Created on: May 10, 2024 08:00 AM
Wendell Smith (second from left) has been appointed chairman of cricket at St George's University and will work alongside coach Brother Clay Smith (left) (file photo)
Wendell Smith is the new Cricket Officer at St George's Cricket Club.
St George's chairman Michael Painter confirmed that former club captain, coach and selector Smith has been formally appointed as the club's new cricket chairman, who will also head the club's selection committee.
“I can confirm that Wendell Smith is the new president of cricket,” Painter said. royal gazette.
“Our cricket chairman is also the selection chairman, so the two work together.”
Mr Smith is honored to succeed new club secretary Jelani Carrington and is looking forward to taking on his new role.
“I was delighted to take on this role because I have never been in this role before and I obviously have something to contribute with my background in cricket, so I don’t take it lightly. body,” he said.
Regarding his expectations for the future, Mr. Smith added: “Everyone at St George's expects high standards.
“Accountability to myself and the people I’m going to work with, who I’ve always been very impressed with.
“There was a meeting, and Clay [Smith, the St George’s head coach] He spoke very passionately about the team's goals. He was very clear about his expectations and I was very impressed.
“Clay has set his own rules, the players understand them and the chairman has taken some great measures for the players, so things are going well.
“As you know, St George’s league program has had a great run over the past three years, winning two Premier Division T20s. “As long as the players continue to work hard and attend training regularly, they It’s okay.”
Smith, who has scored 1,000 first-inning runs in cup games, has many years of experience and an outstanding record as both a player and a coach.
A former opening batsman, he succeeded Clevie Wade as St George's captain in 1985 and led the team to league and cup titles over the next 10 years.
His St George's team won the Camel Cup (now defunct) for the first time from 1988 to 1990.
After his playing career, Smith went on to become a successful coach at St David's, leading them to three league championships in four years.
He also led the Western Stars to promotion during his two years at the Pembroke club before returning to his roots at Wellington Oval, where he was assistant and head coach as well as a member of the club's selection committee.
It is this expertise and experience that Mr Painter, who was voted in as St George's new chairman in January following the retirement of long-serving Neil Painter, considers a valuable asset to the club going forward.
“he [Smith] He has a wealth of experience and knowledge as a former cup match player and coach,” Painter said.
“The change in leadership with new management has brought a lot of optimism and hope.”
Coach Clay Smith is equally pleased to have his brother leading the club's program.
“It's good to have Wendell on board,” he said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.”
St George's got the 50-over league game off to a flying start by defeating Cleveland County by 171 runs at Wellington Oval on Sunday.
Captain Onias Baskam (90 years old) and Nzari Painter (74 years old) led the batsmen as the home team posted 306 for nine in their allotted overs.
Former Cleveland player Kushay Darrell led the St. George's bowling with 3 hits for 8 from off-spinning 2.4 overs late in the innings, followed by Painter (2 hits for 22), Zeco Burgess (2 hits for 30), Shakai Darrell ( (2-for-2 hits) led St. George's bowling. 29) helped beat Cleveland for 135 in 30.4 overs.
The club president emphasized that this result was due to the hard work and dedication of the players ahead of the season.
“Last week’s great start was the culmination of a lot of hard work in pre-season and the team was disappointed to finish with 50 overs last year,” Painter said of the team who finished second to Baileys Bay. Ta.