India, Feb. 6 -- - By Graeme Smith

Cricket in South Africa has been a tale of our country's unyielding spirit, and we have always been proud of the resilience, character and tenacity that has been a hallmark of our players. As someone who had the privilege of leading the Proteas during what many consider our 'golden era,' I have witnessed first-hand the highs and lows of this great game in our nation. The years following the retirements of legends like Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, and Dale Steyn, among others, ushered in a period of challenges that tested our collective cricketing calibre, both on and off the field.

We struggled to fill the void, and the results showed it. Nevertheless, today, I stand proud to say that South African ...