The Graeme Smith effect can lead South Africa to Test glory

After the way the inaugural IPL match went last evening, and if it continues to entertain the way it did, spectators might lose interest in watching 5 day test matches. Even 50 over one day matches will need to be looked at again for their value. Twenty20 league cricket will spread across to the other nations. England is already making its move. There is a lot of money to be made there. If IPL succeeds, England, SA, Australia etc might have their own pro leagues and cricket might be changed forever. A lot depends on how things are going to go from here on. Many players may not be motivated to play the longer version of the game, when they can make money in a short time. National loyalties will be replaced by monetary gains. Foes will mingle with friends and will go home with no emotions involved. At that point, people may not care who the world champion in 5 day cricket is. IPL has only begun. If it mushrooms into a mega success, cricket may not be the same again.

I think Smith will be shortly replaced as captain due to the quota system. Amla is being groomed to take over from Smith as he's allegedly also much smarter than him. Hence the Graeme Smith effect will prove redundant.

That is utter rubbish... I like Amla, he can be gentleman and a scholar or a thorough rocket scientist, for all I know... but he won't be taking Smith place in a hurry ! That I can assure you ! I have to laugh at this INTELLECTUALISING of cricketers... in my experience they're all a bunch of very simple boys who like running around with a bat and ball ! Smith isn't a rocket scientist but then neither is Ponting, Waugh, Vaughn and such and such ... Pollock reminds me of a puppy with a ball... if a ball is brought into his visual range, he is instantly transfixed... ha, ha ! You won't find too many Pulliter Prize winning cricketers and although they where whites, those aren't lab coats !