[Watch] When Graeme Smith Came Out With Broken Hand To Try And Salvage A Draw
Graeme Smith batted with broken hand at SCG [screengrab]
In the 147-year history of Test match cricket, there have been fewer braver moments and incidents than the one where Graeme Smith came out batting with a broken left hand to try and salvage a draw for South Africa during the New Year's Test in January 2009 against Australia.
Hurt and bruised by a rising delivery from Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson in the first innings, Smith was forced to retire. However, as the ninth wicket fell on Day 5 with just over 30 minutes remaining to stumps, the courageous man came back with intentions to dead-bat everything while battling great discomfort and excruciating pain.
The Sydney Cricket Ground stood up and applauded the effort, which was remarkable in context that the one of the finest Proteas legend passionately wanted South Africa to avoid a defeat even as the three-match series had already been won with triumphs in Perth and Melbourne.
When Smith Came Out With Broken Left Hand
Somehow controlling his willow predominantly from the front hand, Smith kept out 17 deliveries at his end in an extraordinary tenth-wicket partnership with Makhaya Ntini.
And even though he was out off a jaffer from Johnson with 11 balls remaining in the day's play, Smith garnered huge respect for his zeal and determination from the Australian public and team to bat with a broken left hand.
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was the first to nod in respect of his South African counterpart as the great player recognised the resilience and defiance on show from Smith and shook hands with the opposition skipper.
Smith was one of the leading heroes of South Africa's first Test series triumph in Australian conditions with 326 runs made over three Tests at an average of 65.20, including a century and two half-centuries.
 "Kashish Chadha")
