Honorary life membership has been bestowed on former Proteas captain Graeme Smith by the Marylebone Cricket Club, which owns Lord’s in London.

Smith played 117 Tests, 197 ODIs and 33 T20Is during a prolific 12-year- international career.

‘The MCC has  announced the election of Proteas legend Smith as an honorary life member of the club,’ read a tweet from the Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Smith added: ‘Thank you to the home of cricket and the MCC for this incredible honour. I have so many amazing memories there and I’m excited to share more with you in the future.’

The steely left-hander’s second-highest Test innings – 259 in 2013 – was scored at Lord’s.

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Fellow former South Africa  captain AB de Villiers received the same formal recognition from the MCC earlier this year.

‘Lord’s is the best ground in the world. Everybody knows that to be a member is obviously a huge honour and a compliment for the way I’ve played cricket and conducted myself on and off the field,’ said De Villiers at the time.

‘It’s always a huge privilege to come back to this place and now that I’m a member it gives me a reason to come here quite often.’

Photo: Gallo Images