New Zealand Cricket Sensation Nathan Smith Earns National Call-Up

The New Zealand men’s cricket team has revealed its 15-member squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. In exciting news, bowling all-rounder Nathan Smith and wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay have received their first national team call-ups. Both players will be eager to make an impression if they get a chance to play.

Mitchell Santner will captain the team for both the two T20Is and three ODIs. The tour kicks off in Dambulla on November 9 with the first T20 match.

After a tough Test series against Sri Lanka recently, where New Zealand faced heavy losses, the team will be looking to bounce back and regain some pride in the limited-overs matches.

Nathan Smith’s Rise to the National Team

Nathan Smith’s steady performances in domestic cricket have earned him a spot in the national squad. Known for his wicket-taking abilities across all formats, Smith is eager to show what he can do on the international stage.

To get to know more about this promising player, here are five key facts about Nathan Smith:

1. Early Life and Education

Nathan Smith was born on July 15, 1998, in Dunedin, New Zealand. Like many young cricketers from the region, he grew up playing cricket in his backyard. Smith didn’t just focus on sports, though. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Massey University, specializing in accounting and management.

Smith’s talent was evident from a young age, and he was part of New Zealand’s squad for the 2016 U-19 World Cup, where he finished as the top wicket-taker for his team.

2. First-Class Debut and Development

Smith made his first-class debut for Otago during the 2015-16 Plunket Shield season. He played against Northern Districts on March 30, 2016, where he took three important wickets in the first innings.

Since then, Smith has played 53 first-class matches and claimed 144 wickets, boasting an impressive bowling average of 25.85.

3. Handy with the Bat

Nathan Smith is more than just a bowler—he’s a useful batter as well. His all-round skills make him a valuable player in any team. In New Zealand’s domestic competitions, Smith has contributed important runs with the bat in addition to his success with the ball.

He has also had success playing in the English County Championship for Worcestershire. Smith’s first-class stats show his potential as a batter, having scored 1919 runs, including one century and 13 fifties.

4. Awarded New Zealand Central Contract

In September 2024, Nathan Smith was awarded a central contract with New Zealand Cricket, which was a sign that his international debut was on the horizon. He was given the contract alongside Josh Clarkson, replacing players like Devon Conway and Finn Allen, who opted out.

Now part of the national team, Smith is determined to prove his worth and make the most of this opportunity.

5. Domestic Player of the Year Recognition

Smith’s incredible performances over the past few months led to him being named New Zealand’s Men’s Domestic Player of the Year in March. In the last season, he took 24 wickets in white-ball competitions for Wellington and had his career-best bowling figures of 4/5 in the Super Smash.

In the plunket shield, he was Wellington’s top wicket-taker, with 33 wickets at an average of 17.98. He also performed well for Worcestershire, taking 27 wickets in the County Championship and eight wickets in the T20 Blast.

With these achievements under his belt, it was only a matter of time before Smith was selected for the national team.

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