FAN-TASTIC: Graeme Smith gives the thumbs up during the South African national cricket team’s signing session at Sandton City in Johannesburg yesterday ahead of his 100th Test as a test captain – 99 for South Africa and one for an ICC XI test – against Pakistan on Friday. Picture: GALLO IMAGES
THAT South Africans adore Graeme Smith was made plain in the happy chaos of an autograph signing session at a Johannesburg shopping mall yesterday.
Hundreds of fans were greeted by a giant poster of a Proteas shirt emblazoned with details of each of Smith’s 26 Test centuries.
The rest of the space was given over to supporters congratulating Smith on the cusp of becoming the first player to captain a team in 100 Tests. Several square metres were soon covered in scrawled appreciation for world cricket’s longest- serving current leader.
Smith, who will reach the milestone when he leads SA against Pakistan at the Wanderers on Friday, beamed a smile throughout what was clearly an enjoyable time for him. Fans were afforded the opportunity to tell a television crew what they thought of the national skipper.
