Graeme Smith gets engaged to singer girlfriend Deane

JOHANNESBURG: Former South Africa ODI captain Graeme Smith has officially got engaged to his Irish singer girlfriend Morgan Deane, according to media reports here.
The media here quoted Cricket South Africa spokesman Michael Owen-Smith as saying that soon after the national team's shocking loss to New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-finals, Smith flew to Ireland for his engagement.
"He got engaged on Sunday," Owen-Smith said. Interestingly, the left-handed opener came under sharp criticism from fans for not returning to South Africa with the rest of his team-mates following their disappointing World Cup campaign.
Smith, instead, flew straight to Ireland with his girlfriend.
But the CSA official downplayed the incident, saying Smith had taken special permission from the team manager to travel to Ireland.
"He was given permission by the team manager to do that. It was for personal reasons, and this obviously was the reason for it," Owen-Smith said.
The 30-year-old Smith had last year announced that he would relinquish ODI captaincy after the World Cup, but said he would continue to lead South Africa in Test matches.
Smith's fiancee Deane is a 25-year-old model and singer with a Irish pop band Jedward.