William Smith

Who was William Smith?

William Smith was an English cricketer. He was a wicket-keeper who played first-class cricket for Kent. He was born and died in Gravesend.

Smith made his first-class debut in 1840 in a game between Kent and England, in which he was bowled out in his debut first-class innings by William Lillywhite, uncle of English Test cricketer James Lillywhite. Smith made two further first-class appearances over the next four years, before taking a twelve-year break from the game.

He was to return in 1856 to play a game against Marylebone Cricket Club in which he made his best first-class total of 24. Two further county matches followed in 1856, and in his final first-class game, in 1857, he navigated his way through a low-scoring affair to finish not out for 15 in the first innings, but caught off the bowling of James Grundy in the second.