Graeme Smith returns to play Test cricket at Lord's hoping he can emulate the level of performance he did in 2003.
Proteas skipper ready to repeat 2003 success
South Africa captain Graeme Smith returns to play Test cricket at Lord's hoping both he and his side can emulate the level of performance they did in their crushing innings win over England five years ago.
Back in 2003, Smith arrived in England still learning his trade as a novice 22-year-old captain.
Despite the pressure of leading his side on their first challenging series, the classy left-hander struck a double century in the drawn first Test at Edgbaston, where Nasser Hussain resigned as England skipper.
Smith then followed up with 259 at Lord's, the highest Test score by an overseas player at the home of cricket as the Proteas won by an innings and 92 runs in what was Michael Vaughan's first Test as England captain.
However, the 27-year-old comes into this Test with just two hours in the middle - against Middlesex in the final warm-up match, since arriving in England following a hamstring injury.
Fantastic
"There are some special memories for me and the team personally," said Smith.
"It's fantastic what we did in 2003 and it would be great to repeat that. In 2003, I came here in fantastic form but recently it's been a battle with injuries so it's going to be a challenge."
South Africa, since returning to international cricket in 1991 after their apartheid-enforced exile, are yet to win a Test series in England with their last trip in 2003 ending 2-2 despite the tourists storming into a 2-0 lead.
"England are very tough to beat at home, as are any team, but if we can win a series here it will be a great achievement," Smith said.
Early in his captaincy career, Smith was known as an abrasive leader but he insisted he'd become a more relaxed character.
Adjust
"I've settled into it. I'm hopefully calmer and more experienced tactically.
"At 22 you are trying to prove to the world and everybody you can handle the job. Being single-minded was one reason why I could handle the job at 22, 23."
Much has been made of how England will cope with South Africa's quicks having faced nothing more than medium fast pace bowling in back-to-back Test series' against New Zealand.
But with conditions likely to assist swing bowling, and some members of the Proteas' top order on their first tour of England, there is also the question of how South Africa will adjust to a typically English environment.
However, Smith said: "If conditions are going to be like this, it will be a challenge for both teams.
"When we went to the sub-continent people questioned our ability to play spin, but we won in Pakistan and Bangladesh and drew in India."
