|
Grit & guts: Braveheart Graeme Smith
In a feat reminiscent of England batsman Eddie Paynter’s
heroic straight-from-hospital 83-run knock in the Brisbane
Test during the infamous Bodyline series in 1932-33,
a grievously injured South Africa skipper Graeme Smith
won the hearts of all at the Sydney Cricket Ground last
week when he decided to come out to bat.
Like India’s own Anil Kumble, who once bowled with
a broken jaw, Smith, cricket’s Man of the Year
and the current man of the series, braved multiple elbow
and finger injuries by walking out to a standing ovation
at the ninth-wicket dismissal of Dale Steyn.
Smith had to survive 8.2 overs with Makhaya Ntini to
pull off a draw against an incensed Australian team
looking to salvage pride in the third Test after a series
defeat. Smith flew in from Melbourne in the morning
without any gear after consulting multiple specialists
and having his own blood injected into his right elbow,
besides a broken right-hand finger.
He borrowed a shirt from Jacques Kallis and a pullover
from Paul Harris before taking the plunge but had struggled
to even raise his hand to brush his teeth in the morning.
Smith even batted without painkillers and the plaster
cast on the broken finger was replaced with a re-modelled
glove. [Agencies]
|
