Max Smith has called time on a career which saw the Old Tauntonians & Romsey all-rounder and former Lymington cricketer establish himself as one of the region’s leading players.
Now, after a phenomenal 2015 season in which he scored six centuries and runs galore for both OTs and Hampshire Over-50s, he’s publicly announced his retirement.
“I suppose you could say I went out with a bang, scoring all those runs last year, but it wasn’t so much fun when I was in agony with back pain for days after,” he revealed.
“I’d taken the previous 2014 summer off to try and get my back sorted out, but it didn’t work so now I’ve hung up the boots and am fully committed to my coaching role and helping young players to develop.”
Smith, who is heavily involved in Hampshire junior age group cricket at the Ageas Bowl, has enjoyed a distinguished local career, which began in a batting and wicket-keeping role at Canford School, and later developed with stacks of tiny spin bowling thrown in.
He collected two Southern League championship medals with Lymington in the early 80’s, playing with some fine cricketers.
“Jon Hardy was on his way to becoming an established county cricketer and, of course, Andrew Jones went on to become a prolific run score in International cricket in New Zealand,” Smith recalled.
“The late Peter Williams, from Eastern Province, was a class act, besides which we had guys like Jeff Hose and Peter Tapper in their prime.
“That Lymington team was brimming with talent.”
Smith’s Romsey days are etched in folklore.
“I formed a formidable opening partnership with Charles Forward and in one season we both scored 1,000 runs,” he recalled.
“I remember scoring a double-century against Paultons that season and sharing an incredible opening stand of 346 with Charlie.”
Romsey’s debut 1996 season in the old Southern League coincided with Smith winning the overall batting award.
“691 runs – nine scores of 50 or more and just missing out with an unbeaten 97 in one game,” he smiled.
Smith went on to score over 5,000 runs and take over 300 Southern Premier League wickets, bowling his ‘hard to get away’ off-spin.
“I had the satisfaction of scoring at least one century in every SPL or Hampshire League division in which I played,” he added modestly.
All that largely happened before he became eligible to play for Hampshire Over-50s – the chance for him to go out in some style with a plethora of runs … followed by that aching back !
His vet’s career was relatively short – but highly productive.
Smith rattled off three centuries in the ECB 50-plus County Championship, with Berkshire, the Channel Islands and Cornwall on the receiving end last summer when his bat must have felt one foot wide !
Smith certainly isn't being lost to local cricket; far from it, in fact. He's helping to develop the next batch of talented youngsters to come through the Ageas Bowl EPP.
Now, after a phenomenal 2015 season in which he scored six centuries and runs galore for both OTs and Hampshire Over-50s, he’s publicly announced his retirement.
“I suppose you could say I went out with a bang, scoring all those runs last year, but it wasn’t so much fun when I was in agony with back pain for days after,” he revealed.
“I’d taken the previous 2014 summer off to try and get my back sorted out, but it didn’t work so now I’ve hung up the boots and am fully committed to my coaching role and helping young players to develop.”
Smith, who is heavily involved in Hampshire junior age group cricket at the Ageas Bowl, has enjoyed a distinguished local career, which began in a batting and wicket-keeping role at Canford School, and later developed with stacks of tiny spin bowling thrown in.
He collected two Southern League championship medals with Lymington in the early 80’s, playing with some fine cricketers.
“Jon Hardy was on his way to becoming an established county cricketer and, of course, Andrew Jones went on to become a prolific run score in International cricket in New Zealand,” Smith recalled.
“The late Peter Williams, from Eastern Province, was a class act, besides which we had guys like Jeff Hose and Peter Tapper in their prime.
“That Lymington team was brimming with talent.”
Smith’s Romsey days are etched in folklore.
“I formed a formidable opening partnership with Charles Forward and in one season we both scored 1,000 runs,” he recalled.
“I remember scoring a double-century against Paultons that season and sharing an incredible opening stand of 346 with Charlie.”
Romsey’s debut 1996 season in the old Southern League coincided with Smith winning the overall batting award.
“691 runs – nine scores of 50 or more and just missing out with an unbeaten 97 in one game,” he smiled.
Smith went on to score over 5,000 runs and take over 300 Southern Premier League wickets, bowling his ‘hard to get away’ off-spin.
“I had the satisfaction of scoring at least one century in every SPL or Hampshire League division in which I played,” he added modestly.
All that largely happened before he became eligible to play for Hampshire Over-50s – the chance for him to go out in some style with a plethora of runs … followed by that aching back !
His vet’s career was relatively short – but highly productive.
Smith rattled off three centuries in the ECB 50-plus County Championship, with Berkshire, the Channel Islands and Cornwall on the receiving end last summer when his bat must have felt one foot wide !
Smith certainly isn't being lost to local cricket; far from it, in fact. He's helping to develop the next batch of talented youngsters to come through the Ageas Bowl EPP.
