Neil Smith (wicket keeper)

Neil Smith was a first class cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1970 before moving to Essex CCCwhere he enjoyed a successful county career until 1981. He played for Cheshire in the minor counties, appearing in occasional List A one day games for them in 1988 and 1989.

He had hopes of replacing the long serving Jimmy Binks behind the stumps for Yorkshire but found his place taken by the 18 year old David Bairstow. He moved to Essex instead to replace Brian Taylor and established himself in the side in 1973. He had a good pair of hands and, although not at first sight the most nimble of movers, was a key part of the first Essex side to gain trophy winning success. He lost his place in 1981 to David East, captained the Second XI for a season and then returned to Yorkshire for a business career.

In 187 first class matches he took 395 catches and 51 stumpings and scored 3,336 runs as a pugnacious right handed batsman. In 171 list A one day games he took 124 catches and 23 stumpings and scored 851 runs at 10.5, occasionally used as a 'pinch hitter' up the order long before the term was first used.

Born on April 1, 1949 in Ossett, Yorkshire, he died of cancer on March 3, 2003 in Dewsbury.

References

* [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/20260.html Cricinfo Profile]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/5/5303/5303.html Cricket Archive Statistics]