Paul Smith Gets Set For Finals Day

Photo Credit: Adrian Langdon

Paul Smith is looking forward to the proudest moment of his cricketing career when he leads out Cornwall at National Counties T20 Finals Day at Tring Park on Sunday. 

Smith, a 30-year-old batter, has guided Cornwall to Finals Day in his first season as county captain with a brace of victories over Devon in their final double-header enabling them to overtake Dorset at the top of Group Two. 

Cornwall will now face Group Three winners Hertfordshire in the second semi-final at Tring (1.30pm) which follows the opener between Berkshire and Staffordshire which starts the day at 10am. The final will conclude a busy day of T20 action. 

As a fiercely proud Cornishman it is a moment that Smith is relishing having twice missed out on honours in the past. 

Although he did not make his Cornwall debut until 2013, Smith was involved in their three-day Championship final victory over Buckinghamshire at Truro in 2012 but only as a drinks-carrier. 

Three years later, when Cornwall won the 50-overs Trophy, Smith played in the group matches and their quarter-final victory over Berkshire but he was left out of their semi-final win against Hertfordshire and their success in the final against Northumberland at Wormsley. 

“For me, personally, the semi-final will be the proudest moment of my cricketing career by a long way,” Smith said. 

“The people of Cornwall are very proud people so to the lead the county where I grew up and where my heart all the way to Finals Day is going to be a very special moment for me. 

“In 2012 I was watching the Championship final at Truro and Cornwall had a couple of injuries so I was roped in to be drinks carrier for that one. 

“I made my debut the year after and played in the Trophy in 2015, scored a few runs but I was dropped for the semi-final and final. 

“I have been a bit unlucky with Cornwall finals so far but luckily for Cornwall our record in finals is pretty good. So, it will be nice to actually be able to get on the field and play in one. But not only playing in one but leading the side as well so I’m really looking forward to that.” 

A first appearance in National Counties T20 Finals Day will also be a showcase for Cornish cricket and a reminder that, despite the county’s isolated geographical location, they continue to produce talented cricketers. 

“If Cornwall wasn’t on the edge of the UK I think we would create a few more professional players,” Smith said. 

“We have a couple at the moment in Jake Libby at Worcestershire and Lewis Goldsworthy at Somerset. They are two Cornishmen playing in the pro game which shows that we are producing good youngsters. 

“It’s nice to be able to say that we are at a national Finals Day and, even though we are a bit out of the way, we are definitely knocking at the door.” 

Libby, who helped Cornwall to an important win over Dorset in his first appearance for the county in five years, will not be available for Finals Day but Smith is more hopeful that Goldsworthy, who has yet to feature for Somerset this season, will be. Goldsworthy played in the double-header against Devon and took seven wickets across the two matches. 

In a very wet start to the season Cornwall have managed to dodge the worst of the rain with all eight of their group matches producing a result – six wins and two defeats – while the form of new professional Will MacVicar has also been a key component in their success. 

The former Loughborough MCCU all-rounder was not Cornwall’s first choice but he has proved a shrewd signing with 100 important runs and 11 wickets – including five for 19 against Dorset - in his first six matches. 

“We did a lot of scouting for ex-pros but with Cornwall being a bit out on a limb it’s hard to attract people. If you do attract somebody it’s usually at quite a lucrative figure,” Smith said. 

“So, I started scouring down through the ECB Premier Leagues and no-one really stood out until I started looking at leagues towards London. We have Ben Ellis, who plays his cricket and Middlesex and I thought we might be able to sort out a car-share. 

“So, I looked at the Kent Premier League and Will stood out massively. He was third in the batting averaging about 60 and fourth in the bowling averaging about 20. 

“I sent him a message and at first he turned me down so we looked elsewhere and then came back to Will. 

“He said he had looked at the fixtures and seen that we played Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Berkshire which are not too far away from him. Our home games would be the furthest he would have to travel. 

“So we got there in the end with Will and he’s fitted in perfectly. He’s a cracking bloke off the field, he gets on with everyone. I like to call him our Cornish Cockney. 

“He scores enough runs and he sees us over the line. We have a lot of young guns at the top of the order that like to whack it and Will is our reliable middle order player and with the ball he’s very steady. He picks up handy wickets where needed. He’s been great to have around and he’s a very good player.” 

MacVicar is not Cornwall’s only long distance commuter as Smith himself also travels back to the Duchy for county matches from Birmingham where he moved two years ago to be closer to his young daughter. 

Having previously played for Werrington in the Cornwall Premier League, Smith now plies his trade further down the league pyramid for Castle Bromwich who were promoted to Division Three of the Warwickshire League last season. 

Geographical convenience as the club closest to his home and their help in securing him work as a trainee electrician help to explain the move which does not seem to have taken the edge off Smith’s form or passion for playing for Cornwall. 

“Two years ago when I first started playing for Castle Bromwich we were in Warwickshire League Division Four and I had one of my best seasons for Cornwall. That spurred me on knowing that I could still perform at that level,” he said. 

“Playing for Cornwall is where I get my cricket fix as opposed to playing on Saturday. 

“I can assure you that every home game that we play is the furthest that I will travel to play for Cornwall. 

“But it just shows how great a county Cornwall is. The manager Godfrey Furse and me always say Cornish people are made differently to others. 

“If you are born in Cornwall you are Cornish not British. It’s a very tight-knit community and it’s nice to be a part of it.”