Cricket May 30, 2026

Mike Smith: Former Warwickshire and England cricket captain and rugby union international dies aged 92

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Mike Smith: Former Warwickshire and England cricket captain and rugby union international dies aged 92

Former England captain Mike Smith has died at the age of 92, Warwickshire have announced.

Smith, known by his initials MJK, played 50 Tests for England, captain on 25 occasions, and was also a rugby union international as he earned one cap against Wales in 1956.

After a playing career that lasted almost two decades with Warwickshire, yielding nearly 40,000 first-class runs, Smith went on to serve as county chairman between 1991 and 2003 - a period during which Warwickshire won seven major trophies.

Warwickshire announced the news of his death on Monday morning, with a moment of silence held before the start of play on day four of their County Championship match against Glamorgan.

Smith made his first-class debut for Leicestershire prior to two years of compulsory military service, and continued to represent his native county while studying at Oxford University.

He joined Warwickshire in 1956 and was appointed captain the following year.

Smith's Test debut came in 1958 against New Zealand on home turf in Birmingham. Although initially selected as an opener, Smith began to flourish when moved to the middle order, making his first international century against India at Old Trafford in 1959.

His opportunity to captain the side came in the absence of Ted Dexter and Colin Cowdrey for a tour of India in 1963-64. In his 25 Tests as captain, Smith suffered defeat only three times with 17 draws and five victories.

Following retirement, he spent five years as a referee before becoming Warwickshire chairman in 1991 - overseeing a period which brought back-to-back county championship titles in 1994 and 1995.

His son Neil, known as NMK, followed in his footsteps to become Warwickshire captain and earning one-day international honours for England.

ECB chair, Richard Thompson, said: "Mike was part of a group of former players who did so much both on and off the field.

"Having a player of Mike's talent to chair a county as well as play for it was a huge benefit and Mike performed both roles with great distinction.

"His contribution to the game will not be forgotten."

Tags:

cricket news

Share this article

Related Posts

Sonny Baker: England Test debut would be 'dream come true', says talented Hampshire fast bowler

Sonny Baker: England Test debut would be 'dream come true', says talented Hampshire fast bowler

England pace prospect Sonny Baker says a debut Test cap this summer would be "an absolute dream come true", but the Hampshire fast bowler insists his...

Davina Perrin left out as England name Women's T20 World Cup squad which is led by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt

Davina Perrin left out as England name Women's T20 World Cup squad which is led by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt

Davina Perrin has been left out of the England squad announced for the Women's T20 World Cup squad, but uncapped teenager Tilly Corteen-Coleman is inc...

Rob Key: Zak Crawley Test squad omission may define opener, world‑class Ollie Robinson can unlock England’s potential

Rob Key: Zak Crawley Test squad omission may define opener, world‑class Ollie Robinson can unlock England’s potential

Rob Key has left the door open for Zak Crawley to use his Test omission as a turning point after the opener became the highest‑profile casualty of Eng...

Sarah Taylor named fielding coach for England’s men’s side in watershed moment

Sarah Taylor named fielding coach for England’s men’s side in watershed moment

Former England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor will take on a ground-breaking role with the men's national side after being appointed as fielding coach for...

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: How long can India ignore 15-year-old wonderkid - and could he be unleashed against England?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: How long can India ignore 15-year-old wonderkid - and could he be unleashed against England?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wrote his name into the history books by becoming the youngest IPL centurion - just nine days after his record‑breaking debut as...

County Championship: Ben Stokes pours more misery on axed England Test team-mate Zak Crawley

County Championship: Ben Stokes pours more misery on axed England Test team-mate Zak Crawley

Ben Stokes poured more misery on axed England Test team-mate Zak Crawley but Kent got on top against Durham at Beckenham in the County Championship on...