Eduan Roos

Sydney. – The cricket world is suffering from Captain Courageous fever after the “bravest gesture in the history of the game” by Graeme Smith at the SCG on Wednesday.

The South African captain, who broke his left hand earlier this week, frustrated Australia for half an hour in spite of warnings by medics not to venture near a cricket field for another six weeks.

Smith only scored three runs, but took his side to within a whisker of an unlikely draw before being clean-bowled by Mitchell Johnson in the penultimate over.

His hand has been in a thick plastic cast the past few days and he also received the first of two scheduled blood injections to treat his injured elbow earlier this week.

When the Proteas still had to survive 50 deliveries without the loss of their last wicket, Smith brought an end to Australia’s premature celebrations and had the crowd of 9 000 on their feet.

“I don’t have any nerves left and although my hand is not very happy with me, I’m just grateful that I was not struck by the ball again,” Smith said after his side’s defeat by 103 runs.

His hand was so sore that he could barely hold his bat, while the pain was visible on his face with each of the 17 deliveries that struck his bat.

“It was very painful when I felt the first ball on the bat, but I told myself to hang in there for as long as possible.

“I just wanted to go out there and do my best, even if it meant losing my wicket with the first delivery.”

The international media lauded Smith as “the bravest man in world cricket” and were jubilant about “South Africa’s incredible one-arm bandit”.

It’s the same media that crucified Smith on the Proteas’ last visit to Australia for his comments during the series loss.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting termed Smith’s heroics “one of the bravest I have seen”.

Support groups quickly went up on social network Facebook.

“We lost, but this innings will be remembered as one of the best ever,” said one jubilant fan.