FORMER England cricket captain MJK Smith has died aged 92.
Smith, whose full name was Michael John Knight Smith, played 50 Tests for his country between 1958 and 1972 and captained England in 25 of them.
MJK Smith has passed away at the age of 92 Credit: Hulton Archive – Getty
Smith played for his country in both cricket and rugby Credit: Getty
The ex-Warwickshire skipper was one of English sport’s rare dual internationals, having also won a cap for England against Wales in 1956.
A suave right-handed batter, Smith scored 2,278 Test runs, including three centuries.
He piled up nearly 40,000 top-notch runs during a shining county career of 637 matches.
With his massive county numbers from over 16 years of performances, he still maintains the 18th-highest total of all time.
But that is not his only record, having kept the crown for Warwickshire’s most runs in a single season with 2,417 in 1959.
He became a legend at Warwickshire, captaining the Bears from 1957 to 1967 before later serving as club chairman from 1991 to 2003.
Smith – who also played at Oxford University – was named one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year in 1960.
He was even awarded an OBE after his playing career.
Respects were paid to Smith at Warwickshire CCC on Monday Credit: Bob Thomas Sports Photography – Getty
After retirement, he remained in the game as an ICC match referee and cricket administrator.
His son Neil Smith also went on to captain Warwickshire and play limited-overs cricket for England.
Smith’s death was confirmed on Monday, with tributes paid at Edgbaston before Warwickshire’s County Championship clash with Glamorgan.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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