Graeme Smith to captain Somerset

[Andy Mellon]

The South African cricket union have given Graeme Smith permission to captain Somerset in the English County Championship Division 2 next season. Is this a coup for Somerset or Graeme Smith? Somerset have got a player who's proven to be good in English conditions and Graeme Smith has got himself a contract at the ground with the best batting pitch in England (Taunton) so he can bat himself back into form!

I know some of you have strong views on Graeme Smith, so what are your opinions on this appointment? Is he up to the job of captaining Somerset or should the job have gone to a seasoned county pro?

[Maranello]

Does anyone know who was the Somerset captain in 2004, and how did the team do in the various competitions?

Putting Smith in charge seems a risky move for the county, as his leadership track record is patchy, and he as burnt as many bridges as he has built. He was also found to be wanting in some toughness against Flemings's Kiwis.

Hence, a good move for Smith, but a question mark remarks over its long-term benefit to Somerset. Maybe they were so poor in 2004 that they felt they needed a shock to the system?

[Occasional Fan]

Must be a good thing for Taunton, especially if he can get Slinky Minky to move there with him.

[Zainub]

CAUTION TO ALL SOMERSET FANS: Smith has arrvied...Get ready for certain players being tagged as a "bad influence" and your best bowler being brought on as 3rd change ....

Smith has some growing up to do for my money,I think he's led SA in an absymal sort of way, and I'm not the biggest of his fans. He's a goot batsmen though, a real bully on flat tracks. Interesting decision this over all. I'll look forward to seeing how well/poorly he does at a batsman/captain for Somerset

[Notts Exile]

He'll be ok at Taunton, it's the flattest track in England! How he manages Andy Caddick should be worth watching!!!

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Does anyone know who was the Somerset captain in 2004, and how did the team do in the various competitions?

It was county stalwart Michael Burns who was in charge last year in a very mediocre season. 4th in CC2 but with only 4 championship wins and 8th in the NL2 - only ahead of Scotland and Derbyshire!! Their performance in the 20:20 was also nothing to write home about, only coming 4th in their group.

Still, Somerset have some decent young players coming through such as James Hildreth, and if Caddick and Johnson can remain fit and in form next year then they could do well. Bowling out teams twice at Taunton has always been difficult though!

[Ernest]

Bit short sighted signing Graham Smith to be in the same team as Andrew Caddick, what a misserable place the Somerset dressing room could well be, or is there plans to put Caddick out to pasture, there are alays vacancies in the England one day team.

[Andy Mellon]

Well, another development at Somerset has arisen! As Graeme Smith has touring commitments in the Windies until May, Somerset are looking to get Ricky Ponting to captain them in the early part of the season. Well, he's obviously a top class batsman and captain, but I'm left wondering how much money this pair are costing, whether Somerset can afford it, and what will suffer at Somerset because of the amount of money being ploughed into signing two players to cover one berth!!

[Rachael]

I can see some sense in this move: the early season sets the tone FOR the season.. and if Ponting's maturity as a captain allows the dressingroom to emerge from the early season with everyone singing from the same hymn sheet then Smith should get a pretty easy ride when he takes over.

[Andy Mellon]

How would you say their styles contrast though? I'd be worried that Smith's methods are different from Ponting's so that any team spirit or methods brought to the club by Ponting would be thrown out and overhauled by Smith leading to a dressing room instability in the first couple of months. I understand your point, and if, for example it was Fleming rather than Smith arriving in May I'd agree, but I'm unconvinced that the combative attitude Smith brings would allow a smooth transition from Ponting to Smith.