Will Smith, who captained Durham to the 2009 County Championship without losing a game, has retired from first-class cricket.
The 36-year-old won four Championships during his career, three with the Riversiders, but his second spell at the club was unable to match the first.
Smith was born in Bedford but studied biochemistry at Durham University, where he captained the cricket team.
He came to prominence in 2005 when he and Alastair Maiden put on a record 304 for the university against a Somerset attack featuring Ian Blackwell, Andy Caddick and Nixon McLean. Later that season he won the title with Nottinghamshire.
He joined Durham in 2007 and endured a difficult debut season, losing his place before Durham won their first major trophy, the Friends Provident Trophy, but was the members’ player of the year as they claimed their maiden Championship.
With Dale Benkenstein eager to hand the captaincy to an Englishman, Smith was rather hastily parachuted into the job for 2009, but cleverly managed the county’s greatest side to retain the title.
But there was a power struggle behind the scenes with a number of experienced “back seat” captains undermining their young leader and he was sacked early the next season after his first four-day defeat in charge. Rather than sulk, the archetypal team man re-established himself in the side, providing much-needed nous in a youthful team which won the 2013 title against the odds under Paul Collingwood.
Smith’s release at the end of the season was a sign of the growing financial problems at Chester-le-Street.
He had an excellent first season at new club Hampshire, scoring 1,187 runs at 51.60 as they won Championship Division Two, coached by Benkenstein, but fell out of favour back in the top flight, and joined Durham for the 2018 season.
He struggled for runs in his first campaign and the opening match of 2019 was his last appearance for his adopted county.
Rather than wait for his contract to expire in the winter, he has decided to retire now.
“When people said that you know when the time is right, I never used to believe them but due to lack of opportunities and a willingness to see Durham’s young players have as many chances as possible, I can say that now is absolutely the time,” he commented.
“I have given everything as a player that I can possibly give.
“I can’t wait to see what the future holds and I hope to remain in the game in some capacity.”
