William Rew Smith, better known as Will Smith, is a former professional cricket player from England. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Smith was part of four Championship-winning sides, a feat achieved by only a handful of players in the sport. He is most associated with the club Durham, where he had two successful spells.
Smith’s cricketing journey began with Nottinghamshire, where he made his breakthrough into the pennant-winning team in late 2005. However, his progress was hindered by a double hernia and shoulder operations. Despite the setbacks, he returned in 2006 and scored his maiden Championship century against Middlesex. At the end of the season, he made the decision to move to Durham.
In 2008, Smith played a pivotal role in Durham’s maiden Championship victory, scoring an impressive 925 runs at an average of 51.38. The following year, he took over the captaincy from Dale Benkenstein and contributed another 700 runs as Durham secured their second title. However, the year 2010 proved to be a disaster for Smith, as injuries limited his playing time and he ultimately resigned as captain. Contemplating retirement, he found himself back in action due to an injury to opener Mark Stoneman in the 2011 season, where he made a remarkable comeback with a century against Warwickshire.
Despite facing ups and downs in his career, Smith displayed incredible resilience. In 2013, he played an integral role as Durham claimed their third title in five seasons. However, financial difficulties led to his release from the club. Undeterred, Smith moved to Hampshire in 2014 and experienced his best season to date, scoring 1187 runs at an average of 51.60 in the County Championship. He also showcased his offspin skills in T20 cricket, taking 20 wickets and helping Hampshire reach the Finals Day.
Smith’s impressive performances earned him a two-year deal with Hampshire, where he continued to excel. In 2016, he even captained the team in James Vince’s absence and achieved a career-best score of 210 against Lancashire. Unfortunately, Hampshire faced relegation that season, but were later reprieved due to Durham’s relegation after an ECB bailout.
In an attempt to rectify the situation, Smith returned to Durham in the hope of rebuilding the team. However, his second coming was short-lived, and he announced his retirement midway through the 2019 season.
Throughout his career, Smith showcased his immense talent and determination. His contributions to multiple Championship-winning sides and his ability to bounce back from setbacks highlight his resilience. As a dedicated cricket player, Will Smith has left a lasting impact on the sport in England.
