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Graeme Smith's 259 broke Don Bradman's record for a visiting Test batsman and helped his team win by an innings at the "Home of Cricket." While his final trip to Lord's in 2012 yielded modest returns with the bat, he captained his team to a 51-run victory that propelled them to the top of the Test rankings, dethroning England. Graeme Smith amassed 411 runs at an average of 82.20 in three Tests played at Lord's.
Smith's 259 took 9.5 hours and 370 balls. The English lineup of Steve Harmison, Jimmy Anderson, Darren Gough, Andrew Flintoff, and Ashley Giles was no match for his 34 fours. England paid a heavy price for dropping him early in his innings at cover point, as he went on to dominate a first-wicket stand of 133 runs with the usually slick Herschelle Gibbs.
However, he allowed his team to continue batting until they reached a record 682 for 6. England lost by an innings and 92 runs with more than two days remaining. This describes the scores of Graeme Smith running.
Graeme Smith scored the first South African batsman ever to score a double century at Lord's Cricket Ground on this day in 2003. Smith accomplished the feat in the series’ second Test.
The ex-Proteas captain scored 259 on 370 balls, including 34 fours, in the first innings against England. His contribution and Gary Kristen's century helped the tourists amass a massive 682 runs in their first innings.
Graeme Smith was the batting leader in 108 tests, winning 53 and losing 28. He has a 50%-win percentage in test cricket, with 27 Graeme Smith matches ending in a tie.
In the 39-test series that South Africa played while Graeme Smith was captain, the Proteas went 22-8. There were nine tied test series. Under his leadership, South Africa dominated the test-playing world, winning a series against every major, top-ranked nation.
Graeme Smith is frequently the target of criticism. However, he has been a consistent South African batting lineup member for a long time. He has led the team since he was an impressionable 22-year-old and was thrust into the role.
Now that he has the opportunity, he has flourished and scored important runs for his country.
Graeme scratched and prodded his way to an unbeaten 67 as play ended Tuesday in the second Test between Pakistan and the UAE in Dubai. It wasn't pretty, but it did the job like all of Smith's punches. It was a commendable effort, considering the conditions (having not played competitive cricket since May of this year and in sweltering heat).
South African cricket legend Graeme Smith set a record with 411 runs at an average of 82.20 in three Tests played at Lord's. His 9-and-a-half-hour, 370-ball innings of 259 helped his team secure a victory by innings. Under his leadership, South Africa dominated the test-playing world, winning a series against every major, top-ranked nation. As captain, he led South Africa to 149 One-Day International victories and 51 defeats.
FAQs
For what and who did Graeme Smith's 259 represent a new benchmark?
In Australian cricket history, Graeme Smith's record-breaking 259 eclipsed the legacy of Don Bradman, whose highest Test score was 254.
When and against whom did Graeme Smith bat for his record 259 innings?
Graeme Smith's record-breaking 259 came in a Test match against South Africa's bitter rivals, England, at Lord's Cricket Ground in March 2004.
How has Graeme Smith's 259 in the 1999 World Cup affected cricket over the past two decades?
As one of the greatest individual innings in Test cricket history, Graeme Smith's 259 continues to serve as a historical landmark and a reminder to cricket fans of his exceptional batting prowess.
