Cricket dismissal record passes to Ian Smith

Press, 10 April 1980, Page 38

Cricket dismissal record passes to Ian Smith

PA Wellington The New Zealand firstclass wicket-keeping dismissal record seems to have passed from the gloves, of Warren Lees (Otago) to those of lan Smith (Central Districts), albeit in -rather unfortunate circumstances. Last year statisticians awarded the record to the Otago captain, Lees, with a combination of 35 dismissals (30 catches and five, stumpings). Lees had passed the late Ken Wadsworth's total of 33 taken in the 1975-76 season.

It now appears that Lees in fact only took 29 catches, making his over-all total 34 dismissals, and when Smith picked up two catches in the second innings against

Young England at Eden Park late last month, his over-all total moved through to 35. These facts came to light when a Wellington statistician, lan Smith, was compiling the figures for Don Neely’s 1980 DB Cricket Annual,. Just how confused the situation is, is underlined-by the wicket-keeping statistics appearing in the 1979 Shell Cricket Almanack. In the publication Lees is credited with 31 catches and five stumpings to bring his total for the 1978-79 season to 36.

Research seems to indicate that Lees did take 29 plus five in the 1978/79 season and Smith this . year broke that record with 30 plug five.

The lan Smith of wicketkeeper fame therefore seems to have got an unexpected bonus in a season of surprises for him. When told of the possibility of the New Zealand record yesterday, ■ Smith found it hard to take in. “I’m still recovering from the shock of getting into the New Zealand team for the Australian tour,” he said. “But it’s obviously very nice to get the record,” said Smith, who took over from Jock Edwards as the Central Districts wicket-keeper at the start of the Shell season. Smith made his debut for Central Districts in the 1978-79 season as a batsman before establishing himself as the first choice wicketkeeper. . . . . J