Smith wins Young Player award

Graeme Smith - Wisden's young cricketer of the year © AFP

Graeme Smith, the South African cricket captain, was named the International Young Cricketer of the Year last night at an awards function in Mumbai, India, sponsored by Electrolux.

Smith, who is still only 23, was delighted with the honour. "It's truly a wonderful honour and a privilege to receive this award," he said. " The last year has been an exciting one for me and the South African team, with many highs and a few lows."

Smith went on to thank his team-mates: "They have been fantastic all year and have formed a wonderful unit to make this first year as captain a very special one."

Smith was appointed as South Africa's youngest-ever captain in March, and led the squad on tours to Bangladesh, England and Pakistan. Despite his extra responsibilities he has enjoyed a highly successful time with the bat, and is the leading runscorer in Test cricket this year. So far he has hit 1008 runs in ten Tests, including 714 (another South African record) in the five-Test series in England.

His runs this year have included three centuries. In January he scored 151 against Pakistan at Cape Town, then in the first Test against England at Edgbaston in July, he set a new South African Test record with 277 - and followed that up with a matchwinning 259 in the second Test at Lord's.

In accepting his award, Smith thanked all those who had shown confidence in his ability: "I know that a lot of people thought I might be too young to captain South Africa, but I believe that what we have achieved as a team this year has allayed some fears and far outweighs what any individuals have done. We have made great progress but we still have a lot to learn as a side as do I as captain. "

Gerald Majola, the chief executive of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, said: "This award is recognition of Graeme Smith's achievements since he became South Africa's youngest captain. He has led from the front with great determination since he took over the captaincy in difficult times, and his rapport with the team, the media and the public is outstanding.

Majola concluded: "His batting performances on the tour of England were remarkable, resulting in him becoming the first batsman in the world to pass 1000 Test runs this year. We believe that he can lead South Africa to the highest cricketing honours in the future."