{{short description|Namibian cricketer (born 1995)}} {{distinguish|JJ Smuts}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = JJ Smit | image = | country = Namibia | fullname = Johannes Jonathan Smit | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|11|10|df=yes}} | birth_place = Keetmanshoop, Namibia | nickname = | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Left-arm medium-fast | role = Bowling all-rounder | family = | heightm = | international = true | internationalspan = 2012–present
| odidebutdate = 27 April | odidebutyear = 2019 | odidebutagainst = Oman | odicap = 23 | lastodidate = 4 September | lastodiyear = 2025 | lastodiagainst = Scotland
| T20Idebutdate = 20 May | T20Idebutyear = 2019 | T20Idebutagainst = Ghana | T20Icap = 10 | lastT20Idate = 11 October | lastT20Iyear = 2025 | lastT20Iagainst = South Africa | columns = 4 | column1 = ODI | matches1 = 52 | runs1 = 1,071 | bat avg1 = 26.12 | 100s/50s1 = 0/3 | top score1 = 94 | deliveries1 = 1,657 | wickets1 = 56 | bowl avg1 = 21.16 | fivefor1 = 2 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 5/26 | catches/stumpings1 = 18/– | column2 = T20I | matches2 = 67 | runs2 = 1,189 | bat avg2 = 33.97 | 100s/50s2 = 1/4 | top score2 = 111* | deliveries2 = 968 | wickets2 = 66 | bowl avg2 = 16.01 | fivefor2 = 1 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 6/10 | catches/stumpings2 = 29/– | column3 = FC | matches3 = 41 | runs3 = 1,100 | bat avg3 = 18.33 | 100s/50s3 = 0/3 | top score3 = 77 | deliveries3 = 4,760 | wickets3 = 82 | bowl avg3 = 32.43 | fivefor3 = 1 | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling3 = 5/29 | catches/stumpings3 = 13/– | column4 = LA | matches4 = 122 | runs4 = 2,142 | bat avg4 = 25.80 | 100s/50s4 = 1/5 | top score4 = 120 | deliveries4 = 4,904 | wickets4 = 128 | bowl avg4 = 29.14 | fivefor4 = 3 | tenfor4 = 0 | best bowling4 = 5/26 | catches/stumpings4 = 44/– | date = 12 October 2025 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/553821.html Cricinfo }} '''Johannes Jonathan Smit''' (born 10 November 1995) is a Namibian cricketer who made his debut for the Namibian national side in February 2012, aged 16.
==Early career== A left-arm fast bowler from Keetmanshoop, Smit made his debut for the Namibian under-19 side during the 2011–12 season. He played five matches in that season's Khaya Majola Week, held in December 2011, with Namibia facing the South African domestic under-19 teams.<ref name="misc">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1201/1201301/Miscellaneous_Matches.html Miscellaneous matches played by Johannes Smit (54)] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref> Towards the end of the season, in February 2012, Smit was selected to make his first-class debut for the Namibian senior team. He took a single wicket on debut against Western Province in the South African Three-Day Provincial Competition, that of Mujahid Behardien.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/348/348793.html Western Province v Namibia], CSA Provincial Three-Day Competition 2011/12 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref> Smit played another first-class match the following season, again against Western Province.<ref name="fc">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1201/1201301/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by Johannes Smit (11)] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref> He again featured for the under-19s in Khaya Majola Week, and took seven wickets, behind only Bredell Wessels for Namibia. His twelve maiden overs at the tournament were bettered by only two players – KwaZulu-Natal's Kyle Simmonds (17) and Easterns' Vincent Moore (14).<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/18/Coca-Cola_Khaya_Majola_Week_2012-13/Bowling_by_Wickets.html Bowling in Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week 2012/13] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref>
At the 2013 ICC Africa Under-19 Championship, played in Uganda in May 2013, Smit took 12 wickets, behind only Kenya's Paramveer Singh.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/20/ICC_Africa_Under-19_Division_One_Championship_2013/Bowling_by_Wickets.html Bowling in ICC Africa Division One Champion 2013 (ordered by wickets)] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref> He was also named Player of the Final, after taking 4/17 from eight overs, including a hat-trick, to help Namibia defeat Kenya by 52 runs, and thus qualify for the 2014 Under-19 World Cup.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/547/547684.html Kenya Under-19s v Namibia Under-19s], ICC Africa Under-19 Division One Championship 2013 (Final) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref> Smit made his under-19 One Day International (ODI) debut at the World Cup, played in the United Arab Emirates in February 2014.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1201/1201301/Under-19_ODI_Matches.html Under-19 ODI matches played by Johannes Smit (6)] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref> He featured in all six of Namibia's matches at the tournament, with his eight wickets behind only Bredell Wessells' 14 for Namibia.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/21/ICC_Under-19_World_Cup_2013-14/Namibia_Under-19s_Bowling.html Bowling for Namibia under-19s], ICC Under-19 World Cup 2013/14 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref> Generally opening the bowling with either Marius Delport or Kobus Brand, his best figures, 3/55, came against Australia.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/602/602577.html Australia Under-19s v Namibia Under-19s], ICC Under-19 World Cup 2013/14 (Group B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref>
==International career== Outside of his under-19 appearances, Smit has become a regular for the Namibian senior side in both South African domestic tournaments and international competitions, featuring at the 2013 Intercontinental Cup and WCL Championship, the 2013 World Twenty20 Qualifier, and the 2014 World Cup Qualifier.<ref name="fc"/><ref name="la">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1201/1201301/List_A_Matches.html List A matches played by Johannes Smit (18)] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref><ref name="t20">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1201/1201301/Twenty20_Matches.html Twenty20 matches played by Johannes Smit (9)] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref> Against Kenya at the 2014 World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand, he took 3/23 from ten overs opening with Louis Klazinga, limiting Kenya to 186/8 from their 50 overs. Batting ninth in Namibia's innings, he came to the wicket with the score at 144/7, after Sarel Burger's dismissal, and subsequently scored 33 not out from 25 balls. Namibia won by two wickets (with seven balls remaining), and Smit was named man of the match.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/597/597379.html Kenya v Namibia], ICC World Cup Qualifier 2013/14 (Group B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 February 2015.</ref>
In January 2018, he was named in Namibia's squad for the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament.<ref name="NAMWCL2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/604943 |title=Six teams vying for the final two spots in ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 |accessdate=29 January 2018 |work=International Cricket Council}}</ref> He was a member of Namibia's squad for the 2018 Africa T20 Cup.<ref name="2018ATC">{{cite news|title=Cricket Namibia to compete in T20 Africa Cup |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/70730/read/Cricket-Namibia-to-compete-in-T20-Africa-Cup/ |work=The Namibian |accessdate=24 August 2018}}</ref>
In March 2019, he was named in Namibia's squad for the 2019 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cricketnamibia.com/the-squad-participating-in-the-icc-world-league-2-tournament/ |title=The Squad Participating In The ICC World League 2 Tournament |work=Cricket Namibia |accessdate=19 March 2019}}</ref> Namibia finished in the top four places in the tournament, therefore gaining One Day International (ODI) status.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1198795 |title=Papua New Guinea secure top-four finish on dramatic final day |work=International Cricket Council |accessdate=27 April 2019}}</ref> Smit made his ODI debut for Namibia on 27 April 2019, against Oman, in the tournament's final.<ref name="ODI">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1174845.html |title=Final, ICC World Cricket League Division Two at Windhoek, Apr 27 2019 |accessdate=27 April 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> Following the conclusion of the competition, Smit was named as the Player of the Tournament.<ref name="result">{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1200878 |title=Namibia crowned ICC World Cricket League Division 2 champions with victory over Oman |work=International Cricket Council |accessdate=27 April 2019}}</ref>
In May 2019, he was named in Namibia's squad for the Regional Finals of the 2018–19 ICC T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier tournament in Uganda.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/14/c_138057695.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514101353/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/14/c_138057695.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 May 2019 |title=Namibia squad revealed for ICC T20 World Cup Africa finals |work=Xinhua News (Africa) |accessdate=14 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1222616 |title=African men in Uganda for T20 showdown |work=International Cricket Council |accessdate=18 May 2019}}</ref> He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Namibia against Ghana on 20 May 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1184258.html |title=5th Match, ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Region Final at Kampala, May 20 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=20 May 2019}}</ref>
In June 2019, he was selected to play for the Vancouver Knights franchise team in the 2019 Global T20 Canada tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadacricket.com/?p=12755 |title=Global T20 draft streamed live |work=Canada Cricket Online |accessdate=20 June 2019}}</ref> In doing so, he became the first Namibian cricketer to sign for an international T20 franchise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/80068/read/Smit-makes-cricketing-history |title=Smit makes cricketing history |work=The Namibian |accessdate=17 July 2019}}</ref> Later the same month, he was one of twenty-five cricketers to be named in Cricket Namibia's Elite Men's Squad ahead of the 2019–20 international season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cricketnamibia.com/breaking-news-announcement-of-the-2019-2020-national-elite-training-squad/ |title=Breaking News – Announcement of the 2019–2020 National Elite Training Squad |work=Cricket Namibia |accessdate=17 July 2019 |archive-date=17 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717154754/http://cricketnamibia.com/breaking-news-announcement-of-the-2019-2020-national-elite-training-squad/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.erongo.com.na/news/elite-cricket-training-squad-announced-2019-06-24 |title=Elite cricket training squad announced |work=Erongo |accessdate=17 July 2019}}</ref> In September 2019, he was named in Namibia's squad for the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament in the United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cricketnamibia.com/icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-qualifier-send-off/ |title=ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier Send Off |work=Cricket Namibia |accessdate=2 October 2019}}</ref> He was the leading wicket-taker for Namibia in the tournament, with sixteen dismissals in nine matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=13311;team=28;type=tournament |title=ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier, 2019/20 - Namibia: Batting and bowling averages |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=2 November 2019}}</ref>
In September 2021, Smit was named as the vice-captain of Namibia's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|title=Namibia name T20 World Cup squad, include David Wiese |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2247826 |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=10 September 2021}}</ref> In November 2021, Smit was named as the captain of Namibia's team for the 2021 Namibia Tri-Nation Series after Gerhard Erasmus was ruled out due to an injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketnamibia.com/namibia-hosting-oman-and-uae-in-castle-lite-series/ |title=Namibia Hosting Oman and UAE in Castle Lite Series |work=Cricket Namibia |access-date=23 November 2021}}</ref>
On 10 April 2022, in the final match against Uganda, Smit became the first bowler for Namibia to take a hat-trick in T20I cricket.<ref name="hattrick">{{Cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283738.html|title=Records, Twenty20 Internationals, Bowling records, Hat-tricks |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=10 April 2022}}</ref> He also took his first five-wicket haul in a T20I match,<ref name="five">{{cite web|title=Five-wicket hauls in T20I matches – Innings by innings|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=3;filter=advanced;groupby=overall;orderby=start;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings;wicketsmin1=5;wicketsval1=wickets|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=10 April 2022}}</ref> finishing with figures of six wickets for ten runs from his four overs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1309703.html |title=3rd T20I, Windhoek, April 10, 2022, Uganda tour of Namibia |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=10 April 2022}}</ref>
In May 2024, he was named in Namibia’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Namibia is ready with their 15-Player Squad |url=https://www.scorewaves.com/news-details/namibia-squad-icc-t20-world-cup |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=ScoreWaves |language=en}}</ref>
In January 2026, Smit was named in Namibia's squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/mens-t20-world-cup-2026/news/erasmus-leads-namibia-for-icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2026|title=Erasmus leads Namibia for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026|work=International Cricket Council|date=3 January 2026|access-date=2 February 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{ESPNcricinfo|id=553821}}
{{Navboxes |title= Namibia squads |bg= #002F6C |fg= white |bordercolor=#C8102E |list1= {{Namibia Squad 2021 Men's T20 World Cup}} {{Namibia Squad 2022 Men's T20 World Cup}} {{Namibia Squad 2024 Men's T20 World Cup}} {{Namibia Squad 2026 Men's T20 World Cup}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smit, JJ}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Namibian cricketers Category:Namibia One Day International cricketers Category:Namibia Twenty20 International cricketers Category:Twenty20 International hat-trick takers Category:People from Keetmanshoop Category:Sportspeople from the ǁKharas Region Category:Cricketers at the 2023 African Games Category:21st-century Namibian sportsmen