ODI Player

Smith made 28 in his first ODI^[7], and 10 in his second^[8], but then scored 117 off 130 balls in only his third game, against New Zealand.^[9][10] Captain Kim Hughes said ""Smithy is a young, exciting player. He kept the ball on the ground and ran well. It shows that you need good running between the wickets early on." ^[11]

For New South Wales, Smith played in the side that won the 1982-83 Shief final. He also scored a match winning 59 against Queensland in a McDonald's Cup game, helping his team recover from 6-104 to a 8-206 and a two wicket victory (he batted down the order as Rick McCosker wanted to open with John Dyson).^[12] He also He

These efforts led to him being picked in the Australian squad to tour Sri Lanka in 1983.^[13] He played two ODIs, scoring 1 and 0, and 21 and 33 in a touring game. Smith was overlooked for selection in Australia's 1983 World Cup squad in favour of Wood and Wessels.^[14]

In October 1983 Bob Simpson called Smith "the best young batsman to emerge in NSW for 20 years" and "the next Doug Walters", a claim which Ian Chappell called "ludicrous", urging Smith to be himself.^[15]

Smith scored consistently throughout the 1983–84 domestic season, making 480 first class runs at an average of 43.63. He established himself as an excellent one day international batsman, scoring 106 against Pakistan, which won him the Man of the Match Award. " "It was concentration all the way, no one was easy, I just had to stay with it," Smith said. "Kim Hughes said if you get to 30 or 40, you will get your ton and 1 wanted to prove him right."^[16][17]

Smith also made two half centuries against the West Indies - scores of 55^[18] and 50.^[19] He was injured during the next ODI while diving to stop a run, and did not bat.^[20]

Test career

In January 1984, Smith was picked to tour the West Indies.^[21] There was some doubt he would be able to go after dislocating his shoulder during the one day finals^[22] but he recovered in time.^[23]

Smith started the tour of the West Indies brilliantly, scoring a century in each innings in his first match, a draw against Guyana – the first time that feat had been accomplished in that country in ten years. (He was dropped three times for his first century.)^[24][25][26] He won the man of the match award and followed this up with 60 in the 1st one day international.^[27]

Smith's good form with the bat, along with Roger Woolley's poor work behind the stumps in tour games, prompted the selectors to pick Smith as opener to partner Kepler Wessels and move Wayne B. Phillips down the order and play him as wicketkeeper.

Smith's first test was not a memorable one for him – he scored 3 and 12, and was dismissed twice by Joel Garner.^[28]

However he followed this with a useful knock of 27 in the second ODI, batting at number three, which helped set up an Australian victory.^[29] Smith was meant to play in the second test, but fell ill and was replaced at the last minute by Dean Jones.

Smith recovered in time for the next tour game, against Barbados, where he hit 66 in the second innings.^[30] He was picked in the 3rd test but failed twice again, getting out both times to Malcolm Marshall.^[31]

Smith was dropped for the 4th test, then hit a vein of form, scoring a century against the Windward Islands,^[32][33] 84 against Jamaica,^[34] and 50 in a one-day international.^[35][36]

Smith was recalled to the test team for the final test. He made 9 in the first innings and was injured so unable to bat in the second.^[37]

In July 1984 Smith was selected on in the Australian squad to tour India in 1984.^[38] During the series he scored a half century and impressed Sunil Gavaskar with the quality of his fielding. ^[39]

Smith started the 1984-85 domestic summer well, scoring 73 in a McDonald's Cup game against WA. He was unable to work his way back into the test team, failing to score a first class century all summer. However he played several one day games for Australia over the 1984–85 season, making three half centuries, and was only let go from the team due to injury.^[40] Highlights include an innings of 73 off 73 balls against Sri Lanka.^[41] He also scored 73 for NSW in a game against Wellington.^[42]

Smith's last ODI for Australia saw him score 54 against the West Indies. He injured his hand fielding.^[43] He was replaced in the Australian squaad by Kim Hughes.^[44] Smith's injury meant he missed the World Championship of Cricket but he recovered to play in the 1984-85 Sheffield Shield final. Smith made a key contribution, scoring 76.^[45] However Smith was overlooked for the 1985 Ashes.^[46]

Return to Australia

Smith resumed his career in Australia. In December 1987 he and fellow tourist Steve Rixon were called to the New South Wales team. "I definitely took my cricket career into my own hands by going to South Africa," said Smith. "Still I believe I have quite a few years of crickeet left in me and it is nice to be back in the side."^[54]

Smith was unable to recapture his previous form, with a highest first class score of 84 over two summers. He moved to South Africa and played for Transvaal for two seasons, which meant he was banned from first class cricket in Australia for ten years.

Smith's ban was lifted in August 1991 when South Africa was readmitted to work crickeet.^[55] He tried to get back in the New South Wales team but was unsuccessful and in October 1992 declared himself unavailable for state selection, citing work and family commitments. ^[56]