Smith set to make history

Graeme Smith will become the second-youngest one-day captain ever when he leads his team against India on Sunday.

Graeme Smith will become the youngest South African one-day captain and the second-youngest ever when he leads his team against India here on Sunday.

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Only Pakistani paceman Waqar Younis led a one-day international side at a younger age.

Smith, who replaced all-rounder Shaun Pollock at the helm after South Africa failed to make the Super Sixes stage of the World Cup, will be just 22 years and 71 days on the day of his first match as skipper.

Younis was 21 years and 354 days when he led his team against the West Indies at Sharjah in 1993-94.

Smith, who has played just eight Tests and 22 one-dayers, will be ahead of luminaries Sachin Tendulkar, Javed Miandad and Kapil Dev in the list of youngest captains.

List of youngest one-day captains till date:

1. Waqar Younis (PAK) vs West Indies at Sharjah in 1993-94 (21y,354d)

2. Sachin Tendulkar (IND) vs Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 1996-97 (23y,126d)

3. Javed Miandad (PAK) vs West Indies at Karachi in 1980-81 (23y,162d)

5. Kapil Dev (IND) vs Sri Lanka at Amritsar in 1982-83 (23y,249d)

6. Alistair Campbell (ZIM) vs Australia at Colombo in 1996-97 (23y,338d)

7. Stephen Fleming (NZ) vs Sri Lanka at Christchurch in 1996-97 (23y,358d)

8. Hansie Cronje (RSA) vs New Zealand at Brisbane in 1993-94 (24y,105d)

9. Ian Botham (ENG) vs West Indies at Leeds in 1980 (24y,186d)

10.Craig McMillan (NZ) v Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 2000-01 (24y,209d)