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South Africa's Graeme Smith signs three-year contract to captain Surrey

Image: Graeme Smith: Back in English domestic cricket with Surrey

South Africa's Test captain Graeme Smith has agreed a deal to play county cricket for Surrey.

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Experience

South Africa are due to compete in the Champions Trophy in England next summer, where Smith would at present be available for selection in the middle of the county season. The left-hander has scored more than 8,000 Test runs during his career, at an average just shy of 50, while he has also made 219 limited overs appearances. He has twice led South Africa to the top of the Test rankings during 94 matches in charge after being handed the captaincy in 2003 as a 22-year-old. "Signing Graeme Smith on a three-year deal is a massive coup for Surrey CCC," Surrey team director Chris Adams said. "As well as being one of the best captains in the modern game, he is a phenomenal opening batsman and will lead by example from the top of the innings. "By signing a three-year deal, Graeme has demonstrated his commitment to Surrey on a long-term basis and I look forward to working alongside him and the rest of our hugely talented squad to bring more silverware to this club in the near future." Surrey finished just above the relegation places last summer, their first back in Division One, but the season was overshadowed by the death of their batsman Tom Maynard. Hamilton-Brown, a close friend of Maynard, took a sabbatical from the game before announcing his return to Sussex following the end of the season.

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