A Cricket Star in the Making
Radford College Cricket Captain Jake Smith's playing career has taken off in the past 12 months. Alongside leading and training with the school's team, the Year 12 student has also been making waves in the cricketing world. He has been selected to represent the ACT U19 and U17 Cricket Australia teams, as well as earning a spot in the prestigious ASC Team of the Year. Curious about his journey and aspirations, we sat down with Jake to discuss what it takes to excel at these levels and what his dreams are for the future beyond school.
How old were you when you started playing cricket, and what inspired you to start playing?
I’ve been playing cricket in the backyard for as long as I remember, and I started playing in an organised team for the first time in Year 2.
What do you love about cricket?
I love the competitiveness and the mental challenge - you have to make the right decision with every single ball in order to compete. I also love the team aspect of the sport. Individual performances are crucial to helping a team win, but to improve, you need to be able to adapt to put the team in a better position to win the game.
In your role as Radford Cricket Captain, how is the team positioned for the next season?
The team is in a good spot for next season after coming off a very strong season this year. All of the members of the squad, bar three, are available for selection again next season, and I’m sure there will be many players having breakout seasons. The squad will also have the advantage of training in the amazing new indoor cricket centre that has been so generously donated by the Boorer family.
You’re also having a great season in skiing, placing second overall in the Boys D1 Ski Cross at the 2023 ACT and Regional NSW Interschools Snowsport Championships and first overall in the D1 Male Alpine at the 2023 ACT Schools Cup. Does competing in sport come easily to you or do you have to practise a lot?
To an extent, yes, sport comes naturally to me. However, competing at a high level in anything never comes without a lot of hard work over many years, which is the main reason I’ve had a few good seasons.
How often do you practise/play cricket?
On average across the year, roughly 27 hours per week, with a large proportion of that running from September to April. However, training continues year-round.
What did it mean to you to be selected for the ASC Cricket Team of the Year and as the U19 ACT Rep Player earlier this year?
It was a great honour to be selected in the ACT U19 team two years underage. It was a good experience to watch what the best players are doing and see what I need to do to be at that level in the coming season. I was also selected for the U17 Cricket Australia team of the tournament at the U17 Nationals, which was a great honour. Similarly with the ASC Team of the Year, it was fantastic to make that squad with so many other players from Radford after our great season.
How have you found playing for the ACT Rep Team?
I love representing the ACT and hope to do so for many more years. Cricket ACT has a fantastic pathway to professional cricket; it gives you the opportunity to play against the best at national championships, which is crucial for all players' development.
Are you hoping to continue playing cricket after school, and if so, what are your cricket dreams?
Yes, my goal is to play cricket professionally post-school. Dreaming big, I’d love to play test cricket for Australia and prior to that, get a state contract and play the Sheffield Shield. I would also like to keep an ongoing connection with Radford College in a coaching capacity.
If not cricket, or if cricket isn’t your sole focus, what are your other goals after school?
If my cricketing ambitions don’t come to fruition, I plan to do a double degree of law and finance at ANU after a gap year. It’s a broad degree, and hopefully, I find something more specific that I find interesting and can specialise in.