It’s interesting to read that Denis Smith’s 21st century equals L. G. Wright’s record for Derbyshire. Denis Smith, who was Derbyshire left-hander, achieved a personal triumph in the drawn match with Notts at Trent Bridge, equaling the club record set up by L. G. Wright of making 21 centuries for the county in 1908.
Incidentally, he was responsible for the highest individual score of the season for the side, and by making 202, he became the second Derbyshire player in history to credit himself with two double centuries, Harry Storer being the first. Denis Smith, who is a native of SomerIcotes, made his debut for Derbyshire against Somerset at Taunton in June 1927, when he was dismissed for a “duck.”
His first century, appropriately enough, was 105 against the Notts at Trent Bridge in July 1930. Denis Smith has, of course, played for England on several occasions, and if he maintains his recent form from 1938, he will almost certainly be in the running for a place in the England team against Australia.
Smith’s centuries for Derbyshire are as follows:
1930
105 v. Notts at Nottingham
107 v. Surrey at the Oval
1931
131 v. Essex at Leyton
108 v. Hampshire at Chesterfield
1932
111 v. Essex at Leyton
107 not out v. Middlesex at Derby
103 not out v. Hampshire at Southampton
1933
129 not out v. Northants at Northampton.
1934
131 v. Gloucestershire at Gloucester
126 v. Surrey at the Oval
125 v. Surrey at Ilkeston.
120 v. Sussex at Buxton
1935
189 v. Yorkshire at Chesterfield
225 v. Hampshire at Chesterfield
1936
106 v. Surrey at The Oval
169 v. Leicestershire at Oakham
1937
158 v. Yorkshire at Sheffield
140 not out v. Hampshire at Chesterfield
121 v. Leicestershire at Chesterfield
104 v. Northants at Chesterfield
202 not out vs. Notts at Nottingham.
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