Surrey wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, a future England Test wicketkeeper, will be absent from the England Lions’ India A match against India A. Smith, a Surrey academy product, made his ODI debut in September and was praised by Ian Bell and Ben Stokes during England’s New Zealand tour. The ECB was very supportive.
Smith has signed a contract with Gulf Giants, under former England coach Andy Flower, instead of spending another winter with the Lions. The ECB management is fully supportive, with Mo Bobat and Rob Key on board. Smith believes it will help him achieve his three-format international cricket ambition.
Jamie Smith said, “The ECB was very supportive”
Smith aims to play Test cricket for England and avoid blacklisting. He wants to become a three-format player with more experience in first-class cricket. Despite playing more T20s than first-class matches, he is a relative novice in his T20 game and seeks more exposure against quality overseas players.
The ECB was very supportive and appreciated the player’s focus on red-ball cricket in recent years, as they didn’t dedicate time to practicing white-ball skills. The player’s hectic schedule led to a lack of time for exploring and working on white-ball skills, as they finished their last Championship game in May.
Smith aims to be proactive in red-ball cricket and challenge the misconception that players are only white or red-ball players. He believes that playing franchise cricket will not only improve his T20 game but also put pressure on others. Smith believes that batting and improving in any environment is the same as in his red-ball game. He acknowledges the fickle nature of franchises, with multiple competitions in January and February, and the PSL and IPL.
In 2023, Smith had his most prolific season in the Championship, helping Surrey win their second title in a row. He averaged 40.88 with two hundreds from No. 4, making it his own in the moving ball. Despite being criticized for struggling with the ball, Smith made it his own and secured another trophy.
Smith, a promising cricketer, impressed in his first season with Birmingham Phoenix, batting at No. 3. He made his England debut at Trent Bridge in September, playing in an ODI squad that beat Ireland 1-0. Smith believes that ticking off one format is crucial for success in all three formats.
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