Ready to pounce....South African captain Graeme Smith. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph

KILLER captain Graeme Smith's No.1 ranked unit is destined for Test immortality against a vulnerable Australia this summer, according to South African great Mike Procter.

Smith has sent three English captains into retirement following pivotal series wins - Nasser Hussain (2003), Michael Vaughan (2008) and Andrew Strauss (2012).

Innovative Australian counterpart Michael Clarke is next to face the music.

"Smith has captained the side very well in combination with Gary Kirsten as coach," Procter said.

"He has been brilliant. He has done with England captains like Nasser and Vaughan

"He makes runs, leads from the front."

Smith, the 102-Test opener who steered the Proteas to their first Test series triumph in Australia against Ricky Ponting's ensemble four years ago, ruthlessly commands a South African side with an answer for every situation.

"The bases are covered, bowling, batting, fielding. Every aspect," Procter said.

All-rounder Procter would have headlined a a stellar 1970s South African side boasting elite batsmen Barry Richards, Eddie Barlow, Peter Kirsten, Graeme Pollock, Clive Rice, gun keeper Lee Ervine, speedsters Garth Le Roux, Vince van der Bijl and leg-spinner Denys Hobson.

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Smith senses another captain's kill