The Smith factor

THE PROTEAS’ effervescent new One Day International captain, AB de Villiers, has had his first successful campaign, leading South Africa to an unassailable 3-nil lead in the five-match series against Sri Lanka.

But his success and the focus on his new task have been tempered by a curious sideshow involving Graeme Smith: De Villiers’ predecessor has been on an awful run of form with the bat in limited overs cricket.

Hard questions have been asked of De Villiers and his coach Gary Kirsten about why the Proteas are prepared to carry Smith. De Villiers backed his opening batsman this week and Kirsten took it a step further, saying Smith was owed an extended run in the side for all he has done for South African cricket.

There is something to be said for the old adage “class is permanent, form is temporary”. But not when there is a string of eager and talented young hopefuls waiting in the wings and two more games left in a series which we have already won. The Cobras’ Richard Levi, and the Knights’ Dean Elgar and Rilee Rossouw spring readily to mind.

It is never easy to drop a player, especially one who has a proven pedigree at the highest level as Smith has.

But in the competitive arena of international cricket, there is little room for sentiment. Smith is clearly a distraction and is holding back the rest of the team.

It would do him the world of good to take a break from the shorter form of the game and focus on extending his remarkable Test career.

And Kirsten and the selectors need to be bold and do what is right for the team and their new captain De Villiers.