Smith Denis Image 1 Derbyshire 1936

Description

Somercotes, Derbyshire born left-hand batsman Denis Smith made his County Championship debut for Derbyshire against Somerset in June 1927, when he was out for a duck in the only innings he played and was given a chance to bowl just 10 balls. By 1930 he had developed into a reliable batsman, scoring 83 and 105 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge that year. A tall left-handed opening batsman who played his strokes, Smith was the mainstay of Derbyshire’s batting line-up during the 1930’s, the most successful period in the County’s history. In four consecutive seasons Derbyshire were twice third, came second in the Championship in 1935 and won it in 1936. He is best remembered as an opener although he dropped down the order at times over the years. Usually attractive to watch, Smith’s forcing shots were well executed, being severe on anything over-pitched, especially on middle or leg stump, and his runs came at a good rate.

Throughout most of the 1930’s his usual opening partners were Storer or Alderman – the latter an almost perfect foil to Smith’s aggression – and they could be relied on to give the side a sound start. Consistent batting in the early weeks of 1935 gained him Test recognition in two matches against South Africa that July, when he shared in stands of 52 and 128 at Headingley with scores of 36 and 57, followed by 35 and a failure at Old Trafford, doing well enough to be considered unlucky not to play more Tests.. He toured Australia and New Zealand in the winter of 1935-36 with the M.C.C. under the captaincy of Errol Holmes. No Tests were played but in the representative matches against New Zealand his average was over 43, and he shared in stands of 239 with Jim Parks against Otago and 204 with Wilf Barber against Queensland.

Following his 189 against Yorkshire at Chesterfield in the opening match of 1935 came his highest score of 225 versus Hampshire on the same ground. He scored over 2,000 runs that year, becoming one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year in 1936, and in 1937 he made 202 not out against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. During the Second World War, he played in the Bradford League and took up wicket-keeping, acting in this capacity for Derbyshire for part of 1946 and 1947 until the arrival of George Dawkes. His usual place in the field was first slip, and it was not unknown for him to bowl an over or two of right-arm medium pace.

He exceeded 1,000 runs on twelve occasions – a County record, as was his aggregate of 20,516 runs and his 30 centuries. He played for The Players at Lord’s in 1935 and in the second innings scored 78 out of 112 for The Rest against the Champion County when no other player reached double figures. This was the last such match to be played, so he was denied the honour of appearing for both sides in successive years when Derbyshire won the Championship in 1936.

His career aggregate of runs and his 30 centuries for the County were both Derbyshire records until beaten by Kim Barnett in the 1990’s. In all he played 443 first class matches and scored 21,843 runs at an average of 31.65, with 32 centuries and 116 half centuries. He took 20 wickets with his occasional bowling at 36.70 apiece, with a best return of 5-37, and took 382 catches, making 5 stumpings as an occasional wicket-keeper.

After his retirement he was appointed County coach in succession to Harry Elliott, making a solitary appearance against Leicestershire in May 1952 in an emergency and finally ending his 44-year connection with Derbyshire in 1971, though he was scouting for the County until 1978.

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