Cape Town – Cricket South Africa (CSA) will reach a notable landmark in its young history on Friday when King Edward VII School Old Boy Graeme Smith leads the Proteas Castle Lager squad on to the WACA in Perth for their 200th Test match since unity.

“This is a signal moment for CSA and particularly for the 79 cricketers who have carried the Proteas emblem into the Test match arena,” commented CSA Acting CEO Jacques Faul. “It is particularly fitting that it should happen in a match where there is so much at stake and where there is such eager anticipation around the cricketing world with the No 1 Test match ranking at stake between ourselves and Australia.

“It seems only yesterday that Kepler Wessels led the Proteas into a Test match for the first time in the West Indies – a match in which Andrew Hudson, our current convener of selectors, scored a Test century on debut.

“There have been so many highlights since then and everybody will have their own particular favourite. Suffice to say that the Proteas brand is hugely respected around the cricketing world. At the moment we have the most capped captain in the history of the game in Graeme Smith who should lead us in a Test match for the 100th time early next year, we have the leading bowler in Dale Steyn, the leading all-rounder in Jacques Kallis and we have three batsmen in the top 10 in Kallis, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers.

“What is more important is that we have won more test matches than we have lost against every country with the exception of Australia who have just come off one of the finest periods in their long and distinguished history.”

Smith, who made 151 and shared a first wicket partnership record of 368 with Herschelle Gibbs in the Proteas’ 100th Test match against Pakistan at Sahara Park Newlands in 2003, will be leading the Proteas for the 96th time.

The other Test match captains have been: Hansie Cronje (53 matches), Shaun Pollock (26), Kepler Wessels (16), Mark Boucher (4), Jacques Kallis (2), Ashwell Prince (2), Gary Kirsten (1).

The King Edward Community & School will be cheering on their Captain Fantastic and hoping the Proteas come off with a memorable Test win!