Picture Credit: Warwickshire CCC
Words: Paul Smith
Leamington Cricket Club and the wider cricket community are mourning the passing of legendary former England and Warwickshire skipper MJK Smith at the age of 92.
Tributes to the exceptionally popular figure have filled the internet as have obituaries from all of the UKs national newspapers plus the likes of Wisden and the Cricketer.
Few people across the cricketing world are immediately recognisable by a single name – Don, Sachin, Viv, Shane and Garfield spring to mind as does MJK. Being in such elite company is truly a mark of his stature within the sport.
MJK’s connection with Leamington was long and strong. Spa was his club and he was an active member – indeed in recent years visitors to Arlington Avenue regularly spotted a 90-something former England skipper sitting on the heavy roller helping son Neil with pitch preparations.
Leamington Chair Kevin Mitchell has been quick to pay tribute to this distinguished figure.
“It’s with great sadness that we announce the passing of MJK Smith,” he said.
“Many at the club will no doubt remember him in recent times sitting on the roller or watching on a Saturday afternoon.
“Those who are older will remember both his playing days as captain of England and also as an England rugby player.
“I’m sure many at LCC have very fond memories of their time with MJK and the cricketing stories he would tell. He will be very sadly missed by all at Arlington Avenue. As a club we pass our condolences to his children Neil, Carole and Barbara plus their families.”
MJK won 50 England test caps between 1958 and 1972 of which exactly half saw him lead the side out. During this time he amassed 2278 runs including three centuries.
Mike began his first-class career with his native Leicestershire and at Oxford University from where he won three cricket blues plus an England rugby union cap as a fly half in the 1956 Five Nations against Wales. This gives him the distinction of being the most recent and in all probability last dual England International in cricket plus either rugby or football.
After leaving Oxford the 23-year-old joined Warwickshire for whom he went on to score more than 30,000 runs while captaining the club a record 327 times.
After eventually retiring in the mid-1970s MJK went on to my a leading role as a cricket administrator. He was Warwickshire Club Chairman between 1991 and 2003 and an ICC match referee between 1991 and 1996 during which time he officiated in four Tests and 17 ODIs. He also acted as England’s tour manager overseas.
Son Neil followed in his father's footsteps as captain of Warwickshire and in also winning England ODI caps during the 1990s.
A minute’s silence was held before the start of the fourth day’s play between Warwickshire and Glamorgan, with Bears’ players wearing black armbands and flags flown at half-mast.
Mike's passing leaves a huge hole in Warwickshire, Leamington and England crickets rich history - he will be sadly missed.
