“Helping the youngsters, drive me further” – Smith

…opener enjoying role as batting mentor

By Clifton Ross

With more than 600 runs in ongoing Cricket West Indies (CWI)/Digicel Regional Four-day Championship; Windward Islands Volcanoes opener Devon Smith said his role is to groom the younger batsmen for the future and believes leading from the front, is the best example.

Smith, the ex-West Windies Test and ODI opener, has endured a phenomenal past four seasons of first class cricket, dominating with the bat to end in the top ranks of the leading run-scorers since the realization of the Professional Cricket League back in 2013/14.
After six rounds in this season’s championships, the left-hander currently sits on 612 runs from just 6 matches with top scores of; 185*, 119*,116*, 41 and 95. His last knock; a second innings 95 which on Sunday morning saw the winless Volcanoes to nearly beating the Jaguars after shifting the condition of the match; leaving the hosts needing 4 runs with the last pair at the crease.
When his teammate; ex-West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford produced a delivery to trap Anthony Bramble lbw for 45, resulting in a tie; Smith’s near century innings was indeed turned out to be a match-saving one and following the match, Smith told Guyana Times Sport his secret to racking up runs, even when under pressure.
“Momentum-wise, I just have to try and lead from the front so the youngsters can follow. In terms of the game we all knew it was difficult, but once we gave them 150 or 160 it was good because the wicket wasn’t the best to bat on or one where you could express yourself. You have to dig in to get a score and with Shillingford we know the type of bowler he is so it’s about getting runs and putting Guyana on the back-foot,” said Smith.
The plan almost worked too, which resulted in the 36 year-old acknowledging that his half-century was just another produce of his hard work and training done on a consistent basis; something the batsman attributed to his success.
“I love the gym and I love to do plenty running leading up to the tournament just to maintain because I don’t want to come to the tournament and then try to get fit. When I come here is just to do the training and the best I can because it’s not about me it’s also about the youngsters; because it’s a young team and helping them drives me to go further,” admitted the opener.
After enduring a very tough tournament this season, not managing a win after six rounds, the Volcanoes got a glimmer of momentum as well as a couple of points for nearly upsetting the defending champs. Smith believed the calm approach during the second innings was the reason for the spirited performance versus the table-leaders.
“I think the difference was more patience when bowling, I think the guys realized that there was a possibility we could go out there and create chances, but overall I think patience was the key in batting and bowling.”
The first this season to 500 and 600 runs, the Grenada-born Smith who has more than 12,000 runs in 1st Class cricket, said despite his voracious appetite for runs and his current form, he’s not thinking along the line of a West Indies recall.
“People keep asking(about a recall), but my thing is just to go out and play cricket my focus is not really on that if it happens that I get pick then so be it, but I’m not banking on getting picked, I just want to try and enjoy my cricket as much as possible”, stated Smith.
The Volcanoes will be facing the Jamaica Scorpions in the last round before the break in a day/night encounter and Smith is happy his team received the momentum boost before the match.
“Last game before the break, we would want to go out and give our all. Going out to St Lucia we will be looking for a victory, we have a day/night match and we all know the wicket at St Lucia will seam around and we have the bowlers to go out and do the job,” he ended.