Top five bravest acts by cricketers on a cricket field

#4. Graeme Smith: Australia vs South Africa at Sydney, 2009

Graeme Smith

South Africa were by far the best touring side during this time and were the only side to give Australia a run for their money down under. In another tensely fought series, South Africa chased down a mammoth total of 414 to win the first Test and later went on to win the second to claim the three-match series 2-0.

Even though the series was done and dusted, the third Test at Sydney was expected to be another high-octane contest because not many teams have come to Australia and whitewashed them in a Test series.

After Australia scored 394 in their first innings, South Africa started off in a positive manner especially their skipper Graeme Smith. Just when the left hander was looking good, Mitchell Johnson sent down an unplayable delivery that kicked off from a good length to hit his gloves, eventually breaking his left hand.

It looked like Smith’s time was over for the series until the crowd saw him come out to bat in the second innings when nine South African wickets were down.

The Proteas had to bat out less than 9 overs to draw the game and Smith, with injections and pain killers wanted to be out there for his country. Australia went on to dismiss Smith with only 10 balls remaining but the entire crowd and the opposition players saluted the grit shown by Graeme Smith.