Graeme Smith

Smith made his one-day international debut against Australia earlier this year and has since been a regular member of both the Test and one-day sides.

Date of Birth: 1 February 1981, Johannesburg  Test Debut: Against Australia at Cape Town in 2001/02  ODI Debut: Against Australia at Bloemfontein in 2001/02  Bats: Left Hand Bat  Bowls: Right Arm Medium

Smith made his one-day international debut against Australia earlier this year and has since been a regular member of both the Test and one-day sides. He scored a double-century against Bangladesh in the longer form of the game and impressed with the bat in the one-dayers. While not the most flamboyant of batsmen, Smith averages a healthy 41.27 in one-day internationals, which is topnotch.

He was left out of the World Cup squad and out of sorts Lance Klusener was retained. But after a dismal performance by South African team in the World Cup, Shaun Pollock was shown the exit door from the captaincy spot.

Media heavily criticized the elevation of Smith to the hot seat. It would be his first stint as a captain when he leads South African team for a Dhakha tri-series against India and Bangladesh. He has a very little experience of just eight Tests and 22 one-day internationals.