ashton turner will become only the second australian to purely play t20 cricket for worcestershire rapids this summer – as he follows in the footsteps of steve smith a decade after his spell at New Road.
smith was signed up by worcestershire, then playing under the name of the ‘royals’, for a spell during the 2010 campaign in the friends provident t20 competition.
he was regarded as a young all-rounder, who bowled useful leg spin as well as being a middle order player, as opposed to the top notch batsman in world cricket he was destined to become.
smith made his debut for worcestershire two days after his 21st birthday against yorkshire carnegie at New Road and played an important part in a 21 run success.
he was part of a new look line-up after the departure of simon jones, stephen moore, steve davies, gareth batty and kabir ali from the previous year’s squad.
smith came in at number five and made 34 off 19 balls with three sixes as worcestershire, with james cameron top-scoring with an unbeaten 51, made 208-7.
he then dismissed anthony mcgrath and gerard brophy and ended with figures of 4-0-36-2 as yorkshire were restricted to 187-7.
daryl mitchell had the most economical figures – of the bowlers used by both sides – in a high-scoring game, finishing with 1-20 from his three overs.
mitchell is one of two members of that worcestershire side who remain part of the current squad alongside blast captain moeen ali.
the full worcestershire side was:
vikram solanki ©
phil jaques
moeen ali
alexei kervezee
steve smith
daryl mitchell
james cameron
ben scott (w)
gareth andrew
jack shantry
imran arif
