Paul Smith (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Andrew Smith born April 15, 1964 in Gosforth
, Northumberland
is a former English cricketer who played for Warwickshire
from 1982 to 1996.
A mercurial allrounder, Smith was a big hitting right-handed batsman and genuinely fast right arm bowler. He made four first class hundreds in his 221 game career, the first when he was just 19, and in 1986 scored 1,500 runs as an opening batsman. In all first class cricket he scored a total of 8173 runs at 26.44 with a best of 140. With the ball he took 283 wickets at 35.72 which included two hat-tricks, in 1989 and 1990 and a best of 6 for 91. Always a potent force in the one day game, able to turn a match with bat or ball, he won 3 titles with Warwickshire in the 50 over game.
He was released by the county in 1996 and soon after was quoted in a Sunday tabloid as having admitted to drug use throughout his career. The ECB banned him for two years. He struggled with life after cricket and moved to America for a time where he became involved with the 'Cricket without boundaries' project in Los Angeles
which seeks to use the spirit and disciplines of cricket to turn youngsters away from crime. He also works for the Prince's Trust in the U.K.
In 2007, Smith published a revealing autobiography entitled Wasted?, described by one reviewer as "far from a conventional read" and a work of "refreshing honesty".
Gosforth
Gosforth is an area of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom, to the north of the city centre. Gosforth constituted an urban district from 1895 to 1974, when it became part of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne. It has a population of 23,620...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
is a former English cricketer who played for Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
from 1982 to 1996.
A mercurial allrounder, Smith was a big hitting right-handed batsman and genuinely fast right arm bowler. He made four first class hundreds in his 221 game career, the first when he was just 19, and in 1986 scored 1,500 runs as an opening batsman. In all first class cricket he scored a total of 8173 runs at 26.44 with a best of 140. With the ball he took 283 wickets at 35.72 which included two hat-tricks, in 1989 and 1990 and a best of 6 for 91. Always a potent force in the one day game, able to turn a match with bat or ball, he won 3 titles with Warwickshire in the 50 over game.
He was released by the county in 1996 and soon after was quoted in a Sunday tabloid as having admitted to drug use throughout his career. The ECB banned him for two years. He struggled with life after cricket and moved to America for a time where he became involved with the 'Cricket without boundaries' project in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
which seeks to use the spirit and disciplines of cricket to turn youngsters away from crime. He also works for the Prince's Trust in the U.K.
In 2007, Smith published a revealing autobiography entitled Wasted?, described by one reviewer as "far from a conventional read" and a work of "refreshing honesty".
External links
Sources
- Wasted?, by Paul Smith, published by Know the score books (2007), ISBN 978-1905449453