Ed Smith (cricketer)

Ed Smith

Personal information
Full name	Edward Thomas Smith
Born	19 July 1977 (1977-07-19) Pembury, Kent, England
Nickname	Smudge
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right arm medium
Role	Batsman, author
International information
National side	England
Test debut (cap 617)	14 August 2003 v South Africa
Last Test	4 September 2003 v South Africa
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2005–2008	Middlesex
1996–2004	Kent
Career statistics
Competition	Tests	FC	LA
Matches	3	191	134
Runs scored	87	12,789	3,798
Batting average	17.40	41.79	31.13
100s/50s	0/1	34/54	2/26
Top score	64	213	122
Balls bowled	0	108	0
Wickets	–	1	–
Bowling average	–	119.00	–
5 wickets in innings	–	–	–
10 wickets in match	–	–	–
Best bowling	–	1/60	–
Catches/stumpings	5/–	85	29
Source: Cricinfo, 3 November 2008

Edward Thomas Smith (born 19 July 1977, Pembury, Kent, UK) is an English author and journalist, and former professional cricketer.

Background

He is the son of the novelist Jonathan Smith. He was educated at Tonbridge School (where he was in the dayboy house Welldon House) and he read History at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he obtained a double first, despite devoting much of his time to cricket. He made a century on his first-class debut in 1996, for Cambridge University.

Cricketing career

Smith played three home Test matches for England versus South Africa in 2003. He made 64 on debut, but scored only 23 runs in his next four innings, and was dropped for the subsequent tour of the subcontinent.

Smith was a tall right-handed batsman with a penchant for the drive and represented England, Cambridge University, Kent and Middlesex.

During thirteen seasons of first-class cricket, he scored 34 centuries. He hit a peak in 2003, scoring 135, 0, 122, 149, 113, 203, 36, 108 and 32 for Kent in July of that year. He averaged 72.99 for the 2003 first-class season when he was selected for England.

He left his native county following the 2004 season and joined Middlesex for 2005. He captained the county for two seasons during 2007 and 2008. After missing most of the 2008 season due to an ankle injury, Smith announced his retirement later that year.

Literary career

Smith has written a book titled Playing Hard Ball which describes his interest in the game, psychology, history and mythology of American baseball and compares it to cricket. His diary of the 2003 season, On and Off the Field was highly praised, and shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year and The Cricket Society Book of the Year Award in 2004. He has also contributed cricket book reviews for the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack and history book reviews for the Sunday Telegraph. His most recent book, published in May 2008, is titled What Sport Tells Us About Life, a discussion of the role of sport in society, and its moral and ethical lessons.

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by Ben Hutton	Middlesex County Cricket Captain 2007–2008	Succeeded by Shaun Udal

External links

• Cricinfo profile
• Cricket Archive