Neil Smith (cricketer, born 1967)

{{short description|English cricketer (born 1967)}}

{{for|the Essex wicket-keeper|Neil Smith (cricketer, born 1949)}}

{{BLP sources|date=February 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Neil Smith

| image =

| fullname = Neil Michael Knight Smith

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|07|27|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Solihull, Warwickshire

| family = MJK Smith (father)

| country = England

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm off break

| role =

| international = true

| odidebutdate = 9 January

| odidebutyear = 1996

| odidebutagainst = South Africa

| lastodidate = 26 May

| lastodiyear = 1996

| lastodiagainst = India

| odicap = 133

| club1 = Warwickshire

| year1 = 1987–2004

| columns = 3

| column1 = ODI

| matches1 = 7

| runs1 = 100

| bat avg1 = 20.00

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 31

| deliveries1 = 261

| wickets1 = 6

| bowl avg1 = 31.66

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 3/29

| catches/stumpings1 = 1/–

| column2 = FC

| matches2 = 205

| runs2 = 6,783

| bat avg2 = 26.60

| 100s/50s2 = 4/35

| top score2 = 161

| deliveries2 = 28,100

| wickets2 = 374

| bowl avg2 = 37.34

| fivefor2 = 18

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 7/42

| catches/stumpings2 = 73/–

| column3 = LA

| matches3 = 330

| runs3 = 4,967

| bat avg3 = 21.22

| 100s/50s3 = 2/25

| top score3 = 125

| deliveries3 = 11,338

| wickets3 = 306

| bowl avg3 = 27.52

| fivefor3 = 3

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 6/33

| catches/stumpings3 = 100/–

| date = 12 February

| year = 2006

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/20259.html Cricinfo

}}

Neil Michael Knight Smith (born 27 July 1967) is a former English cricketer who played in seven One Day Internationals from 1986 to 1996. He then went on to work at Warwick School, Myton Road, Warwick as the Groundsman but has recently semi retired. He is the son of the former England Test captain, M J K Smith.

Smith was part of a successful Warwickshire side which won the County Championship under the captaincy

of Dermot Reeve in successive seasons in 1994 and 1995. Smith was

particularly valuable in one-day cricket, and helped Warwickshire to win the NatWest Trophy in 1989, hitting Simon Hughes for a six in a tense last-over climax in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/national-westminster-bank-trophy-1989-418561/middlesex-vs-warwickshire-final-418593/full-scorecard|title=Full Scorecard of Middlesex vs Warwickshire 1989 Final|publisher=ESPNCricinfo|access-date=30 May 2022}} Warwickshire and Smith also won the NatWest Trophy in 1993 and 1995, the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1995, and the Sunday League in 1994 and 1997, the latter when Smith was captain (following his father as Warwickshire captain) and top run-scorer.{{cite web|url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1997/ENG_LOCAL/STATS/SUNLG-STATS//SUNLG_AVS_WARWICKS.html|title=1997 AXA Life League Averages Warwickshire|publisher=ESPNCricinfo|access-date=30 May 2022}}

The highlight of his brief international career comprised his mixed experiences during a match against the United Arab Emirates during the 1996 Cricket World Cup. He won the man of the match award in this fixture,{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/wills-world-cup-1995-96-60981/england-vs-united-arab-emirates-7th-match-65162/full-scorecard|title=Full scorecard of U.A.E. vs England 7th Match 1995/96|publisher=ESPNCricinfo|access-date=30 May 2022}} one of only two that England won in a miserable world cup campaign, although he was also forced to retire ill after vomiting while batting.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/england-v-united-arab-emirates-151217|title=England vs United Arab Emirates|publisher=ESPNCricinfo|access-date=30 May 2022}} He also opened the batting in the following fixture against the Netherlands and made his highest one-day international score of 31,{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/wills-world-cup-1995-96-60981/england-vs-netherlands-11th-match-65166/full-scorecard|title=Full scorecard of England vs Netherlands 11th Match 1995/96|publisher=ESPNCricinfo|access-date=30 May 2022}} but his international career ended a few months later.