Greg Phillip Smith is a former professional cricket player from England. Born on June 26, 1985, Smith spent the majority of his career playing for Leicestershire before joining Nottinghamshire in 2014. Known for his aggressive batting style and ability to score quick runs, Smith was considered to have significant potential in the world of cricket.
Smith made his first-class and senior one-day debuts for Leicestershire in 2008 at the age of 22. In the same year, he represented the England Under-19s, scoring an impressive 157 in the opening Under-19 Test against New Zealand and following it up with an unbeaten 150 in the second Test. These performances showcased his talent and marked the beginning of his accelerated development.
In 2010, while studying at Durham University, Smith continued to make strides in his cricketing career. He scored a century for Durham MCCU against Nottinghamshire and back-to-back hundreds for Leicestershire against Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire. These performances enabled him to top the first-class national batting averages with an impressive 652 runs at an average of 93.14.
Smith played a full season for Leicestershire in 2011, batting at No. 3 and impressing with his performances. He scored his third Championship century against Middlesex in the final game of the season. However, 2012 proved to be more challenging for Smith, although he finished strongly with a century in the Second XI Final and 77 against Gloucestershire in the last Championship fixture.
The highlight of Smith’s career at Leicestershire came in 2013 when he scored a career-best 135 not out against Somerset in the YB40, partnering with Josh Cobb in a record-breaking opening stand of 235 runs. Smith was also the team’s leading scorer in T20 cricket, averaging nearly 40 and boasting an impressive strike rate of 130.98.
In 2014, Smith made the decision to leave Leicestershire and join Nottinghamshire. His choice to join a new team was driven by his desire to seek greater success and challenge himself in Division One cricket. In his first season with Nottinghamshire, Smith showcased his potential once again with a remarkable performance in the semi-final of the Royal London One-Day Cup. His knock of 124 nearly led the team to victory, falling just four runs short.
Unfortunately, Smith’s time with Nottinghamshire was short-lived. He retired from professional cricket midway through the 2017 season, joining a list of departures from Trent Bridge. Despite his departure, Nottinghamshire continued to excel, winning two limited-overs trophies and gaining promotion after just one season in Division Two of the Championship.
Throughout his career, Smith exhibited a fearless and aggressive approach to batting, which made him a valuable asset to any team. While his career first-class average remained below the desired 30 mark, there is no denying the impact and potential that Smith had as a cricketer. His contributions to Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire will be remembered, and his performances on the field will continue to inspire young players in the years to come.
