Having spent his entire cricket career in the Western Cape, all-rounder Jason Smith has taken the big step out of his comfort zone when he links up with the Hollywoodbets Dolphins for the new domestic season starting later this year.
Smith, who was educated at Wynberg Boys High School, and played all of his professional cricket for the Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras, is excited by the fact that he is making the change in his career at an important time in his growth.
“It was a big decision for me to get out of my comfort zone,” Smith said. “I felt that I needed a new challenge and was probably a bit too comfortable at home and needed to make the change for my career.
“The coach Imraan Khan was a massive influence on my decision to come to Durban and I feel like we are similar people, which gave me comfort in my choice to move.”
The easy-going 26-year-old is looking forward to hitting the ground running with the Dolphins during their pre-season starting in June. Given the success that the Dolphins experienced in the previous season, he’s excited to join the set-up.
“Everyone wants to be part of a team that is doing well and playing good cricket because it can only make them a better cricketer.
“I have played with a lot of the guys in the squad and get along with them so I can see Durban as a place that I will fit into quite easily.
“Meeting new people is also a big part of why I moved and I’m looking forward to creating new relationships in Durban,” he added.
Given the Dolphins’ success last season, Smith believes that being part of a team that is at the top is another important factor in the shift from the Cape.
“Any player wants to win,” he commented. “Winning is the motivation and to be joining a side that has experienced that success is exciting.”
Smith recently returned from Namibia where he represented the SA Emerging team against Namibia – a team that had a few Dolphins players in it and coach Imraan Khan as the team’s assistant coach.
Despite the side going down in both the T20 and ODI series, Smith was one of the stand-out players for the SA Emerging side, as across both formats he finished as the leading run-scorer with 188 runs at an average of 37.
He also finished the tour with the third most wickets for the South African Emerging side across both formats highlighting his importance as an all-rounder.
