Lives in Cricket No 40 - Edwin Smith

92 Testimonial year Another example of his great control came at Northampton, in a low- scoring game played on a slow pitch. After making only 207, Derbyshire gained a 62-run lead thanks to a spell of three for 25 in 19 overs by Edwin, well supported by Phil Russell with his best figures to date. David Smith’s half-century anchored a poor second innings, but Derbyshire came out on top by just four runs, Edwin’s spell of 25-12-36-3 exerting the requisite control when it looked like the home side would win. There were over 500 runs for Edwin in another excellent summer’s work, where the signs were that a new side was coming together. The experience of Rhodes, Morgan Jackson and Smith were helping along less experienced players and there was a degree of optimism come autumn.