Smith Signs Durham Deal

13 October 2011

Will Smith will be spending the next two seasons at the Riverside.

©Action Images

Will Smith has agreed a new two-year deal with Durham, just over a year after losing the captaincy and his place in the team.

Smith captained the Dynamos to the County Championship in 2009, following an impressive 2008 season in which he scored 925 runs after his switch from Nottinghamshire, but was promptly jettisoned midway through the 2010 season after a chronic loss of personal and team form.

He slowly fought his way back through the club’s second eleven, but it was only thanks to an early season hand injury to fellow opener Mark Stoneman that he got his chance in 2011.

The 29 year-old grabbed his opportunity with both hands and finished the season as the club’s second highest run-scorer, as well as being named the Fielder of the Year at their end of season awards ceremony.

Smith said of the news, “I’ve enjoyed this season a lot. I’ve felt comfortable in the middle and what’s just as important to me as scoring the runs is knowing that I’ve played some important innings, which have helped us win games. I’m delighted to be staying with Durham for another two years.”

Durham Head coach, Geoff Cook, added, “Will has shown real passion, commitment and determination to get back to the performance levels we know he is capable of. I’m confident that there is even more to come.”

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