Ian Smith making his mark as ’keeper

Press, 18 March 1982, Page 28

Ian Smith making his mark as ’keeper

By

JOHN COFFEY

A decade ago. Bruce Edgar was keeping wickets and both he and lan Smith were accumulating an abundance of runs for Rongotai College in Wellington. But these days it is Smith who wears the gloves when the New Zealand cricket team fields and Edgar's batting deeds have far exceeded those of his old schoolmate. Both Edgar and Smith carried out their respective assignments fwith considerable success as New Zealand achieved a position of strength in the second test against Australia at Eden Park.

Edgar. of course, deservedly received most of the accolades for his innings of 161. a study of concentration. technical near-perfec-tion. and a willingness to punish any waywardness by the Australian bowlers. But Smith had made his mark on the match on Friday. He shared in all of the first five. dismissals in the Australian innings. There was some preliminary shuffling through the record books by those in the press seats when Smith caught Graeme Wood. Bruce Laird and Kim Hughes. No more chances were to come

his way, although Smith was quick to position himself for his part in the run outs of Greg Chappell and Allan Border. Former college contemporaries they might be. but Edgar and Smith are by no means from the same mould. Edgar is a particularly serious and reserved young man, Smith far more outgoing with an infectious grin. Smith's cheerfulness disguises an admitted nervousness at test time. He readily acknowledges that he has ye’t to make the New Zealand wicket-keeping role undisputably. his. But, happily, he is determined not to bow to the pressure, and even feels that it might be beneficial. In a comparatively short first-class wicket-keeping career — Smith was first chosen for Central Districts solely for his batting talents — he has distinguished himself. In 1979-80, Smith created a record of 35 dismissals in a New Zealand season, and last summer, against India at Wellington, he equalled this country’s test record with seven catches. The Australian test at Eden Park was Smith's sixth. He made his debut in unusual circumstances, when Warren Lees injured his hand in a lift door in Australia last season. Smith acknowledges the good fortune which led to his promotion, and is in no way complacent. “Your position is never safe in a test side unless you can manage something startling with some consistency,” Smith said. “I guess if the selectors felt a change was needed now they would pick Lees because of his experience."

“The next tour is to England and two wicket-keepers will be needed. Lees will probably still be in the running, especially if he loses the burden of captaining Otago and returns to his best form.

“But Ervin McSweeney must have strong claims, not only for the tour, but also for the tests if a ’keeper-bats-man is preferred,” Smith said.

“I think the rivalry is good for everyone. It is always in the back of my mind, though

I cannot let it worry me too much. Perhaps it helps a bit to be aware there are others waiting to take one’s place." he said. Smith’s reaction to the situation is reflected most in his lack of appetite during tests — “except rainy ones." He was only picking at his food on match eve last Thursday, and generally restricts himself to breakfast on playing days.

It was not until his fifthform year, when Edgar decided to concentrate on his batting (and in-swing bowling), that Smith became a wicket-keeper. His first tutor was Arthur Edgar, Bruce’s father, a former Wellington representative, and Smith was later to move on to Palmerston North Boys’ High School and receive instruction from a former test 'keeper. lan Colquhoun. “I was fortunate enough to get some lucky breaks after leaving school, although it meant a change of clubs because I was playing for the same side as Les Downes,” Smith said.

The emergence of McSweeney has caused Smith to look more closely at his own batting returns. The considerable promise evident in his early seasons with Central Districts has been blunted by his wicketkeeping ’ responsibilities. Smith has yet to produce an innings of real substance in a test.

“But I am quite happy with my form this summer. I think I averaged about 27 for Central in a side which did not perform as well as it might have. I always seemed to be going in at about 100 for five,” he said.

A less happy fellow than Smith might have been rather cynical about his dismissal, for five, last Sunday. Even such a demonstrative demander as Bruce Yardley could not raise much more than a comparatively tentative enquiry when Smith, sweeping, was hit on the pad. It was the only leg before wicket decision Australia received in almost two full days of pleading. The fates have apparently decided that Edgar and Smith should adhere strictly to their present roles.