Jamie Smith keen for more captaincy opportunities after Royal London Cup stint

An ever-present across all formats this season, he has made a championship century and five other scores above fifty in all competitions – including a remarkable 19-ball 54 against Nottinghamshire in the Royal London Cup win at Guildford

Jamie Smith may have only just turned 21 last month but, at Surrey, he has long been earmarked for future leadership roles and this summer’s Royal London Cup has given him an exciting early opportunity to test his natural captaincy skills at senior level.

“It is such a huge honour to captain Surrey, a club I first represented at the age of nine,” said Smith after taking over from an injured Hashim Amla for last Thursday’s Royal London fixture against Somerset at the Kia Oval. Smith also led Surrey at Leicestershire two days later, scoring 34 in a dramatic rain-affected match eventually lost by just one run as Surrey chased a DLS target of 227 in 39 overs.

Smith admits that captaining his native county is something he has coveted ever since he marked his first-class debut with a brilliant 127 against MCC in Dubai in March 2019. “Yes, it’s something I’ve always had my eye on,” added Smith. “I know I am still a relative newcomer to the dressing room but the senior players at the club have all been very helpful to me over the past couple of seasons. It gives me great confidence to be seen as someone who can captain the side and, due to Hashim’s injury, the next in line.”

It was in July 2018, a week short of his 18th birthday, that the talented Smith first played for Surrey – in a T20 London derby against Middlesex at Lord’s, no less – and he has quickly established himself as a first team regular with his elegant, powerful batting and, when required, his wicketkeeping skills.

An ever-present across all formats this season, he has made a championship century and five other scores above fifty in all competitions – including a remarkable 19-ball 54 against Nottinghamshire in the Royal London Cup win at Guildford.

^{Jamie Smith has captained Surrey in the absence of Hashim Amla}

Now he can add captaincy experience to his fast-growing cricketing CV, although for Smith the chance to lead at senior level is merely a continuation of what he has done ever since he began to play cricket as a child.

“I was the captain for most of the time growing up,” said Smith. “I did it through the Surrey age-group teams, and at school and for my club age-groups. I really got into it at Surrey under-17 level, and it is something I really enjoy.

“I think I have a decent cricket brain and a lot to offer in terms of leadership and on-field decision-making. I like the leadership side of the game. When I’m keeping wicket, or in the outfield, I always like to offer up opinions and I like the challenge of trying to put your stamp on a match as a captain.

“To get the opportunity to captain Surrey now is a dream come true for me and it’s definitely something I want to do more in the future. And, at the moment, who knows what the immediate future holds with players away a lot playing for England, so I’ll do it whenever I’m asked!”

Surrey, of course, also have a sizeable group of players currently playing in The Hundred – including injuries, they are without more than a dozen players overall – but young cricketers like Smith, Ryan Patel and Dan Moriarty have already grabbed their chances to step up in various leading roles during what is a unique, and noticeably well-supported, Royal London Cup competition.

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