SACricketmag.co.za looks back at memorable Proteas Test moments in England ahead of the three-match series which starts next week.
Graeme Smith became South Africa’s youngest captain at the age of 22 when he replaced Shaun Pollock and led the team on a tour of England that included a five-Test series.
While some believed he had got the job too soon and that the pressure that came with it would have a negative impact on his batting, those doubts were quickly dispelled in the first Test at Edgbaston when Smith scored 277 in South Africa’s first innings of 594-5 declared.
He was involved in a huge opening stand of 338 with Herschelle Gibbs, who made 179 and, while the match ended in a draw, it prompted Nasser Hussain to quit the England captaincy.
Smith followed that up with 259 at Lord’s (watch the video below) as the Proteas made a mammoth 682-6 declared and went on to win by an innings and 92 runs. In doing so, Smith became one of only four batsmen to hit double centuries in consecutive Tests.
He would finish the series, which was drawn 2-2, with 714 runs at an average of 79.33.
