Devon Smith: a batsman the West Indies needs to stay consistent throughout the ICC World Cup 2011
Very rare are the players who possess a rich records list without being consistent in the field. Devon Smith is one of them. Having a career full of bust and boom, Smith has bounced around the cricketing world for a while. Rising from the ashes of Busta Cup with 750 runs, he made his maiden international encounter with cricket giants Australia. Opening the innings, playing offside and hitting strokes are the features without which, smith is incomplete. Smith has scored 842 in a Regional Four Day Competition during his days away from international cricket and when he returned in 2004, scored a grand century in the very first game. Notwithstanding how inconsistent he is, the innings of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 begs for his presence.
Born on 21 October, 1981 at Sauteurs, West Indies, Smith started his career in January 1999. Joining the Windward Islands, a First-Class cricket team, Smith played a Regional Four Day Competition. This tournament was ground-breaking for him, as he scored excellent 79 in a match. Ending the tournament with the average of 18.44, he went on to play the next two seasons of the tournament. Despite his overall performance being mediocre, he was selected in West Indies A to play against South Africa A in 2000. The 2001-02 seasons proved to be successful for Smith as he scored 841 with an average of 64.69.
Smith was now able to exhibit his skills at an international level by representing West Indies National Cricket Team. In 2003, he was selected for the Australia tour which was a Test series. On 10 April, 2003, Smith was in field to play his first Test against Australia. Scoring just three in the first innings, Smith proceeded towards the second innings and scored 62 including 13 fours. In the third Test of the series, Smith scored a half century. Later in May this year, Smith also made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Australia at Kingston. In the match that was played on 17 May, 2003, Smith scored 26 with the help of 2 fours to the losing side.
Smith experienced a severe setback during 2003-04 season as he was not selected for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 and South Africa tours. Towards the end of the season, he was selected for England’s tour that remained somewhat successful for him. With his sterling 108 runs in a Test match, he finished the season successfully but picked up a thumb injury. During the same tour, he scored 44 in an ODI. In 2005, he starred in a Test series against Australia. Except for scoring 88 in an innings, he could not thrive in the remainder of the matches. Resultantly Smith was again dropped out of the team.
Having spent two years in out of the team, Smith returned to the side and played a Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. His highest score was 33. In the ICC World Cup 2007, Smith got a chance to play in the three matches of the Super Eight round. With the highest 61, he averaged 33.00.
Later on 28 June, 2007, smith staged his ODI debut against England, Scoring marvelous 61 from 34 deliveries. Towards the end of the year, Smith scored 91 with the help of 3 sixes in an ODI against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, Smith had to face ouster again. During this time he played for Windward Islands and scored the highest 212. Smith made a comeback in 2009 Test series against England and scored 65 in an innings.
The best performances of Smith’s career include a 212 run haul. Smith has played 32 Tests, 32 ODIs and 6 T20s so far. His scorecard contains 1370 Test, 681 ODI and 203 T20 runs that include one century and 8 fifties.
The ICC World Cup 2011 is the second World Cup of Smith’s career. He is set to open the innings for the Windies. He has a great responsibility to stabilize the innings with his exquisite performance. If he is able to stay consistent, his team can expect great things from him.
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