Graeme Smith Captain's Squad: South Africa in England '08—Profiles, Part I

Graeme Smith (captain): It's hard to believe that Smith is still only 27. He has been captain since the age of 22 and has a fantastic record as an opening batsman, averaging nearly 50.

In the last year he has found it difficult at times, particularly against New Zealand and the West Indies, before a return to form in the final test of the Windies series with 147. England will know exactly how dangerous he can be, after he scored consecutive double-centuries on SA's last tour of England in 2003. Always loud in the field.

66 Tests: 5392 runs @ 48.57 (14 x 100, 22 x 50)

Last 12 months: 12 matches: 1107 runs @ 55.35 (3 x 100, 4 x 50)

Ashwell Prince (vice-captain): Prince became South Africa's first black captain in 2006. He is a batsman who at times can look quality, and at times extremely scratchy, and indeed his place in the side has never been really guaranteed.

He is yet to entirely convince the rest of the world of his class: his test average hovers around 40, although in the last year he has only averaged 35. He has never played against England.

41 Tests: 2375 runs @ 40.94 (7 x 100, 7 x 50)

Last 12 months: 12 matches: 575 runs @ 35.93 (1 x 100, 2 x 50)

Neil McKenzie: With only 4 hundreds in 47 Test matches, McKenzie is one of the great underachievers in world cricket, in the same mould as Stephen Fleming. Even so, his average of 38 is respectable enough, and he is certainly capable of big innings, as shown by his world record opening partnership of 415 in Bangladesh, of which he scored 226.

McKenzie was dropped from the side for three years in 2007, but has had a fine return to the side, averaging 77 in the last year. He will be a difficult batsman for England to shift, although his record against them is poor, averaging around 30.

47 Tests: 2649 runs @ 38.39 (4 x 100, 14 x 50)

Last 12 months: 6 matches: 621 runs @ 77.62 (2 x 100, 1 x 50)

Hashim Amla: In the Monty Panesar and Mohammed Younis league of beards, Amla is a young batsman who, like much of South Africa's middle order, has not only yet to truly convince, but has not been a fixture in the side.

In the last couple of years, he has cemented a more solid position in the side after he was dropped following England's tour of South Africa in 2004-5, after managing only 36 runs in 4 innings. At only 25 he has plenty of time and potential to make himself a quality player, and his performances in the last year have begun to show this promise.

25 Tests: 1596 runs @ 37.11 (4 x 100, 8 x 50)

Last 12 months: 12 matches: 980 runs @ 51.57 (3 x 100, 4 x 50)

Jacques Kallis: Easily the most world-class batsman South Africa possesses, Kallis fights out the award for the largest pectorals in world cricket with Matthew Hayden. For a man who dislikes bowling, his 230 Test wickets at just over 30 each makes him amongst the most prolific all-rounder in Test history.

Given his patience and immovability at the crease, one of the biggest surprises about Kallis is that he has converted none of his 30 Test centuries into double-tons. Kallis failed with the bat on his last tour of England, although he took nine wickets in the final test at Headingly with the ball, he had a much more successful series against them in South Africa, with three hundreds and two fifties. He has had a wonderful year, averaging 76 in the last 12 months with over 1200 runs.

119 Tests: 9657 runs @ 57.14 (30 x 100, 47 x 50)

                230 wickets @ 31.30 (5 x 5W)

Last 12 months: 12 matches: 1227 runs @ 76.68 (6 x 100, 3 x 50)

                                           17 wickets @ 26.11 (1 x 5W)

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