Smith nets exciting deal

Talented Wanganui cricketer Ben Smith's career is poised to soar after signing a lucrative professional contract with an English side.

The 22-year-old flies out on Tuesday to join his new club, the Bristol Cricket Club, which competes in the West England Premier League.

In recent seasons Smith has played professionally for the Central Districts Stags and aims to continue the contract on his return from Britain in mid-September.

"The plan is to play our winter in Bristol and return to the Stags for our summer," Smith said during a whistle stop visit to his home town yesterday.

"I have played in Bristol before, but for a side much lower in the grades than the club I'm going to. I played for the Old Bristonians Club.

"By playing in the West Country Premier League I hope to improve my game for when I return to the Stags," Smith said.

Smith began to reveal his talents coming through the Wanganui Collegiate School ranks before being selected for representative age group and senior duties for Wanganui.

Known mainly as a batsman and wicketkeeper, Smith hopes to fulfil those roles for his new club.

The English contract came about with help from Stags assistant coach and manager Lance Hamilton.

"Lance used to play for the Bristol Cricket Club a few years ago and with the contacts I already had through the Old Bristonians, this contract came up," Smith said.

During his visit yesterday, Smith caught up with his old mate Dilan Raj, Wanganui Cricket's development officer.

"Most New Zealand cricketers throughout the grades have a rating and Ben's is quite high, so even if the Bristol club hadn't signed him, I've no doubt others of equally high standard would have," Raj said.