At a glance
- Played 50 times for England, 25 as captain
- 19 year career with Warwickshire between 1956-1975
- Received an OBE for services to cricket in 1976
The cricketing world lost one of it’s famous sons, as Warwickshire and England captain Mike Smith has died at the age of 92. A minute’s silence was held in Smith’s honour before the day’s play against Glamorgan, with flags at Edgbaston at half mast.
MJK, as he was known, made his England debut against New Zealand at his home ground of Edgbaston in 1958. Smith played 50 times for England, and was captain for 25 of those caps, including tours to India, South Africa and Australia.
He scored 2,278 runs in a 14-year Test career including three centuries and 11 fifties, averaging 31.63. He made his final Test appearance against Australia.
Warwickshire career
Born in Leicestershire and educated at Stamford School, Smith represented Leicestershire and Oxford university, before joining Warwickshire in 1956. In his 19-year career with Warwickshire, he scored 39,832 runs in 637 matches, at an average of 41.86, with a high score of 204. He was captain for 10 of those 19 years at Warwickshire.
Smith still holds the Warwickshire record for most runs in a single season after scoring 2,417 runs in 1959, and was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1960. Between 1957 and 1962, he made more than 2000 runs in six consecutive seasons.
Career after cricket
Smith remained involved in cricket after his retirement as a player. He became chairman of Warwickshire, as well as an ICC match referee, officiating in four Tests and 17 ODI’s.
Smith also played rugby union at Oxford university and Leicester, and he became a dual international, winning one cap for England against Wales in 1956.
Everyone at Read Cricket.com send their thoughts to his family and friends.
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