M.J.K.Smith: No Ordinary Man: No. 30 (Lives in Cricket)

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I had great success during my Oxford University period. I scored a hundred in each of the three Varsity matches (in 1954, '55 and '56) - breaking a record held by the Nawab of Pataudi Sr since 1931. His son Richard, who followed in his footsteps as a scorer and statistician, has written a tribute to his father. Vic’s funeral will be on Thursday 18 August 2022, 2.30pm, at Southampton (Stoneham) Crematorium. Hughes also highlights in his book a couple of pre-final warning signs for both himself and his county. Whereas Hughes had eagerly anticipated each of his previous finals with both a mixture of excitement and the required amount of nerves to perform to a high standard, he admitted that for the first time he did not feel the same sense of occasion as he had before, that he was maybe too relaxed. Perhaps Hughes was guilty of taking a final appearance for granted, after all Middlesex had played in plenty, but the fact that the county had booked a reception after the final for the very first time, also suggests that complacency had set in.

MJK Smith scored 39,832 runs in a 25-year career and was also capped 50 times by England, half of which came as captain between 1963 and 1966.p20, Ian Wooldridge, What have we here? The eccentric 'Pom', Benson and Hedges Test Series Official Book 1986–87 The Clashes for the Ashes, Playbill Sport Publication, 1986

The rules were also updated to cover the staging of committee meetings and the AGM in virtual format. There are no international tourists, but the county players are hoping to win a place on England’s tour to Australia in 1920/21 for the first Test series in nearly seven years. Snow recollected in his autobiography: “I can remember a call between them in 1964 going something like ‘No A.C.’ — ‘Yes, Mike’ — ‘Wait A.C.’ — ‘Damn it, Mike’ — ‘Sorry A.C.’” It was not amusing for the Smiths, but it had fielders in splits at times. It is more apparent now that it was at the time that the selectors got rid of him too soon, partly perhaps because he was too independent for their liking. He did things his own way, whatever the establishment may have thought of it, although as harmonious a partnership of captain and manager I have toured with was when Smith and David Clark were paired together in India in 1963/64.

When Richie Benaud’s side arrived at Edgbaston in 1961 it was Australia’s first Test visit to Birmingham for more than half a century. It came, in huge part, from the people of the West Midlands – via the unstinting efforts of the club’s Supporters Association.

England Test all-rounder Enid Bakewell, whose biography by Simon Sweetman we published in 2018, was also honoured with an MBE. Coalminer’s Daughter is available from the ACS Shop. 29 November 2018 David has put Sundry Extras together over several years; he says that many ACS members have contributed to it in one way or another, and wishes to thank all those who can see in the list some of their own findings. 8 October 2017 Smith handled the group efficiently, making sure the stars, some of whom were way superior to him in stature, were handled properly. It was not an easy ask. It is not clear whether being an amateur was a hindrance to this, but it certainly did not make things easier for him, more so given that a sizeable population of the men he had to lead were professionals. This is a trial, and will be reviewed in a few months to see whether there is a demand for the service and how smoothly it works. 25 September 2021 Alan ‘AC’ Smith, donning those gauntlets behind stumps, had a brief discussion with Dennis Amiss before taking the pads off. Amiss took up the place behind stumps. Smith took the ball and sent down a maiden with his odd-looking action where he bowled off the wrong foot (think Mike Procter and Sohail Tanvir from later days). At the other end Ibadulla conceded 6. The score read 28 without loss.The Brooke-Lambert Statistician of the Year was Julian Lawton Smith, for his work on the Minor Counties Project, and the two winners of the inaugural Peter Wynne-Thomas Award, for members who, by their own voluntary efforts, have provided help or other benefits to the wider membership in particular ways over a lengthy period, were John Ward and Harry Watton. My experience as manager of England was not good. I managed two full tours of England, to the West Indies [1993-94] and Australia [1994-95]. We lost both to better sides. The deeds with the willow did bring him the reward an England call-up again, this time against a weak Indian side. Batting at number four now, he hit his first Test century at Old Trafford, an innings of exactly 100, and followed it up with 98 at The Oval.

Not everyone’s cup of tea, including some of those who played under him. But a great innovator and a mighty captain and leader. Jim Troughton 2011-2014If that is not possible, the AGM will be held ‘virtually’, and will consider only the procedural matters on which a formal decision of the membership is required.