On and Off the Field

Ed Smith has kept a private diary of his county career since he made his debut for Kent in 1986. But this season, encouraged by Australian captain Steve Waugh, he decided to do it properly. 'Tell the truth as much as you can' was Waugh's injunction. This then is the story of a season of county cricket, one that begins tumultuously with the horrific pre-season eye injury to captain David Fulton, and by mid-July is turning to triumph as Smith becomes the first batsman in the summer to reach 1000 runs. It's the story of the hanging in there and the holding on, the self-doubt and the frustration, the rows and the friendships.