Smith wants to continue making runs

Windward Islands opening batsman, Grenadian Devon Smith, just wants to keep making runs in the 2013 West Indies Cricket Board four-day tournament.{{more}}

Enjoying a dream start, in which he has scores of 139, 106 not out, 99 and 0 not out, Smith, a left hander, sees five hundreds in sight and an aggregate in excess of 800 runs.

“I have set myself high, high goals; so far, I’ve made three something (runs) in two games, so I think I am right on power, but I just have to continue to work and work hard”, Smith told SEARCHLIGHT last Sunday, following the Windwards’ convincing 10-wicket win over Trinidad and Tobago, here at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

“I think 2013 should be my year. I have got a good start, but having said that, I just have to try and maintain that and work towards bigger things to come”, the 31-year-old Smith noted.

Quizzed as to what has inspired him thus far, Smith said “It is the same Devon Smith, but I am staying a bit calmer at the crease … I think occupation is the key, l Continued from Previous Page and as long as you stay in your wicket, it gets a bit easier.”

Leading up to the 2013 regional cricket season, Smith said he did a lot of work during the latter part of last year.

“I didn’t have a good time of Christmas, as I was putting in some extra work, getting up and run on mornings and do my catching and my fielding. My general cricket I’ve been working December ever since, because I know I have a long season from January, so I think that has a big part to play in my performance so far”, Smith reflected.

Apart from his runs, Smith has so far held on to 10 catches — three in the Windwards, seven with wins over the Combined Campuses and Colleges and pouched seven versus Trinidad and Tobago.

Smith, who has been displaced from the West Indies team since 2011, is looking forward to a recall, but is not making that the focal point of his efforts.

“I am always looking to make West Indies team, but having said that, I am not focusing on West Indies cricket too much as long as I make runs here, and my performance to the top and as long as I perform, I think that there is a possibility I could go back there”, Smith projected.

Smith made the test debut for the West Indies against Australia in 2003, and has 33 tests under his belt — making 1,384 runs at an average of 24.71 runs, with one century and five fifties.

Additionally, he has 42 One Day Internationals to his name, scoring 1,014 runs, similarly with a solitary century and five scores in excess of 50.

Smith’s batting average at the limited overs format is 26.68 runs per innings.(RT)