England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith made a strong statement by scoring 132 runs for Surrey in their first match of the 2026 Rothesay County Championship against Warwickshire at Edgbaston on Monday, April 6.
Smith had a difficult Ashes series in Australia, accumulating just 211 runs with an average of 23.44, including only one half-century. His performance raised doubts about his position in the England Test team ahead of a home series against New Zealand.
However, Smith proved his skills by hitting his 13th First-Class century against Warwickshire in the second innings. Batting at number three, the 25-year-old played carefully, scoring 132 runs off 261 balls, a performance that contrasts with the aggressive style promoted under England’s ‘Bazball’ approach. He was well-supported by all-rounder Dan Lawrence, who contributed an unbeaten 161 and helped Surrey secure a draw in Birmingham.
For Smith, getting runs in the opening round of the new County Championship was crucial. Meanwhile, Somerset’s James Rew, a possible contender to replace Smith, scored 64 and 122 against Nottinghamshire, already notching up 12 First-Class hundreds at just 22 years old.
Other players vying for a spot in the Test squad had mixed results. Zak Crawley struggled, scoring only nine and 20 for Kent in their match against Durham in Division Two.
England’s Test side is in need of adjustments before their summer matches against New Zealand and Pakistan. Currently, the team ranks seventh in the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship, sitting just above the West Indies and Bangladesh.