africa?
I think we've lost a bit of that. There's a specialness about playing for your country that should give you goosebumps every single time you are lucky enough to be selected. It's not an everyday thing.
I think we've lost a bit of that. There's a specialness about playing for your country that should give you goosebumps every single time you are lucky enough to be selected. It's not an everyday thing.
What will you do to help restore the pride?
It's an ongoing process - selecting people with a natural sense of pride and honour helps! Little things help, too - little but important. I'm arranging for personal cap bags to be made for each player, embroidered with their name and Test number. Your cap is special - I'd like everyone who has one to treasure it.
It's an ongoing process - selecting people with a natural sense of pride and honour helps! Little things help, too - little but important. I'm arranging for personal cap bags to be made for each player, embroidered with their name and Test number. Your cap is special - I'd like everyone who has one to treasure it.
Are you ever daunted by your own place in history?
I'm not daunted by being the youngest captain, or one of the youngest. That sort of thing goes over my head, it doesn't scare me or affect me. It's hard to describe - you see yourself in the newspaper and it's like someone else. You almost don't realise what's happening to you, but that's partly intentional because I focus and concentrate only on what I can influence. So much of what happens to me is beyond my control! I'm also so excited about this team, and so convinced we can do something special together, that maybe that helps me to stay away from the peripheral stuff. "Who was South Africa's youngest Test captain?" might come up in a pub quiz but it's hardly important, is it? Naturally I'd prefer to be judged on my record in the years to come.
I'm not daunted by being the youngest captain, or one of the youngest. That sort of thing goes over my head, it doesn't scare me or affect me. It's hard to describe - you see yourself in the newspaper and it's like someone else. You almost don't realise what's happening to you, but that's partly intentional because I focus and concentrate only on what I can influence. So much of what happens to me is beyond my control! I'm also so excited about this team, and so convinced we can do something special together, that maybe that helps me to stay away from the peripheral stuff. "Who was South Africa's youngest Test captain?" might come up in a pub quiz but it's hardly important, is it? Naturally I'd prefer to be judged on my record in the years to come.