Background
Smyth was born at Bishopwearmouth, County Durham, and educated at Sedbergh School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he gained a Bachelor degree and Postgraduate Certificate in Education.
Smyth was born at Bishopwearmouth, County Durham, and educated at Sedbergh School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he gained a Bachelor degree and Postgraduate Certificate in Education.
University of Cambridge.
Smyth was a right-handed batsman who bowled leg break, and who occasionally fielded as a wicket-keeper. While studying at the University of Cambridge, he made his first-class cricket debut for Cambridge University against Warwickshire in 1973. He made nineteen further first-class appearances for the university, the last of which came against Oxford University in the 1975 The University Match at Lord"son
In his twenty first-class appearances for Oxford University, he scored a total of 679 runs at an average of 18.35, with a high score of 61.
This score was one of three fifties he made and came against Yorkshire in 1974. He also made a single first-class appearance for a combined Oxford and Cambridge Universities side against the touring Indians in 1974.
Cambridge University took part in the 1974 Benson & Hedges Cup, with Smyth making his List A debut in that tournament against Kent. He played three further List A matches during that competition, against Essex, Surrey and Sussex.
In his four List A matches, Smyth scored a total of 39 runs at an average of 9.75, with a high score of 21.
He played a single Minor Counties Championship match for his native Durham against Shropshire in 1974. Smyth was an assistant master at Christ"s Hospital and at Gresham"s School, a housemaster at Wellington College, headmaster of King"s School, Bruton, 1993–2004 and of Street Peter"s School, York 2004-2009, and Principal of Fulwood Academy 2010-2014.