4. Graeme Smith:
One of the most successful skippers of all time, the former South Africa captain was also an expert at playing mind games. The only captain to lead a team in over 100 Tests, Smith put the opposition under pressure several times with his mind games. One incident happened during the 2011 50-overs World Cup when he took a dig at the Indian team. India failed to win a match against England after posting a massive 338 as the game ended in a tie. After the match ended, Smith tweeted:” GraemeSmith49 Reckon this is the last time India will play on a wicket that doesn’t spin in this world cup….what you think??;-)” With the Proteas set to play the Indian team in their next match, the comment might have made a difference as India lost the match.
One another instance of a mind game happened when the former England skipper Andrew Strauss abstained from T20 cricket. In reply Smith said: “It does surprise me. Looking at their lineup the other night (referring to a match when England were dismissed in only 17.3 overs in the defeat to South Africa A), it’s difficult to understand why.”