SOUTH Africa were set to welcome their captain, and new father, Graeme Smith back on tour yesterday. Smith did not arrive in time for practice, before the second Investec Test at Headingley later this week, but was due to fly into Leeds-Bradford airport yesterday afternoon.
The opening batsman returned home to Cape Town a week ago, following his team’s innings victory over England at The Oval, to attend the birth of his first child.
His wife Morgan duly gave birth to daughter Cadence, and 31-year-old Smith set off on the return journey to the northern hemisphere six days later as his team bid for back-to-back Test series wins in England.
AB de Villiers led the tourists in Smith’s absence in a two-day match at Worcester. However, the captain will be in situ again for the start of the second Test of three, starting on Thursday, and his team are delighted about his return.
Middle-order batsman JP Duminy made that clear when he spoke after yesterday’s net session.
“He’s added an extra member to his family, and we’re all happy for him,” he said. “It’s always good to have him back, the leader of our team. We’re looking forward to having him here again.”
Duminy also reflected on the landslide nature of South Africa’s win in London, where they piled up a mammoth 637 for two declared and took all 20 England wickets for only 625.
Number seven Duminy never even came close to taking guard as Hashim Amla made a historic triple-century, and Smith and Jacques Kallis hit big hundreds too.
“To be honest, I didn’t have my pads on; I didn’t even have my whites on,” said Duminy. “That’s the first time for me that’s ever happened.” (PA Sport)