Johannesburg : South captain Graeme Smith, who last week announced his retirement from international cricket Africa was influenced by his family to make the decision, the media reported Sunday.
Smith , 33, told the Sunday Times he knew he had made the right decision at the bedside of his 18 month old daughter , who suffered burns from hot water hospital .
He said that the child has reached toward him and touched his Proteas badge.
” That’s all she really knew me . “
” She saw me on television and that was a moment where I realized that I ‘m pretty happy with the decision I made, ” he said.
The captian Proteas stunned the cricket world on Monday when he announced he would quit international cricket at the end of the Test series against Australia.
“I’ll have more time to see my children grow up and I will be there mentally . “
Smith is the captain of the most capped test game history with 9262 tests at an average of 48.49 with 27 hundreds and 38 half- centuries. (Smith best test captain ever, says Gary Kirsten )
He was captain of the Proteas for 12 years since the age of 22 .
” As captain , even when you are at home your brain is still also a lot of time,” he said.
The drummer, who married the Irish pop singer Morgan Deane in 2011 also has an Irish citizenship, but he says he does not intend to play for his second country .
” I will not be picking up a stick for this country. I will not play for Ireland. ” (Smith replaced by Dean Elgar next to South Africa )
” If I’m going to play for anyone , it would be the Proteas , ” he said.
He said breaking the news of his decision to his team was difficult , and he struggled to get his words.
“After I said my piece , I had to go out and get some fresh air because I was a bit of a wreck. “
The captain said that his wife was carrying the burden of raising their two young children , he played cricket .
“I think of her with two children traveling to the place where I am in the world , and make it work. She is a strong woman.
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