Nathan Smith will join a long list of illustrious New Zealanders to have played for Worcestershire when he joins up with the County for the start of the 2024 season.
From the legendary batter, Glenn Turner, through to all-rounder, Mitchell Santner, last summer, there have been many Black Caps who have performed with distinction at New Road.
It is a bond that has become particularly strong during the past decade since pace bowler Mitchell McClenaghan opted to remain at New Road and help Worcestershire seal promotion in 2014 despite hearing that his father had passed away back home.
He heard the sad news after the first day’s play against Surrey but completed the game and played an important role with bat and ball in a 27-run win which sealed a return to Division One of the County Championship.
Smith, currently the joint leading wicket-taker in the Plunket Shield, is the 10th New Zealander during the past decade to play for Worcestershire.
One of the many highlights came during the Vitality Blast winning season of 2018 when Martin Guptill smashed 100 off 35 balls in the group victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road.
It was the fastest hundred of the 2018 domestic season and meant Guptill was awarded the Walter Lawrence Trophy.
Worcestershire Head Coach, Alan Richardson, said: “We have a really good relationship with any of the New Zealand cricketers that come over here.
“We’ve been very fortunate, we’ve had some really good ones who have fitted in brilliantly and added so much to the club.”
LIST OF NEW ZEALAND BORN PLAYERS TO PLAY FOR WORCESTERSHIRE
1919-20 – Frederick Abbott
1950 – Tom Wells
1967-1982 – Glenn Turner
1971-1975 – John Parker
1976 – Ian Rutherford
1985 – Brian Barrett
2006 – Lou Vincent
2014 – Mitchell McClenaghan
2014-2022 – Colin Munro
2016 – Matt Henry
2016-2023 – Mitchell Santner
2018-2019 – Martin Guptill
2019-2020 – Hamish Rutherford
2021 – Ish Sodhi
2023 – Michael Bracewell
2023 – Logan van Beek
2024 – Nathan Smith
