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Smith humbles England

REUTERS, Birmingham
Graeme Smith made 277 out of South Africa's total of 594 for five declared in the first Test on Saturday, leaving England captain Nasser Hussain chewing on a record-sized slice of humble pie.
Hussain had suggested on the eve of the five-match series that the South Africans were "ripe for the taking".
He also said he had not done any homework on Smith, suggesting the less he knew about the touring side's captain the better.
Hussain and a packed Edgbaston crowd had learnt plenty about the 22-year-old by 2:22 pm local time as he trudged back to the pavilion after his nine-hour innings ended in James Anderson's hands at deep mid-wicket.
By then, the imposing lefthander, in only his 10th Test, his third in charge and in his first appearance against England, had cut a swathe through the record books.
He had begun with a 338-run stand with Herschelle Gibbs on Thursday, the highest opening Test partnership recorded against England and the sixth best of all time.
On Saturday, resuming on 178 with the touring side on 398 for one, he forged relentlessly on.
First it was a personal best beating the 200 he made in his third Test against Bangladesh then it was the highest score by a South African captain, then a new record for any South African in England.
When he guided quick bowler Steve Harmison to third man for a single in the afternoon session, he passed the South African all-time Test mark of 275 shared by Daryll Cullinan and Gary Kirsten.
Two minutes later, he heaved wearily at Ashley Giles' left-arm spin and departed to thunderous applause.
"I looked up at the scoreboard when I had 262 and then realised how close I was to breaking the record," said Smith.
"I remembered Gary Kirsten getting out against England in Durban on 275, the same score as Daryll's record. I did not want that to happen.
"It would feel even better if we could go on and win the match but there is a lot of work to do."
Smith now averages 65 in 15 innings. He favours the cut, the flick off the hip and a bottom-handed drive threaded through mid-on.
His three best scores in Tests 151, 200 and 277 also suggest he lacks little in mental strength or
application.
England, offered 24 hours respite by Friday's washout, had little of note to celebrate again.
While there were wickets Kirsten the first, caught off Giles down the leg side for 44 after a 100 stand for the second wicket Hussain's bowlers never managed to exert pressure.
South Africa reached lunch on 506 for two after making 108 in the first session, and continued to score freely even though Boeta Dippenaar managed just 22 before pulling Darren Gough straight to short midwicket.
Jacques Rudolph, on 10, opened the face at a short, wide ball from Harmison and holed out at third man.
SCOREBOARD
Scoreboard of the South Africa innings after they declared their first innings on the third day of the first Test against England at Edgbaston on Saturday:
SOUTH AFRICA: First innings (overnight 398-1)
Smith c Anderson b Giles 277
Gibbs c Butcher b Vaughan 179
Kirsten c Stewart b Giles 44
Dippenaar c Butcher b Gough 22
FROM PAGE 13
Rudolph c Gough b Harmison 10
Boucher not out 15
Pollock not out 24
Extras: (b-8, lb-11, nb-4) 23
Total: (For 5 wkts decl in 145 overs) 594 Fall of wickets: 1-338, 2-438, 3-514, 4552, 5-556
Did not bat: Peterson, Pretorious, Ntini, Willoughby
Bowler o M R W
Anderson 16 2 92 0
Gough 25 6 88 1
Flintoff 25 6 97 0
Harmison 27 2 104 1
Giles 42 2 153 2
Butcher 2 0 15 0
Vaughan 8 0 26 1
ENGLAND: Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Anthony McGrath, Alec Stewart, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Stephen Harmison, Darren Gough, James Anderson
SMITHBoX
Factbox on Graeme Smith, who scored a South Africa record 277 in the first Test against England at Edgbaston on Saturday:
Born: February 1, 1981,
Johannesburg. Left-hand opening batsman and South Africa's youngest ever captain.
Test debut: v Australia, Cape Town, March 2002. 11 matches, 914 runs, av 65.28, two double centuries and one century, two 50s. ODI debut: v Australia, Bloemfontein, March 2002. 34 matches, 1,202 runs, av 37.56.
Tall and powerfully built. Can also bowl off-spin. Loves watching films has seen Rocky more than 20 times. Single, regarded as South Africa's most eligible bachelor.
Replaced Shaun Pollock as captain, aged 22, after hosts South Africa were knocked out of the 2003 World Cup at the first hurdle.
Scored half-century v Australia in his first Test and gave as good as he got after being constantly sledged. Oct 2002, made 200 in his third Test against Bangladesh in East London.
Jan 2003, made 151 v Pakistan in Cape Town in eighth Test, sharing 368 opening stand with Herschelle Gibbs, a South Africa record and fourth biggest of all time.
Shock omission from World Cup but was called up during the tournament after Jonty Rhodes was injured. July 2003, put on 338 with Gibbs, the
highest opening stand against England and the sixth highest of all time. It was the pair's 10 innings opening together. His 277, beating the 275 scored by Daryll Cullinan and Gary Kirsten, spanned nine hours, 373 balls and contained 35 fours.