He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played first-class cricket for Essex. Smith made his debut for the Essex Second XI at the age of nineteen, and played just three first-class matches before the outbreak of the First World War, his debut coming against Kent in 1912. However, Smith's breakthrough in the team was not to come until 1921, a season in which Essex's form dropped considerably - Smith playing eight first-class matches during the season as a tailender.