Karen Smithies

{{short description|English cricketer (born 1969)}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Karen Smithies

| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}

| female = true

| image =

| caption =

| country = England

| fullname = Karen Smithies

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|03|20|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England

| nickname =

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| heightm =

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium

| role = All-rounder

| family =

| international = true

| internationalspan = 1986–2000

| testdebutdate = 21 August

| testdebutyear = 1987

| testdebutagainst = Australia

| testcap = 107

| lasttestdate = 15 July

| lasttestyear = 1999

| lasttestagainst = India

| odidebutdate = 26 July

| odidebutyear = 1986

| odidebutagainst = India

| odicap = 43

| lastodidate = 15 February

| lastodiyear = 2000

| lastodiagainst = New Zealand

| odishirt =

| club1 = East Midlands

| year1 = {{nowrap|1985–1999}}

| club2 = Nottinghamshire

| year2 = 2000

| columns = 4

| column1 = WTest

| matches1 = 15

| runs1 = 443

| bat avg1 = 22.15

| 100s/50s1 = 0/3

| top score1 = 64

| deliveries1 = 2,196

| wickets1 = 16

| bowl avg1 = 45.56

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 3/63

| catches/stumpings1 = 11/–

| column2 = WODI

| matches2 = 69

| runs2 = 921

| bat avg2 = 23.61

| 100s/50s2 = 1/1

| top score2 = 110*

| deliveries2 = 2,681

| wickets2 = 64

| bowl avg2 = 18.65

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 3/6

| catches/stumpings2 = 21/–

| column3 = WFC

| matches3 = 17

| runs3 = 536

| bat avg3 = 23.30

| 100s/50s3 = 0/4

| top score3 = 64

| deliveries3 = 2,527

| wickets3 = 20

| bowl avg3 = 41.10

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 3/63

| catches/stumpings3 = 12/–

| column4 = WLA

| matches4 = 154

| runs4 = 2,930

| bat avg4 = 30.84

| 100s/50s4 = 1/14

| top score4 = 110*

| deliveries4 = 6,644

| wickets4 = 177

| bowl avg4 = 15.37

| fivefor4 = 1

| tenfor4 = 0

| best bowling4 = 6/15

| catches/stumpings4 = 43/1

| date = 21 February 2021

| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4936/4936.html CricketArchive

}}

Karen Smithies {{postnominals|country=GBR|OBE}} ({{nee|Hicken}}; born 20 March 1969) is a former England cricketer who played as a left-handed batter and right-arm medium bowler. She appeared in 15 Test matches and 69 One Day Internationals between 1986 and 2000, and was captain of England between 1993 and 2000.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4936/Womens_ODI_Matches.html|title=Karen Smithies ODI Matches|work=CricketArchive|accessdate=21 February 2021}} In 1993, she led England to their second World Cup title, and was the joint leading wicket-taker in the tournament.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/1/Womens_World_Cup_1993/Bowling_by_Wickets.html |title=Women's World Cup 1993/Bowling by Wickets |work=CricketArchive|accessdate=21 February 2021}} She played domestic cricket for East Midlands and Nottinghamshire.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4936/4936.html|title=Player Profile: Karen Smithies |work=CricketArchive|accessdate=21 February 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/53721.html|title=Player Profile: Karen Smithies |work=ESPN Cricinfo|accessdate=21 February 2021}} Following her playing career, Smithies has worked in South Africa, managing teams in their domestic competitions.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/former-england-captain-karen-smithies-sues-csa-for-alleged-discrimination-1257022 |title=Former England captain Karen Smithies sues CSA for alleged discrimination |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=27 March 2021}}

Smithies was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1994 New Year Honours for services to ladies' cricket.United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |issue=53527 |date=31 December 1993 |pages=14 |display-supp=1}}