Will Smith (cricketer)

This article is about the cricketer. For the others with the same name, see Will Smith (disambiguation).

Will Smith

Personal information
Full name	William Rew Smith
Born	28 September 1982 (1982-09-28) Luton, Bedfordshire, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right-arm off break
Role	Batsman
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2002 – 2006	Nottinghamshire
2006 – present	Durham
Career statistics
Competition	FC	LA	T20
Matches	88	73	59
Runs scored	4,374	1,538	653
Batting average	32.88	24.80	18.13
100s/50s	10/15	1/11	0/3
Top score	201*	103	55
Balls bowled	753	71	95
Wickets	8	2	1
Bowling average	69.62	37.00	132.00
5 wickets in innings	0	0	0
10 wickets in match	0	n/a	n/a
Best bowling	3/34	1/6	1/31
Catches/stumpings	44/–	27/–	35/–
Source: Cricinfo, 15 August 2011

Will Smith (born September 28, 1982 in Luton) is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm off-spin bowler.

Smith originally played for Harrold CC and Bedford School (where he captained England opening batsman Alastair Cook). He played minor county cricket for Bedfordshire as a schoolboy, until he moved to Nottinghamshire in 2002. Primarily an opening batsman, at times Smith has been played slightly further down the order, especially during the Twenty20 cup. Smith is an exciting fielder and has taken some great catches (Twenty 20 Cup Finals day vs Surrey) and has fielded as 12th Man for the full England side whilst at Trent Bridge.

Though having played three times during Nottinghamshire's 2005 title-winning season, he was unable to establish himself within the Championship team, and subsequently joined Durham CCC, thus returning to his University town: Smith is a graduate of Durham University, where he successfully captained Durham UCCE and gained a 2:1 (Hons) in Biochemistry.

During the course of the 2008 season, Smith has established himself in the Durham championship side, primarily batting at No 3, and recently recorded his maiden 1st class double-hundred (201 not out) against Surrey, sending Durham to the top of the County Champion Division 1 as a result. Durham went on to win the County Championship for the first time in their history, and Smith's runs saw him named 2008 Player of the Year ahead of more recognisable names such as Chiv Chanderpaul and Steve Harmision.

Smith was appointed as the new captain of Durham on 14 November 2008, succeeding Dale Benkenstein.

Durham CCC continued their success in 2009, with Smith leading them to a successful defence of their County Championship Title in his first year in charge.

Away from the playing side, Smith is a keen journalist and writes for All-Out Cricket as well as ad-hoc commentary for Sky and the BBC, he also enjoys watching Football and supports non league side Rushden & Diamonds.

External links

• Will Smith at ECB