Former King Edward VII School old boy, Liam Smith, who was part of the South African U19 Cricket World Cup squad that got knocked out in the group stages of the showpiece, is one of the exciting young talents to look out for.
Smith says his love and passion for the game is what inspires him as a cricketer and from an early age there is nothing else he ever pictured being in life, except playing cricket.
The right-handed batsman burst onto the U19 cricket scene in early 2015 when he was called up to the Proteas team against Bangladesh, where he struck a superb unbeaten 89 off 113 balls.
The young Proteas went into the world cup with a lot expected of them following the success of the previous team which won the tournament. Smith showed his class in the opening game of the U19 Cricket World Cup when he struck (100 off 146 balls) hit nine fours and a six and formed the rock of the innings as wickets tumbled around him.
He showed the necessary application and patience to succeed on a slow wicket and was rewarded with his first century at the highest level. “I have definitely gained a lot of experience playing in those conditions in Bangladesh which we are not used to here in South Africa. Playing overseas really helps in terms of adapting to different conditions,” he said.
The 18-year-old opening batsman is currently doing his first year in Business Management at the University of Johannesburg and is under the bizhub Highveld Lions cricket academy.
When asked what has been key in helping him succeed as a batsman he said, “I think what has helped me is being patient, and I don’t play too many rush shots, I try to stay calm.”
Smith said he was delighted to see his mates he had played cricket with at school, such as Kagiso Rabada and Quinton de Kock, doing so well on the international stage.
The young, exciting prospect for South African cricket looks up to AB de Villiers as his role model and said he is someone he would like to emulate both on and off the field.
