South African Smit clan all set to be Mavericks

ISLAND batting star GH Smit has left Clubhouse Optimists for Randy Paddle Mavericks. 'I just want to bowl,' said the 30-year-old South African.

'I'm friendly with the Optis guys but it's not like I go out for a few beers with them. The team spirit is all right but I think it will be better with Mavericks.'

The big-hitting Smit has been a key player for Guernsey in the last two inter-insulars. In Jersey this year, he hit a quickfire 38 as Guernsey went on to win by 16 runs over the old enemy.

The news did not come as a big surprise as he is good friends with Mavericks' best player, Justin Meades.

Smit believes his transfer will be good news for the weekend's Carey Olsen GCA Championship.

'The competition in the league will be different,' he said.

'Optis and Cobo are winning everything and maybe Mavericks will be better next season. I think the league will be more fun.

'Nearly every time Optis play against someone they know they are going to win. The competition is going to be better.'

Smit also joins Meades to turn out for DHS St Pierre in the Barclays Evening League. Mavericks and St Pierre will also benefit from the services of Smit's 20-year-old twin brothers, Wouter and Warno, who will be on the island next season.

Both are all-rounders. Mavericks captain James Falla was delighted with the elder Smit's signing.

'It's a massive transfer,' said Falla.

'GH and Meadesy are the two most in-demand players in Guernsey at the moment. I think he's the kind of destructive player who fits in with the way we play.'

Another player mooted to be joining Mavericks is Cobo's batsman-keeper Matt Oliver, who did not turn out for the west coast team towards the end of last season and rumours have been flying about that the island player was set to leave them with Mavericks the most likely to pick up his signature.

But Oliver has refuted such gossip, saying that he has yet to make up his mind as to whether he is going to leave the Stuart Le Prevost captained side or not. 'I don't know as yet,' he said.