05 March 2014, 06:50 PM IST
Graeme Smith used to show his disappointment occasionally. Still, his countenance tells us loud and clear: Try, try but don't cry.
I am not sure if he and Ravi Shastri will cross swords in the commentary box if the Indian utters his predictable analysis for an unsuccessful bowler ("He is trying too hard!").
Smith seems to be a firm believer of trying hardest. Still, it remains a wonder how he managed to hit fours past mid-on which were intended to go past mid-off. Not many possess this art of sweet mistiming and keep polishing it for more than a decade! He challenged the notion that most left-handed batsmen are pretty to watch. But then, make no mistake, in between these lucky breaks, Smith used to come up with monstrous hitting. You give him an inch and he will take a yard.
Smith was not a truly gifted batsman by any stretch of imagination, but he was a gifted trier. And, as Graham Gooch would testify, children of lesser god need to acquire special skills of building an innings, accumulating runs. However, when the batsmen of lesser ability score runs, they provide more heartburn to the opposition than a gifted Lara would. The opposition can clap exhibition of batsmanship from Lara; but the likes of Smith can make it suffocating for those who are at the receiving end. The playing conditions allow bowlers to have a drink at the boundaryline but not the privilege of oxygen balloon or recovery tent after facing a clinical assault.
Smith didn't succeed in changing one major script that bugged SA: out-and-out CHOKERS in limited-overs cricket, but he experienced some incredible highs in Test cricket: top team ranking, two successive Test series wins Down Under in addition to away series wins in England, NZ, Pakistan and West Indies. Test series wins in India and Sri Lanka remained elusive to him.
Tatenda Taibu, MAK Pataudi, Javed Miandad and Mohd Ashraful were all young Test leaders before they turned 23. The selectors showed faith in all of them. But no one gave better dividends than Smith. He proved out to be a Blue Chip investment. Like most of the prolific and consistent batsmen, he didn't brood over the previous ball. He was constantly getting ready for the next challenge.
Smith's career gave ample lessons about market mechanism.
Leaders are not the best performers in business, but those having more itch to lead; better inclination to do the dirty work and enjoy the filthy-looking privileges. Even if you are not the best in business (like Smith), you must gather a voice to convey faults to players of higher pedigree (say Amla).
Some incidents in the initial part of Smith's leadership convey his courage of conviction and forthright approach in dealing with seniors and more established players.
Of course, some small over-the-top reactions or slip in tongue could have invited a revolt. But then, some leaders are more bothered about processes rather than consequences. It's travesty of sorts that despite possessing this philosophy, the likes of Smith constantly strive for better tangible results.
Smith may not win a popularity vote among cricket fans and his peers; but he has proved out to be the darling of his coaches and his administrators.
Seeing his constant rise must have been a proud phase for SA fans. Now, he eyes Surreyal experience after retiring from international cricket.
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