They can’t be serious. Surely not. Graeme Smith making a return to cricket would be of very little use, not least to the explosive batting traffic that is already waiting patiently for the green light at the Titans.
The greatest Test captain South African cricket has ever had was immense for every team he played for. He led from the front, bullish, occasionally brash, but often brilliantly finding a way to inspire his troops when it mattered most.
That inspiration is still in massive demand, and not necessarily as the cheer-leading captain that he is presently deputising as in Australia.
Smith and his enviable record still command massive respect in the highest echelons of the sport.
The same kind of respect afforded to a Steve Waugh, or a Sachin Tendulkar, borne out of extended and distinguished service in the game.
But, like those considerable contemporaries, his value now lies off the field.
He’s done his time, and any return to the game should be confined to the changeroom, perhaps in one of the consulting roles that seem to be mushrooming all around the game.
One area of weakness in the franchise game is the lack of mentorship for the conveyor belt of talent we have at our disposal.
The immense set of values a 10-season veteran can instill on talented but gung-ho greenhorn players are priceless, and he could transform prodigious talents into serious players.
They don’t have to play, but their every word still hold considerable value, because their statistics back up every word they say.
A rash of cricketers who played for Natal in the 1990s hold the late Malcolm Marshall in the highest esteem.
In Cape Town, they croon about Desmond Haynes, and Franklyn Stephenson still has the freedom of the Vrystaat.
Why? Because they arrived here with bucket loads of worldly experience, and were happy to share it with the next generation.
We don’t need to outsource anymore.
There are plenty of recently retired Proteas, all of whom played in plenty of high-pressure situations, and were exposed to sudden riches that have come into the game.
Let them nurture the Rabadas, the Vallies, the De Bruyns and the Markrams of the here and now.
Who better than your childhood hero to guide you through those first few years of franchise, and even international cricket, where everything is a blur, played out in front of a fickle audience?
Jacques Faul, the Titans CEO, was quick to dismiss initial reports of Smith returning as nothing more than a chat between a coach and a former player, and one would hope that is all there is to it.
As it is, the franchise system is overloaded with talent.
How would any franchise justify leaving a promising player like former Under-19 captain Aiden Markram, dubbed the next “Biff” by some, on the sidelines for another season?
Already, he has watched on as junior teammates like Kagiso Rabada have made significant strides, while he bided his time.
He will be itching to prove himself, and if the doors don’t open at SuperSport Park, he may be inclined to try his luck at a few other rivals.
After all, the franchise system is there to increase the pool of Proteas hopefuls.
Holding back talented youngsters for too long achieves nothing.
As for Smith, no one even knows if he wants to play.
Sadly, the former skipper is presently facing issues far more pressing than a swinging new cherry.
And, after all he has done for the game, perhaps it is best to afford him due respect, and let him be.