Graeme Smith

Chennai: The record-rewriting Graeme Smith, South Africa’s highly successful captain, spoke to The Telegraph at the Taj Coromandal on Monday afternoon.

The following are excerpts

Whether he’s conscious about rankings

I don’t aim for a particular ranking, but being ranked (at the top in ODIs, for example) would be seen as an achievement... Often, in South Africa, one ends up worrying so much about the end result... Being No.1, trying to win the World Cup, winning the next series... That one misses the little things in between... It’s a cliche, but it’s about getting the process right... Training well, working on the areas where one needs to improve...

His focus

On becoming a better cricketer... If I do, then the other things will take care of themselves... Things like rankings, standings... That’s what I believe... I’m definitely very proud of what I’ve achieved, but remain focused on trying to get better. I’d like my team to get better too.

Whether he’d slept well (in Chittagong) the night he and opening mate Neil McKenzie were just 8 short of equalling the then opening record held by Pankaj Roy-Vinoo Mankad

(Laughs) Actually, we didn’t know about the 413 record when we came off the field (405 for no loss on the first day of the second Test)... It was later that somebody mentioned it... That’s when I felt some nerves and was quite nervous the next morning! More nervous on 223 than I’d ever been in the 90s or the 190s... I mean, if you’re so close to a record, then you don’t want to miss it...

On being the new record-holder

It’s special for both of us, yes.

What if some try to dilute the achievement by saying it came against Bangladesh?

No one was sceptical of the earlier record, which came against New Zealand decades ago... You’d probably think it would’ve been nicer had it been against Australia or India or whoever... But the runs came in tough conditions and it’s not often that so many get scored... What’s more pleasing is that Neil and I have given another world record to South Africa... Mark (Boucher), remember, is the most successful Test ’keeper... Fantastic, really, for our cricket.

Whether they’d set small targets during that incredible 415-run partnership

I think, generally, both of us were quite driven... Neil had been out of the game for some time... As for myself, I’d been batting well... The thing about batting is that if you’re in form, you should make the most... I was focused, I was hungry... We didn’t give our wickets away and, in fact, worked together quite well... We come from the same school and, so, are cut from pretty much similar cloth... We help each other out in small little things... It’s not so much about individual goals, but where we want to go as a team...

When did he and McKenzie actually realise that they’d been collaborating big

Well, it’s not often that you get 405 in a day... I know I’ve had some big partnerships with Herschelle Gibbs, but Neil and I chartered new territory... I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve had good opening partners... We’ve complemented each other and that’s been an asset for the team... My strength has been their weakness, so to say, and vice-versa... It’s important to spend time together (off the field too) and to understand each other.

On four scores of 200 or more in Test cricket

Getting big ones isn’t easy... Opening is one of the toughest roles, more so if you’re also the captain... For example, there’s just 10 minutes between innings, if you’ve fielded first, to switch off from the captaincy mode and exclusively get into that of an opener... A lot of things could be going on in your brain in those 10 minutes... Having to face the new ball becomes challenging... Having said that, I quite enjoy taking on the fast bowlers... Of course, if you’re out early on a seaming track then, back in the dressing room, you’d be wishing you could’ve batted in the middle-order that day... Getting through the initial period is crucial, after that it’s about the game plan you have. (After a pause) Hunger is important and you should never be satisfied with where you’ve reached.

His batting

Today, I’m more comfortable with everything and allow myself to play with a little more freedom.

Finally, the opener he admires

Matthew Hayden... He looks to dominate from the first ball and has such an awesome presence... It’s great watching such an incredible batter. It’s almost as if Hayden bats without fear, but within a very clear game plan. Awesome, as I’ve said.