The former South African coach Mickey Arthur was recalling those days that he had spent with the most amazing captain that the Proteas have ever had, Graeme Smith. He can still remember the first time he met with Graeme Smith. Smithy was just 18 years old that time and just passed the high school. Mickey was the captain of Griqualand West in Kimberley for which Smithy was playing.
Both of them scored tons in that match. “We both got centuries. We had a barbecue at the end and I wanted Smithy to sign for our small province for the following season.” But Smithy did not accept the proposal as “he had bigger and better things on his mind.” Mickey said. Smithy started his first-class career then at Western Province. But Mickey and Smithy got their reunion when Mickey joined the South Africa team. They started sharing their believe instantly.
The starting was not easy though for Arthur as a coach. They drew an ODI series with India and then lost a Test series against Australia and a tri-series against Sri Lankanand Australia back to back. He said, “That was one of the low points of my career.”
Mickey and Smithy spent almost 13 hours in flight while get back to home discussing the ideas on how the level of cricket of South Africa could be improved and how they both would take their relationship together.
They shared a common strategy. Mickey said, “I both of us believed in playing attacking cricket. We wanted to pick velocity bowlers, we wanted to create an environment that was structured, organized, disciplined but also allowed players to have fun. We identified players who were genuine game-breakers: players who not only set games up but also won them.”
They distributed the pressure in a much matured manner. Mickey took the stress off the field while Smithy focused on his preparations and whenever Smithy needed the backups, Mickey was always there. They complimented each other in a very beautiful manner. Mickey thinks, “I have always maintained that a captain-coach relationship is like a marriage – you have to completely trust each other. Of course we had our disagreements, but they were always behind closed doors.”
Mickey remembered how Smith always entered the change room at the break with a towel on his head and told him, “Coach, get somebody to stay with me and I will make the runs.” He found Mark Boucher always beside him.
Mickey considered him as one of the greatest captain. “Graeme Smith leaves a massive legacy. He can be credited for getting South African cricket to where it is now – at the top. After the Hansie Cronje saga and the disastrous World Cups Smithy created a culture, a brand, an air of success around South African cricket.” He added.
