KELLY’S THE HERO FOR SUPER TODS
South African Kelly Smuts, of Todmorden in the Lancashire League, is our second winner of The Cricket Paper’s new ‘All-Rounder of the Month’ award, which recognises outstanding all-round performances at all levels of the game. The award is in partnership
If you bowl anything full it will go to the boundary and if you drop it short he will just wait and hit it off the back foot. That’s how Todmorden captain Andrew Sutcliffe describes the challenge of bowling to South African all-rounder Kelly Smuts, who has been the dominant force in the Lancashire League this season. Smuts had already written his name into the record books earlier this season when he hammered 211 against Enfield to beat Michael Clarke’s 200, which was the previous highest score in the history of the league. In the month of June he may not have had an individual knock to match that 139-ball effort, but for sheer consistency, it’s hard to argue with his performances. Across four Lancashire League matches he managed 261 runs, including three half-centuries, while he was similarly impressive with the ball, managing three four-wicket hauls. In a league where each team is restricted to just one overseas player, having an all-rounder capable of teeing off at the top of the order before ripping through a batting line-up as a strike bowler is invaluable. Sutcliffe explained:“To have an overseas player of Kelly’s calibre is great for the club and the league. “His performances have been outstanding, but he’s also a great guy to have around the club. “Kelly’s got so much power. Thankfully the rest of us only have to bowl to him in the nets.” As a seaming opening bowler, Smuts is third in the wickets column for the season in the Lancashire League, while from a batting perspective the powerful left-hander is well clear at the top of the charts – thanks in part to that double century. A first-class cricketer back in his native South Africa, Smuts has been plying his trade in Port Elizabeth since leaving school and is now in his fourth year playing in the UK.
While last season he chose to play down in Surrey, the appeal of the Lancashire League and the legendary overseas players who have played in it convinced him to head north once again. He explained:“This is my second full season in the Lancashire League, I’d played for Rishton before, but last season I played down south in Surrey (for Wimbledon).
“I wanted to come back to the Lancashire League; I’d enjoyed it last time I was here. It’s a strong league cricket-wise and it’s got a lot of history with a lot of big-name overseas pros going back to the West Indians greats.
“The first time I’d come over it took me a little while to adapt to the conditions and
We are delighted that The Cricket Paper, Haresfoot Brewery, The Lord's Taverners and ourselves have come together to initiate this new award which, over time, will reflect the all-round contributions made by individuals to the success of cricket teams at many levels of the game.
When, two years ago, we commissioned Haresfoot to produce All-Rounder: Cricket Writers' Club Ale, we did so in the belief that cricket and beer is a marriage to be ranked alongside the likes of strawberries and cream, Lillee and Thomson, Greenidge and Haynes, and horses and carriages. The beer was created with significant input from a group of our members, and we are so pleased that All-Rounder has not only been wellreceived commercially but that it has now provided the spark of an idea which has resulted in the creation of this monthly summer award.”
Mark Baldwin, Chairman of the Cricket Writers' Club
the wickets, but coming back this year I knew what to expect, so I was pretty confident. The wickets are a little slower than back home, and with the ball moving around you know that you have to play it as late as possible when you’re batting. From a bowling perspective, you have to bowl it a little fuller.” Over here with his family, Smuts has also taken on a role coaching the Under-15s at Tod, and he’s relished the opportunity to integrate himself into the club. “I got married last year so this is the first time I’ve been able to come across with my wife; we’ve been made to feel really welcome. I feel at home at the club and am really enjoying my time here. “Back in South Africa I don’t really have much time to do any coaching when I’m playing, but I’ve enjoyed the chance to coach the Under-15s and to get along to some of their games as well.” As a South African all-rounder, Jacques Kallis is inevitably one of Smuts’ heroes, but from a batting perspective, the trio he looked up to were all left-handers, like him.
He added: “I used to bat at the top of the order, so I always enjoyed watching Matthew Hayden, Graeme Pollock and Brian Lara, who were all left-handed batsmen. I tried to model my game on them as much as possible.”
With Todmorden currently fourth in the Lancashire League, and through to the T20 quarter-finals where they play Smuts’ old team Rishton today, the South African still has a lot to play for this season.
And while discussions over staying for another season have not yet taken place, Sutcliffe is keen to bring Smuts back after his displays this year.
Sutcliffe said: “We’ve not spoken yet about next season, but I’m sure this won’t be the last we see of him.”
In the Lancashire League, Smuts scored 261 runs at an average of 65, including three half-centuries. He carried that batting form into the T20 competition racking up 173 runs at an average of more than 40 and a strike rate of 195. The pick of his performances came against Lowerhouse, when he hammered an unbeaten 84 off just 37 deliveries including nine sixes. In that game he also took 2-10 off four overs in a thumping victory – his best all-round display in the T20s.
Smuts’ bowling was particularly threatening in the Lancashire League, as he took 13-197 over four games at an average of 15. That was enough to earn him the award, although there were plenty of other contenders across the country.
Also in the Lancashire League, Ernest Kemm of Bacup produced a couple of fantastic displays as he made 203 runs and took 12 wickets.
In Derbyshire, Denby’s Peter Burgoyne was outstanding with the bat as he racked up 274 runs, getting out just once, while also chipping in with nine wickets.
And a mention also for Great Witchingham’s Luke Schlemmer, who scored three fifties and took a five-for in the East Anglia Premier League, and might have taken the award had his unbeaten 110 and 5-62 last week against Bury St Edmunds come a couple of weeks earlier.
All-Rounder ale was created in association with the Cricket Writers’ Club. An ideal session ale for a long summer evening watching the cricket, this straw-coloured refreshing pale ale is generously and appropriately hopped with English and Australian varieties, and will be available in bottles and casks
Haresfoot Brewery, based in Chesham, Bucks, was created by a group of local beer enthusiasts who share an unquenchable passion for the artistry of brewing. Our brewers take the best from tried and tested popular recipes and update them with cutting edge ingredients, flavours and combinations to create fresh and exciting ales. See www.haresfoot.com for more information about All-Rounder, other Haresfoot beers and how to buy them.
George Harvey, Haresfoot Brewery