Publications
Partners
The record-breaking Proteas Test captain and opening batsman signed at The Oval as high-profile skipper several months ago, although he will continue to represent South Africa.
But Surrey also confirmed on their website that former Australia captain and stroke-playing legend Ponting, 38, will join the club for the months of June and July.
He will initially cover for Smith, who is likely to be part of the Proteas team taking part in the English-staged closing edition of the ICC Champions Trophy one-day international competition.
But the richly experienced pair will also team up for parts of Surrey’s Twenty20 domestic campaign, when Kevin Pietersen, the controversial SA-born England batting star, might also make fleeting appearances when available.
Pietersen and Smith have not always seen eye to eye in the past, but will suddenly potentially become team-mates at domestic level.
The Daily Mail on Thursday suggested that the trio, if in alliance for the county at any stage in the season, would amount to the “greatest line-up since Somerset’s golden era of Beefy (Ian Botham), the Master Blaster (Viv Richards) and Big Joel (Garner)”.
It also said that Ponting had been “sold the idea” of a county swansong by Smith.
*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing
