When Jason Smith helped South Africa to win the Under-19 World Cup alongside the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Aiden Markram, many saw him as a future star all-rounder of the game.
The kid just oozed class, a guy who looked like he would take the next step in his career with ease. Here was a classy batting all-rounder who was pleasing on the eye and had the fundamentals down to do the business.
Surely, he would be in the Proteas side sooner rather than later ...
However, it would take almost seven years and a change of scenery to start coming into his own after he enjoyed a rather steady professional career, without really living up to the expectation that his talents demanded.
Many coaches such as former Proteas great Ashwell Prince, one of his former provincial coaches in the Cape, felt that he had more to give. There was a better player in there than the stats suggested.
Jason Smith loves a cover drive 🤩
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 8, 2024
Watch the best moments from his innings against Ireland 🍿![CDATA[]]>👇#SAvIRE | #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/Ul2IS07tHJ
“Maybe at times I have been guilty of pushing a guy ... you see the talent and you just want to tell them ‘go believe in yourself and show them what you got’,” Prince told IOL Sport.
“But everyone’s personality is different, some are more confident that others. People develop in different ways and at different times.
“For me, that has been one of my biggest learnings in my time as a coach.”
But since 2021, after a move to the Dolphins in Durban, that player who was bubbling under the surface started to emerge. Smith has become match-winner in all formats of the game for KwaZulu-Natal side, especially with the bat, and seems to be enjoying the responsibility of being one of the senior pros in the dressing room.
After another good 2023/24 campaign, especially in the domestic T20 competition, Smith finally realised his dream of playing for the Proteas at senior level.
The Wynberg Boys High player proceeded to make the most of his One-Day International debut against Ireland when he stroked a beautiful 91 off 93 balls in a losing cause in difficult conditions.
At 29 years of age, Smith finally showed the type of ability and class that Prince and others always knew he had. Hopefully now he can now kick on to greater things.
“A guy like Jason ... maybe it’s taken a bit longer for him to believe in himself ... believing that he belongs at the highest level. We as coaches, we saw that a long time ago. He has always had the game, nobody can dispute that,” Prince said.
“But we learn that as coaches, everybody develops at their own pace. I’m just delighted to see that Jason is fulfilling his potential as a player.”
@JohnGoliath82