Andrew Parkinson – 17 September 2018
While most eyes will be on Steve Smith on his return to grade cricket, spare a thought for Chris Williams – the PE teacher whose job it will be to captain the former Test skipper.
But after a week in the classroom Williams won’t need to be doing any teaching to get the best out of his star pupil this weekend.
Williams is believed to be the last player still at the club who has played with Smith at Sutherland. They have known each other since Williams opened the batting with a then 16-year-old Smith in third grade.
They also played under-21s cricket together, while Williams also enjoyed a season under Smith’s leadership in first grade.
“It’s been an interesting thing. A few people have asked me ‘are you still going to be captain?’ It’s a bit odd but I’ve played with him before,” Williams said. “I’ve spoken on the phone to him. He’s a normal guy at the end of the day, cricketers are mostly.
“I’ll continue to learn everyday off him. I certainly don’t know everything, I’m willing to listen. He’ll settle into the team, he doesn’t know everyone yet but I’m sure he’ll contribute in a leadership capacity.
“It’ll be a bit odd if I have to ask him to go down to fine leg for a of couple of overs or something.
“If I hadn’t met him before maybe it would be more difficult. The fact we know each other is something that makes it a bit easier for us. He’s just another guy who has played through Sutherland. He’s a good person, we’ll be fine. If I get suggestions I’ll learn from him.”
By the time Sutherland host their NSW Premier Cricket season opener against Mosman on Saturday it will have been 1456 days, almost four years to the day, since Smith last played for his boyhood club.
Plenty has happened in Smith’s career since then. He has won two Allan Border Medals, been crowned ICC Cricketer of the Year and Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2015 and named the ICC Test player of the year twice.
Smith captained Australia in 34 Tests, the last the notorious third Test at Cape Town against South Africa in March. Smith was sent home because of his role in the ball-tampering scandal, with Cricket Australia banning him from international and domestic cricket for one year and from holding a leadership position for two years.
But the 29-year-old is able to play grade cricket and is required to complete 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket.
A teacher by trade at Liverpool Boys High School, Williams is a veteran of 111 first grade games for Sutherland, leading the Sharks to the semi-finals in all three formats last season.
While Smith’s inclusion might overawe many grade teams, it is unlikely to be as much of an issue for Sutherland.