'Graeme was passionate about playing for his country'

I first saw Graeme Smith when he was 12 years old, attending one of the cricket clinics I was organising in Johannesburg. And my very first impression was that he was a very good young player who looked determined to make it big. He always had plenty of time to play the ball, and was always difficult to dismiss. His technique was not brilliant, but he hit the ball very hard for his age.

I wouldn't say he was always thinking beyond his age, but yes, definitely when I met him next - he was in high school and 16 - he seemed a boy who was mature beyond those years. He had a pretty good idea of where he was going in life. He was always passionate about playing for his province, and the country, and he never did the stupid things you sometimes expect from a boy of his age. He had the perfect discipline for batting, and even on days he wasn't playing very well, he would be determined to stay at the wicket and make runs without getting bogged down.

The aggressive stance stems from his determination to succeed, and his real passion for cricket. He is always up for it, and is very enthusiastic, a major facet of his game right from his young days. This zest for cricket and life in general springs from his home: I have been fortunate to know his parents - Graeme Sr and Janet - very well. The Smiths have always respected moral values, and they have raised a fine young man. They never put any pressure on him, or asked him to lead life on their terms. Instead, they gave him a lot of encouragement, and the opportunity to move ahead.

I became well acquainted with Graeme when he was opening with my eldest son Steven for King Edward's High School in Johannesburg. I used to visit the boys on the weekends to watch them play, and I struck a deal with Graeme. I told him, "If you look after my young Steven in the middle, because you have a good brain and huge temperament for the game, I will take care of your cricket." And he said it would be a pleasure. So from the age of 16, for two years, I had the opportunity to work alongside him on all aspects of his game. We discussed the importance of mental toughness: how important it is not to give your wicket away, how to maintain concentration. We also talked of how he could keep his focus when things weren't going right. It doesn't matter what people are saying about, or to, you - you need to carry on with your own life.

That helped him a lot, and mentally, he is now very strong. The more people encourage him, the more determined he will be to improve. He can be as good as Steve Waugh. Of course, you can't make the comparison yet, but with his unflappable spirit, he can get close enough. A fine example of that was when he gave it straight back to the Australians after they went overboard with the sledging. He is a very encouraging character on the field, always keeping the spirits of his players high. He felt he had to deal with the Australian issue, and went ahead with it. It doesn't faze him that he will have to deal with them again when South Africa next tour Australia.

At the crease, he is very strong off his legs and on the front foot. His game still needs one or two technical adjustments, but I wouldn't like to share what they are with the public at large. At the moment, he has almost got it right, so I'd like him to continue in the same vein. As for captaincy, his strong character and personality had previously made him the leader of the school, age-group and South Africa A teams. Club those qualities with his determination and enthusiasm, and you'll realise why he's the best man to lead South Africa.

Graeme has always been a good student of the game. He likes to talk about it, and in the months leading up to an important tour, he does his homework thoroughly: he would go through the history of the venues, type of scores made on that particular ground, the strengths and weaknesses of the players in the opposition, and all those things which will give him a mental picture of the tasks that lie ahead.

His recent performances against England have been awesome, though some people may prefer to talk instead of possible adversity lurking around the corner. But we have already witnessed him fight his way out of a tough situation, when dropped from the World Cup squad, only for him to come back and score that 151 against Pakistan - as if he was telling the selectors: "Hey, don't forget about me."

Satisfied that he is the right man to take South Africa ahead, the selectors have given him the authority to lead the side. I would like him to keep his feet on the ground, continue the way he is playing, and not do anything to disrupt that rhythm.