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Middlesex captain Smith forced to retire through injury

25/11/2008

Middlesex captain Ed Smith has been forced to retire from first-class cricket due to a serious ankle injury.

The 31-year-old has been captain at Middlesex for two years but missed most of last season through injury and handed over the captaincy to Shaun Udal.

He has now been forced to admit defeat in his battle against injury, but revealed how proud he was to have held the position.

"It has been a real honour to captain Middlesex," Smith said.

"I have been very lucky to play first class cricket for eight years at Kent and four years at Middlesex.

"I’d like to thank all the players, coaches and supporters who have helped me enjoy the game I love.

"I wish Shaun Udal and the team every success in the future”.
Middlesex chairman Ian Lovett also paid tribute to his former captain.

"Ed has always shown exceptionally high levels of energy, commitment and dedication to everything he does," Lovett said in a statement on the official MCCC website.

"Having taken over the captaincy when we were at a particularly low ebb on the field, he played a major role helping us achieve markedly improved results which culminated in us winning our first trophy for 15 years in this year's Twenty20 competition.

"He is a man with a wide range of talents and I am sure he will make a great success of his future career."

Smith made three Test appearances for England in 2003 while playing for Kent and ends his career having made 12,789 runs in 191 first-class matches.