David Smith (cricketer, born 1956)

David Mark Smith (born 9 January 1956) is an English former cricketer, who played in two Test matches and two One Day Internationals for England from 1986 to 1990.

David Smith

Personal information
Full name	David Mark Smith
Born	(1956-01-09) 9 January 1956 Balham, London, England
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI Matches 2 2 Runs scored 80 15 Batting average 20.00 15.00 100s/50s 0/0 0/0 Top score 47 10* Catches/stumpings 0/– 0/–
Source: CricInfo, 1 January 2006

Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, Smith was a dominating opening batsman, particularly renowned for his skill and bravery in facing fast bowling. His volatile nature saw him sacked and re-employed three times by Surrey.

Life and career

He began his county career at Surrey in 1973, spending over a decade there before moving to Worcestershire in 1984, and was then selected for the England tour to the West Indies in 1985–86. After failing in his debut Test in Kingston, he top scored in both innings against the formidable West Indies attack in the second Test, before missing the rest of the tour with a back injury.

After a brief return to Surrey, he moved to Sussex in 1989, and that winter was again summoned to the Caribbean after an injury to Graham Gooch. Unfortunately for Smith, he broke his thumb in his first tour match, and did not play in any of the Tests.

In the 1993, NatWest Trophy final he scored 124, only to see his side lose a remarkable match to Warwickshire. After retiring from the team, he moved onto the Sussex coaching staff.

In a career of 319 first-class games, he scored 15,265 runs at an average of 36.17, with a highest score of 213. He scored 28 centuries, 76 half centuries and held 204 catches.