Jason Smith belongs to an elite group of players in South Africa.
The Dolphins all-rounder was part of the Aiden Markram-led South African side that raised the ICC Under-19 World Cup trophy in Dubai a decade ago.
Markram and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who led the Junior Proteas attack, have enjoyed stellar careers with the senior national team since, and many had expected Smith to follow in a similar vein.
Blessed with long levers, the Capetonian stands tall at the crease, and seemed to possess all the ability when he struck a maiden List A half-century on his 1-Day Cup debut for the Cape Cobras all those years ago.
The expectation proved too much for the former Wynberg Boys’ High School prodigy, as he struggled to live up to the hype and was in danger of drifting into obscurity, before moving to the Dolphins from Cape Town ahead of the 2021/22 season.
Life on the East Coast seems to be a perfect fit for the now 29-year-old as he has been one of the most consistent domestic batters across all formats since.
Smith was particularly good during last season’s T20 Challenge, smashing 291 runs at an average of 41.57 and a strike rate of 134.10, which included a half-century in the final against the Lions.
This return resulted in Smith being called up to the Proteas T20 squad for the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies in the Caribbean.
“I actually found out three weeks ago. (Proteas white-ball coach) Rob (Walter) called me from New Zealand,” Smith exclusively told Independent Newspapers yesterday.
“I had been told previously that I was to attend a white-ball camp, so when he called, I thought he was just confirming whether I was going to the camp, so it was actually quite a surprise.”
But what about life at the Dolphins?
“I think the move did play its part. I was able to kind of start over, playing the way I feel I should play,” he said.
Massive congratulations to our Hollywoodbets Dolphins superstars Ottniel Baartman and Jason Smith for their national call-up to the Proteas 👏🤩
Special congratulations to our explosive, hard-hitting batter @jassmi12_ for his MAIDEN national call-up 👏👏👏🤩🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/fqw2kEneOg
“It was more about what I could do, and not what people were telling me to do. That was a learning point for me.
“A lot of people expected a lot of things from me early on, and pushed me quite hard to try different styles, and bat different ways. I’ve certainly learnt from that, and that has helped me to train a lot more freely, and I certainly enjoy it a lot more.
“I am in a space where I’m enjoying my cricket a lot more. That’s been a big factor. I think our culture at the Dolphins has allowed me to do that. It’s been very enjoyable for me, especially at training.
“I think I had a good first season, and after that, there was a lot of pressure on me. I also put a lot of pressure on myself too. That’s when I tried lots of things that weren’t working for me, because I was trying to push too hard.
“I’ve learnt from that. I’m in space where I don’t really worry about things anymore. I am enjoying my cricket, and not too worried about the outcomes.”
While Smith has primarily performed the ‘finisher’ role with the bat at the Dolphins, he is a more than useful medium-pace seam bowler.
The second arrow in Smith’s quiver hasn’t been seen much of late, though, which has hampered his national ambitions in the recent past.
Smith, however, said that he is more than willing to turn his arm over if required, and has in fact been working hard on his bowling during the off-season.
“To be honest, I have been bowling. I haven’t stopped bowling. I definitely want to bowl,” Smith said.
“It’s just been tough for me to get an opportunity to bowl at the Dolphins. Our entire team is filled with all-rounders. I just haven’t been presented with the opportunity.
“It’s the reason why I’ve come back early to start pre-season, to work on my bowling. That’s been my main focus ahead of the new season.”