When I say the name Graeme Smith, the image of an elegant left handed South African opener would be formed in your mind. A few days ago he retired from international cricket but only after serving his country and the game of cricket for 12 long years.
Now that he has retired, he would spend his nights reminiscing his glorious career and not strategize for the next match. Let’s take a hypothetical situation where he sits down in his study room after retirement and writes, in his journal, an account of the journey he has had as a cricketer and as a successful captain, in fact the most successful captain.
Some day. Some month. Some year after March 2014 (doesn’t matter now)
As I begin to register a monumental day of my life here, the only thing that flashes in my mind is the time, 12 years ago; when as a youngster I was given an opportunity to represent my nation at the highest level. Yes, the thing that should trouble me at the moment is the fact that brings me vis-a-vis to reality, I am a former cricketer now, I will no longer be able to don my favorite color, green. But it does not, I look back at the time when I was a left-handed South African opener with a dream to play for his country and I never would try to forget that. I have come miles ahead from where I was back then, 12 years is a long journey. People will always show you what you have missed upon; I would rather look at what I have achieved.
When I was given an opportunity to captain my national squad, it was a big responsibility for me. Usually a 22-year old player in a strong team fights for a place in the 11 while I was lucky enough to not only be the top 11 but also lead the other 10. Being the youngest captain ever for your nation, I had my critics back then and why wouldn’t they criticize this decision? If South Africa happens to assign the job to another youngster despite having senior players in the team, even I might get skeptical. Moving on, I never anticipated that I would go on to be the captain for a whopping one hundred and nine matches, which is a world record I have heard and also my team winning 52 matches under my leadership is another one. Wow! Way to go Graeme, so you do have stories to tell your grandchildren about.
It was yesterday only when I took out one of the old journals from the mid-2000s and read it, it turns out I was confident about me achieving success in my work. I have always enjoyed my cricket; facing the new ball against the most lethal bowlers in the world is not easy but I always liked that challenge. Why would they call a person a cricketer if he is not up for new battles in the field of cricket? Well, I have remained a humble cricketer throughout my life but it is time to actually celebrate all the things that I have achieved in the past 12 years. A steady average of almost 49 for 117 Tests is not an easy task if you couple it with the 109 Tests that I have captained along. The pressure that is there gets you on many occasions but as I mentioned above, challenge.
After I announced my retirement I got many calls from people talking about me talking this decision in haste. Well, I am only 33 years old now and just as they were skeptical about me being handed over the captaincy at a very young age, they are criticizing my decision to retire at a young age again. So am I the youngest captain to retire for this country? Hahaha!!! but on a serious note I can never repay what cricket has given me and I thought that I had now taken enough from this game and carrying on any further would only increase the baggage of favors on me that would make it even more difficult for me to pay back.
As I write this with a heavy heart, I am the happiest person in the world. Confusing? I believe that every person in this world is here for a purpose and I am happy that I have attained my purpose of setting up an example in front of people about how to lead. That statement did sound a bit haughty but it wasn’t, it came straight from the heart with all the benign intentions. As I conclude this part of my time capsule as I call it, I would like to say this to the future me who would read this without teeth and proper eye sight that no matter how much debilitated you are at your old age, at the age of 33 you were termed as the best captain to lead South Africa and had world records in this field which might still be standing tall then. Captaining South Africa was the best thing that could have happened to you and smile because this is one thing for which your future generations will be proud of you.
Graeme Craig Smith
Captain Emeritus, Republic of South Africa
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