England v South Africa: Graeme Smith keen to mark 100th Test cap milestone in style Strong off his pads, through the off-side and with a build that looked like he could carry the entire country on his shoulders, Smith was described by former England captain Alec Stewart as "the most impressive 22 year-old I have seen in cricket." Vaughan took the reins after Hussain gave up the role before England hit back to draw that series 2-2, but it was Smith who would have the last laugh over the Yorkshireman five years later. Although still occasionally outspoken, Smith was a more becalmed character than the one who was criticised for being overly brash and excelled with the bat again, with two centuries at happy hunting grounds Lord's and Edgbaston. After South Africa took a 2-0 lead, Vaughan tearfully resigned the England captaincy before Kevin Pietersen - with whom Smith has a notoriously fractious relationship - guided the side to a consolation win. That was the last time England tasted defeat in a home Test series, with Andy Flower and Strauss forming an effective partnership in the wake of the Pietersen-Peter Moores era that has seen the national side rise to the top of the ICC world rankings in the five-day format. Smith, who has made 8,042 runs at an average of just under 50 in his 99 Tests, has continued to excel in the intervening years, which included making another two centuries as England somewhat fortuitously escaped with a 1-1 draw in South Africa two years ago. But he knows Strauss' side have become a well-oiled machine since then, and is ready for challenging matches at The Oval, Headingley and Lord's. "They've proven in the last two years that they're a very methodical, well-drilled team," the 31 year-old said. I expect them to be well prepared, they've played a lot of cricket and will be battle hardened. They play the game hard, no-one wants to give an inch and that's how the Test series will be played. There were very minor doubts Smith's ankle injury, which he had surgery on earlier this year, would prevent him making the first Test at The Oval but he was already nearing 100 per cent fitness when South Africa announced their squad last month. And most worryingly for England, he is champing at the bit to mark his 100th Test in style. "I'm extremely proud to have played 100 Tests for South Africa and I still have the same motivation as I did when I went on that first tour to England," he said. We don't need much more motivation than beating England in England.