Ben Smith gets extended and additional coaching roles for Ireland

Cricket Ireland has entrusted Ben Smith with the expanded contract of consultant batting and fielding coach. The 45-year-old coach will now work 100 days in the role. He has been given the responsibility to help both players based in the UK as well as Ireland. Smith has recently worked in New Zealand as a specialist coach with Central Districts.

Smith has had a distinguished playing career with Leicestershire, Worcestershire and Central Districts scoring a combined 28,676 runs, which included 40 first-class centuries. He has previously served as the coach for the first-team at Leicestershire. Among other credentials, Smith has held roles with both Worcestershire and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Development Squad as well as an ECB Level Four coaching badge.

Cricket Ireland has immense faith in Smith

As reported by cricketireland.ie, Cricket Ireland Performance Director Richard Holdsworth said,“Ben was outstanding working with players and coaches in the UAE and India over the latter part of the winter. He was able to give greater time to the batters, and work with the players on the bench not involved in the actual playing XI. He has a great deal of experience and we are very pleased to have agreed a consultancy role for Ben on a more regular basis.”

“With eight contracted players based in the UK, and Ben himself based in the Midlands, it will be ideal to have a coach working closer and regularly with the players there, monitoring their programme and development,” added Holdsworth as he conveyed his faith in Smith’s coaching skills.

Ben Smith is delighted at the opportunity

Smith expressed his joy at this responsibility, by saying, “I am delighted to be rejoining Cricket Ireland during this exciting time of their newly awarded full ICC membership and Test status. I am excited once again to be able to work with Ireland’s many talented players, experienced coaches and dedicated support staff on building success for the future.”

Reports suggest that a major part of Smith’s duties will be to pay strict attention to the enhancement of Ireland’s fielding, which plays such a pivotal role in the modern game.