Cricket pays tribute to batsman who served Sussex and England
Don Smith - England’s oldest living male Test cricketer and a stalwart of Sussex Cricket has died aged 97.
Don was born in Broadwater on June 14, 1923 and educated at Sussex Road School, Worthing. He played his early cricket for Worthing Boys’ Club and Worthing Nondescripts before volunteering for the RAF in 1941.
After the war, he was recommended to Sussex and made his first-class debut against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in 1946.
He was a left-handed opening batsman and medium pace bowler who went on to score 16,960 runs and take 340 wickets in a first-class career which did not end until 1962.
He played three test matches for England against the West Indies in in 1957.
Following his cricket career, Don had intended to develop a business growing roses in Worthing but after a particularly dry summer he was invited to become cricket coach and groundsman at Lancing College, a job he did with distinction for over 20 years.
He was a complete sportsman and after playing County League football in Sussex for many seasons he refereed football in the county.
In 1984 he was invited to become the Head Coach of the Sri Lanka national cricket team.
After a short period in that role he and his wife Lyn settled in Adelaide where he became a naturalised Australian.
He enjoyed a very active retirement, playing bowls well into his 90s and frequently watching Test matches at Adelaide, where he welcomed many visitors from Sussex.
Don died shortly after enjoying watching the final day of the New Year test match between Australia and India on television from his bedside.
Don’s daughter Mary Charman-Smith said: “My father played cricket for Sussex for many years.
“He was the oldest surviving English Test cricketer, and second oldest in the world.
“He played in a few Test matches but remembered for opening the batting for Sussex for many years.”
Sussex Cricket said their thoughts were with his wife Lyn and the rest of the family.