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Jamie Smith (cricketer)

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Jamie Smith
Personal information
Full name
Jamie Luke Smith
Born (2000-07-12) 12 July 2000 (age 24)
Epsom, Surrey, England
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper-batter
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 715)10 July 2024 v West Indies
Last Test6 September 2024 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut (cap 274)23 September 2023 v Ireland
Last ODI19 September 2024 v Australia
ODI shirt no.39
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2018–presentSurrey (squad no. 11)
2023–presentBirmingham Phoenix (squad no. 11)
2024Gulf Giants
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 6 3 65 18
Runs scored 487 32 3,921 457
Batting average 48.70 16.00 42.61 38.08
100s/50s 1/3 0/0 11/16 0/3
Top score 111 23 234* 85
Catches/stumpings 23/0 1/0 91/4 14/2
Source: Cricinfo, 20 September 2024

Jamie Luke Smith (born 12 July 2000) is an English cricketer who plays for Surrey and England.[1] He has been described by BBC Test Match Special commentator Daniel Norcross as a "generational talent".[2]

Early life

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Smith's parents, Lawrence and Bernadette, are not 'cricket nuts'[3] but signed him up for a summer course at Sutton Cricket Club, aged six or seven, after Smith was inspired by the 2005 Ashes series.[4] By the age of nine, whilst still at primary school in Ewell, he was part of Surrey's development system. He represented a Surrey age group side at the age of 10.[5]

Like several of the county's players, he attended Whitgift School on a cricket scholarship, and was scoring hundreds by the age of 12, as well as keeping wicket.[6] He was also a talented footballer, and played for AFC Wimbledon until the age of 15.[4] Steve James noted in the Times that having been was quite slight when younger and made a deliberate effort to improve his strength, the size of Smith's arms was one reason why he could hit a cricket ball so far. Writing after Smith made his first Test century, he also commented on the cricketer's "understated yet high-achieving mentality".[7]

County career

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He made his Twenty20 debut for Surrey on 5 July 2018, aged 17, against Middlesex at Lord's in the T20 Blast,[8] and his first-class debut for Surrey against the Marylebone Cricket Club in Dubai on 24 March 2019.[9] Scoring 127 runs in the first innings of this match, he became the ninth Surrey batsman to make a century on first-class debut,[10] and broke the county's record for the highest total by a first-class debutant, which had stood since 1899.[11][12] He made his List A debut on 25 April 2019 for Surrey against Middlesex at the Oval in the One-Day Cup.[13]

In April 2022, Smith scored his maiden first-class double century, reaching 234 not out against Gloucestershire in the County Championship.[14] He was part of the Surrey team that won the title in 2022 and 2023.

In March 2023, he was bought by the Birmingham Phoenix for the 2023 season of the Hundred. On 21 August 2023, Smith signed a new multi-year contract with Surrey.[15][16]


International career

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In January 2023, Smith was included in the England Lions squad for their tour of Sri Lanka.[17] On 8–9 February, in an unofficial Test match against Sri Lanka A in Galle, he scored the fastest ever century for the Lions. In reaching his hundred off 71 balls, he broke the previous record, set by Luke Wright against New Zealand A in March 2009, by 20 deliveries.[18][19][20] Smith later said that the approach of England coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes to Test cricket (so-called "Bazball") had altered his perspective on batting, such that whereas previously he had been "pretty tentative at the crease", during the tour "the way [he] looked to play was a lot more dominant, looking at positive options".[21]

In September 2023, Smith received his first full England cap when called up for the ODI series against Ireland.[22][23] The selectors had been looking for an opportunity to introduce him to Test cricket for some time[21] when, the following summer, he was selected ahead of Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow as wicket-keeper for the home Test series against the West Indies.[24][25] He made his Test debut at Lord's on 10 July 2024[26][27] and scored 70 in his first innings,[28][29] when Scyld Berry said that he had "batted like an old master, not a debutant".[30] Smith said after the series that his entry into Test cricket left him more drained than he had expected, and took nine days off before playing his first match of the season in the Hundred for Birmingham Phoenix.[31] Hitting 111 from 148 deliveries, he scored his maiden Test century on 23 August 2024, in the first innings of first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, Manchester.[32][33] With this, Smith became only the third England player (after Harry Brook and Bryan Valentine) to score more than 70 in three of their first five Test innings. The 318 runs he amassed during these five innings was also the second highest of any wicketkeeper in Test history, and the sixth highest of any England player.[34][35] The 169 runs he added to this figure by the end of the summer yielded the third highest return by an England wicketkeeper during a home Test season.[36] Having "cemented his place" as the Test side's first choice behind the stumps, Smith was selected for the subsequent three-match away series against Pakistan.[37]

References

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  1. ^ "Jamie Smith". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  2. ^ Colman, Jonty (4 August 2023). "England Next Gen: 'Generational talent' Jamie Smith destined for international honours". BBC Sport. London. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  3. ^ Macpherson, Will (11 July 2024). "How West Ham diehard Jamie Smith became England's 'tallest' – and 'quietest' – wicketkeeper". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b Hoult, Nick (22 May 2024). "Jamie Smith: I'm ready to keep for England, even if I don't for Surrey". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Jamie Smith's journey to leading Surrey". Surrey County Cricket Club. London. 5 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  6. ^ Wilde, Simon (9 July 2024). "Surrey's talent factory churns out more than just public schoolboys". The Times. London. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  7. ^ James, Steve (24 August 2024). "Composed and athletic Smith offers shades of hero Pietersen". Sport. The Times. No. 74496. London. p. 4. Retrieved 24 August 2024. (Online article, published a day earlier, has a different title).
  8. ^ Dobell, George (5 July 2018). "Stirling's all-round show settles Middlesex nerves with victory in London derby". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Surrey restrict MCC to 265 on day one of clash in Dubai". ESPNcricinfo. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Unbeaten Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith tons put Surrey in control against MCC on day two in Dubai". ESPNcricinfo. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Surrey teenager Jamie Smith hits best score by debutant in county's history against MCC in Dubai". The Cricketer. London. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  12. ^ James, Steve (1 April 2019). "Surrey's run factory that's churning out local stars who bat old-school way". The Times. London. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  13. ^ "South Group, The Oval, April 25, 2019, Royal London One-Day Cup: Middlesex v Surrey – Summary". ESPNcricinfo. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Jamie Smith double-century, Jordan Clark ton lead Surrey to mammoth first-innings total". ESPNcricinfo. ECB Reporters' Network. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Surrey trio sign new contracts". Kia Oval. London. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Surrey: Tom Lawes, Jamie Smith and Dan Worrall sign new 'multi-year' contracts". BBC Sport. London. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  17. ^ "England Lions squads named for Sri Lanka tour". ECB. London. 3 January 2023. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Jamie Smith scores fastest England Lions century". Surrey County Cricket Club. London. 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Jamie Smith's 71-ball century gives England Lions a victory glimmer". ESPNcricinfo. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  20. ^ Roller, Matt (7 March 2023). "Jamie Smith: England's next wicketkeeper off the rank ready to put his hand up". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  21. ^ a b Harman, Jo (2024). "Everybody's talking about Jamie". Wisden Cricket Monthly. No. 79. London. pp. 51–52. ISSN 2515-2815.
  22. ^ "Smith receives first England call up". Surrey County Cricket Club. London. 6 September 2023. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  23. ^ Howson, Nick (6 September 2023). "County stars lead experimental England squad for Ireland ODIs". The Cricketer. London. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Squad announced for England Men's first two Test matches versus West Indies". ECB. London. 30 June 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  25. ^ Ammon, Elizabeth (1 July 2024). "Rob Key: Jonny Bairstow's form has gone backwards – he needs a break". The Times. London. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  26. ^ Roller, Matt (10 July 2024). "Atkinson upstages Anderson with seven-for as England dominate". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  27. ^ James, Steve (10 July 2024). "West Indies' callow, inept batting display a depressing sight". The Times. London. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  28. ^ Dollard, Rory (11 July 2024). "Jamie Smith shines as England secure big first-innings lead against West Indies". The Independent. London. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  29. ^ James, Steve (12 July 2024). "Axed Foakes has his merits, but Smith is a true Bazballer". The Times. No. 74459. London. p. 61. Retrieved 11 July 2024. (Online article, publisher a day earlier, has a different title).
  30. ^ Berry, Scyld (12 July 2024). "England vs West Indies player ratings: Gus Atkinson dominates on debut with 12-wicket haul". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  31. ^ Alderman, Elgan (15 August 2024). "Test debut left me drained, says Smith". The Times. No. 74488. London. p. 55. Retrieved 15 August 2024. (Online article, publisher a day earlier, has a different title).
  32. ^ Ehantharajah, Vithushan (23 August 2024). "Jamie Smith quells the keeper's debate as world-class credentials shine through". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  33. ^ Atherton, Mike (24 August 2024). "England sense victory after muddled Sri Lanka lose way". Sport. The Times. No. 74496. London. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 24 August 2024. (Online article, published a day earlier, has a different title).
  34. ^ Shemilt, Stephan (23 August 2024). "Smith will be 'world class for long period' – Bell". BBC Sport. London. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  35. ^ Agnew, Jonathan (23 August 2024). "England v Sri Lanka: Smith century puts England on top". Test Match Special (Podcast). London: BBC. Event occurs at 22:51. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  36. ^ Miller, Andrew (8 September 2024). "Jamie Smith stands still to expose England's fast-forward approach". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  37. ^ Atherton, Mike (11 September 2024). "Averaging 52 abroad, it's bold call for Woakes to lead attack". The Times. London. p. 55. Retrieved 11 September 2024. (Online article, published a day earlier, has a different title).
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