Ben Smith
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Francis Smith (born 3 April 1972) is an English
cricketer
: a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler.
second team for a couple of years as a teenager before making his first-class
debut in the 1990 season
in a game against Oxford University
; he was lbw
for four in his only innings, but got another chance in a County Championship
match against Glamorgan
a fortnight later. He made 15 not out in the first innings before Leicestershire declared, and not batting at all in the second. He did not play another first-class game that season, though he did make a handful of appearances in the Refuge Assurance League
.
Smith went on the 1990-91 Under-19 tour to New Zealand
, and played in all five of their matches (two "ODIs" and three "Tests"). He made no real impression with the bat, with a top score of only 44, but had some success as a bowler, taking the wicket of future New Zealand senior team
captain Stephen Fleming
on three occasions in the "Tests". Back in England, he had a reasonable 1991 season
, making 674 first-class runs at an average
of 37.44, although the highest of his 23 innings was only 71.
Smith then went through a lean spell, and despite a maiden hundred against Durham
in April 1992, the nadir came in the 1993 season
when Smith averaged a low 14.61 in 18 first-class innings, being dismissed in single figures on 11 occasions and only once passing fifty. Some recovery followed as he averaged just over 30 in each of the following two years, but it was 1996
that saw him return to form with three centuries including 190 against Glamorgan in August, and passing a thousand runs in a first-class season for the first time, finishing with 1,243 at 47.80 and helping Leicestershire to their first County Championship since 1975
.
Two more good seasons followed, and in the final Championship game of the 1998 season
Smith made his highest first-class score of 204 against Surrey
as Leicestershire defeated their opponents by an innings and 211 runs
. He stayed at Leicestershire for another couple of seasons, rising to the position of vice-captain, before unrest within the club led to his resignation to join Worcestershire
for 2002
. Meanwhile, he had enjoyed two productive seasons with Central Districts in New Zealand, hitting 201 not out against Canterbury
in 2001-02 in a match where his team had lost their first three wickets by the time seven runs were on the board.
, replacing Graeme Hick
, and continued in fine form that summer. However, he resigned the captaincy in the middle of the match against Northamptonshire
in August 2004, handing over to Steve Rhodes
for the remainder of the season on the grounds that he wanted to concentrate on his form with the bat.
In 2005
he passed 1,400 first-class runs in a season for the first time, although his form in one-day cricket
was less impressive. In the final first-class match of the season, against Essex
at New Road
, he put on 333 for the fourth wicket with Stephen Moore
before the latter was caught for 191. This established a new county record partnership for this wicket, beating the 281 that Younis Ahmed
and Alan Ormrod
had put on in 1979
.
Smith's 2006 season was rather less successful: he failed to reach 1,000 first-class runs for the first time since 2000, hitting 915 runs at 36.60 including one score of 203 he made against Somerset
in June. His form tailed off towards the end of the season, and in his last five matches he made only 163 runs in nine innings. In one-day cricket he scored 487 runs at 34.79, his highest average for four seasons.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
: a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler.
Leicestershire
Smith played for the LeicestershireLeicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
second team for a couple of years as a teenager before making his first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
debut in the 1990 season
1990 English cricket season
The 1990 English season was one of the most batsmen-friendly summers in living memory. The size of the seam on the cricket ball had been reduced markedly from 1989, and along with dry conditions and the extension of four-day cricket this allowed batsmen to build huge scores: Graham Gooch became one...
in a game against Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
; he was lbw
Leg before wicket
In the sport of cricket, leg before wicket is one of the ways in which a batsman can be dismissed. An umpire will rule a batsman out LBW under a series of circumstances which primarily include the ball striking the batsman's body when it would otherwise have continued on to hit the batsman's...
for four in his only innings, but got another chance in a County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
match against Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
a fortnight later. He made 15 not out in the first innings before Leicestershire declared, and not batting at all in the second. He did not play another first-class game that season, though he did make a handful of appearances in the Refuge Assurance League
National League (cricket)
The NatWest Pro40 League was a one-day cricket league for first-class cricket counties in England and Wales. It was inaugurated in 1999, but was essentially the old Sunday League retitled to reflect the fact that large numbers of matches were played on days other than Sunday.-Sunday League:The...
.
Smith went on the 1990-91 Under-19 tour to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and played in all five of their matches (two "ODIs" and three "Tests"). He made no real impression with the bat, with a top score of only 44, but had some success as a bowler, taking the wicket of future New Zealand senior team
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
captain Stephen Fleming
Stephen Fleming
Stephen Paul Fleming ONZM is a New Zealand cricketer, and the former captain of the New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, in Test and one-day cricket...
on three occasions in the "Tests". Back in England, he had a reasonable 1991 season
1991 English cricket season
The 1991 English cricket season was notable for some outstanding fast bowling performances by Messrs Ambrose, Donald and Waqar.-Honours:*County Championship - Essex*NatWest Trophy - Hampshire*Sunday League - Nottinghamshire...
, making 674 first-class runs at an average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of 37.44, although the highest of his 23 innings was only 71.
Smith then went through a lean spell, and despite a maiden hundred against Durham
Durham County Cricket Club
Durham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...
in April 1992, the nadir came in the 1993 season
1993 English cricket season
The 1993 English cricket season saw the dramatic arrival on the scene of Shane Warne and his incredible "Gatting Ball". Australia, led by Steve Waugh, now had one of the strongest teams ever known and won the Ashes with plenty to spare....
when Smith averaged a low 14.61 in 18 first-class innings, being dismissed in single figures on 11 occasions and only once passing fifty. Some recovery followed as he averaged just over 30 in each of the following two years, but it was 1996
1996 English cricket season
The 1996 English cricket season saw England host tours by India and Pakistan, who each played three Tests and three ODIs. Against India, England were unbeaten, winning the Test series 1-0 and the ODI series 2-0...
that saw him return to form with three centuries including 190 against Glamorgan in August, and passing a thousand runs in a first-class season for the first time, finishing with 1,243 at 47.80 and helping Leicestershire to their first County Championship since 1975
1975 English cricket season
The 1975 English cricket season was notable for hosting the first-ever Cricket World Cup which was won by West Indies, who defeated Australia in an exciting final.-Honours:*County Championship - Leicestershire*Gillette Cup - Lancashire...
.
Two more good seasons followed, and in the final Championship game of the 1998 season
1998 English cricket season
In the 1998 English cricket season Leicestershire won the championship for the second time in three seasons while Lancashire performed the one day double.-Honours:*County Championship - Leicestershire*NatWest Trophy - Lancashire...
Smith made his highest first-class score of 204 against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
as Leicestershire defeated their opponents by an innings and 211 runs
The result in cricket
The result in a game of cricket may be a win for one of the two teams playing, a draw or a tie. In the case of a limited overs game, the game can also end with no result...
. He stayed at Leicestershire for another couple of seasons, rising to the position of vice-captain, before unrest within the club led to his resignation to join Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
for 2002
2002 English cricket season
The 2002 English cricket season saw 2001 county champions Yorkshire relegated. They did, however, win the C&G Trophy.-Honours:*County Championship - Surrey*C&G Trophy - Yorkshire*National League - Glamorgan*Benson & Hedges Cup -...
. Meanwhile, he had enjoyed two productive seasons with Central Districts in New Zealand, hitting 201 not out against Canterbury
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
in 2001-02 in a match where his team had lost their first three wickets by the time seven runs were on the board.
Worcestershire
Smith found immediate success at his new county, averaging 44.51 and making four hundreds in 2002, as well as averaging over 50 in List A cricket for a combined first-class and one-day total of 2,024 runs. He was appointed captain for the 2003 season2003 English cricket season
The 2003 English cricket season was notable for the long overdue first official County Championship of the oldest county club: Sussex.-Honours:*County Championship - Sussex*C&G Trophy - Gloucestershire*National League - Surrey...
, replacing Graeme Hick
Graeme Hick
Graeme Ashley Hick MBE is a Zimbabwean-born cricketer who played 65 Test matches and 120 One Day Internationals for England. He played county cricket for Worcestershire for his entire English domestic career, a period of well over twenty years, and in 2008 he surpassed Graham Gooch's record for...
, and continued in fine form that summer. However, he resigned the captaincy in the middle of the match against Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
in August 2004, handing over to Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes is a former English cricketer. He was best known as a wicket-keeper, but was also a useful number six or seven batsman, making twelve first-class centuries....
for the remainder of the season on the grounds that he wanted to concentrate on his form with the bat.
In 2005
2005 English cricket season
Before the beginning of the 2005 English cricket season began, a resurgent English cricket team had won four Test series in a row, going unbeaten through the 2004 calendar year. The start of the international season saw England defeat Bangladesh 2–0 in their two-match series, winning both Tests by...
he passed 1,400 first-class runs in a season for the first time, although his form in one-day cricket
One-day cricket
Limited overs cricket, also known as one-day cricket and in a slightly different context as List A cricket, is a version of the sport of cricket in which a match is generally completed in one day, whereas Test and first-class matches can take up to five days to complete...
was less impressive. In the final first-class match of the season, against Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
at New Road
New Road, Worcester
New Road, Worcester, England, has been the home cricket ground of Worcestershire County Cricket Club since 1896. Immediately to the northwest is a road called New Road, part of the A44, hence the name.- Overview :...
, he put on 333 for the fourth wicket with Stephen Moore
Stephen Moore (cricketer)
Stephen Colin Moore is an English cricketer. Moore is a right-handed opening batsman who plays first-class cricket for Lancashire County Cricket Club. He previously played for Worcestershire from 2003 until 2009...
before the latter was caught for 191. This established a new county record partnership for this wicket, beating the 281 that Younis Ahmed
Younis Ahmed
Mohammad Younis Ahmed is a Pakistani former cricketer who played in 4 Tests and 2 ODIs from 1969 to 1987...
and Alan Ormrod
Alan Ormrod
Joseph Alan Ormrod is a former English first class cricketer who played with Worcestershire....
had put on in 1979
1979 English cricket season
The 1979 English cricket season saw the second Cricket World Cup played in England. West Indies defeated England in the final.-Honours:*County Championship - Essex*Gillette Cup - Somerset*Sunday League - Somerset...
.
Smith's 2006 season was rather less successful: he failed to reach 1,000 first-class runs for the first time since 2000, hitting 915 runs at 36.60 including one score of 203 he made against Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
in June. His form tailed off towards the end of the season, and in his last five matches he made only 163 runs in nine innings. In one-day cricket he scored 487 runs at 34.79, his highest average for four seasons.