The 22-year-old had been handed the captaincy following the Proteas’ disappointing home World Cup campaign, becoming South Africa’s youngest men’s Test skipper. He arrived in Birmingham under pressure after struggling for runs in his first two Tests in charge.
Smith responded emphatically. Opening with Herschelle Gibbs, he helped demolish England’s attack in a 338-run stand scored in fewer than 75 overs. Gibbs made 179, while Smith powered on to 277 from 373 deliveries, hitting 35 fours.
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It was the highest Test score by a South African at the time, surpassing the previous record of 275 shared by Daryll Cullinan and Gary Kirsten. Smith’s innings drove the Proteas to 594-5 declared.
England avoided the follow-on by reaching 408, led by Michael Vaughan’s 156 and Ashley Giles’ valuable 41. Smith then smashed 85 from 70 balls in South Africa’s second innings as the tourists declared on 134-4, setting England 321 to win.
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England reached 110-1 before rain and bad light ended South Africa’s victory push.
Smith was named player of the match and followed his Edgbaston epic with 259 at Lord’s. He finished the five-match series with 714 runs at 79.33.
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
