Lankford Smith

Lankford Daniel Smith (21 December 1914 – 1 November 1978) was a football (soccer) player who represented New Zealand at international level.[1] He was also an accomplished cricketer, playing first-class cricket for Otago from 1935 to 1957.[2]

Lankford Smith
Smith in 1945
Personal information
Full name Lankford Daniel Smith
Date of birth (1914-12-21)21 December 1914
Place of birth Ngaio, New Zealand
Date of death 1 November 1978(1978-11-01) (aged 63)
Place of death Dunedin, New Zealand
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Dunedin High School Old Boys
International career
1948 New Zealand 2 (0)
Cricket information
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingSlow left-arm orthodox
RoleAll-rounder, captain
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1934/35–1956/57Otago
Career statistics
Competition FC
Matches 61
Runs scored 2281
Batting average 24.52
100s/50s 1/11
Top score 109
Balls bowled 7274
Wickets 85
Bowling average 38.23
5 wickets in innings 1
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 5/52
Catches/stumpings 46/–
Source: Cricinfo, 7 August 2022
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Life and career

Born in Ngaio, Wellington, Smith moved to Dunedin with his parents, Daniel and Annie Smith sometime prior to October 1925, where his father worked as a hospital orderly.[3] He married Mavis Lucy Madigan in October 1937.[4]

Smith played association football for Northern AFC,[5] and played two official A-international matches for the New Zealand national football team in 1948,[1] both against the visiting Australian team, the first a 0–7 loss on 28 August, followed by a 0–4 loss on 4 September.[6]

A middle-order batsman and left-arm spinner, Smith captained Otago in 1945–46 and from 1947–48 to 1955–56, leading the province to victory in the Plunket Shield in 1947–48, 1950–51 and 1952–53. In 62 first-class matches he scored 2281 runs at 24.52, and took 85 wickets at 38.23. He scored his only century in the victory over Central Districts in Dunedin that gave Otago the 1952–53 shield.[7] Dick Brittenden said that apart from his batting, bowling and "inspiring example in the field", "perhaps his greatest asset as a captain was his firm belief in the ability of his team. He was so deeply convinced it was the better side that it very often was."[8]

After his playing career was over, Smith served as a Test selector.[9] He was also a cricket commentator on radio, in partnership with Iain Gallaway, when major matches were played at the Carisbrook ground in Dunedin.[10][11]

Smith worked as a schoolteacher. In December 1965 he rescued two boys who had got into difficulty in the sea near the mouth of the Waikouaiti River, and almost drowned himself while trying unsuccessfully to rescue a third.[12] He, and the man who rescued him, were awarded the Royal Humane Society's bronze medal for bravery.[13]

See also

References
  1. "A-International Appearances – Overall". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  2. "Lankford Smith profile at Cricket Archive". Cricket Archive.
  3. "Gas explosion". New Zealand Times: 7. 13 August 1926.
  4. "Weddings". Evening Star: 24. 6 November 1937.
  5. "Soccer". Evening Star: 7. 10 March 1937.
  6. "A-International Lineups". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  7. Otago v Central Districts 1952-53
  8. R.T. Brittenden, New Zealand Cricketers, A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, 1961, pp. 157–59.
  9. Wisden 1980, p. 1161.
  10. Somerville, Philip (17 September 2014). "A trip down Memory Lane". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  11. Seconi, Adrian (25 October 2019). "Albion veteran knows the score". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  12. "Schoolboy Drowns: Two Saved by Cricketer". Press: 1. 14 December 1965.
  13. "Bravery Awards For Boys' Rescue". Press: 1. 16 July 1966.
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