OTD | Mike Smith, former England cricket team captain was born in 1933

Mike Smith, rated by his Warwickshire teammates as the best county batsman, was known to be a very selfless captain. The former England captain represented his country in 50 Test matches between 1958 and 1972 and captained the team in half of those matches. In the 50 matches that he played, he scored 2278 runs at an average of over 31. 

Smith did not have the best start to his international career as he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings and scored seven in the second in his debut match at his home in Edgbaston against New Zealand. However, he bounced back in the second match of the series at Lord’s, scoring 47 runs and batting for 230 minutes on a poor batting wicket. England went on to win the match by an innings and 109 runs. 

Smith’s county career for Warwickshire was glorious, to say the least. He scored over 2000 runs every season for six consecutive years between 1957 and 1962. The star cricketer also was a great close-in fielder, often fielding at forward short leg before helmets and shin guards. He took a record 593 catches for Warwickshire and 53 catches in 50 Tests for England.

Smith was the first ICC match referee for India’s tour to Australia in 1991, overseeing four Tests and 17 ODIs. Smith was also the chairman of Warwickshire County Cricket Club from 1991 until 2003.

Also read: Star West Indies seamer Kemar Roach was born in 1988