VETERAN batsman Wendell Smith is looking forward to playing again...even though he doubts his fitness or family and job commitments will allow him to play the whole season with league champions St. David's.

Smith, now 42, has trained four times with St. David's in the buildup to the new season and has completed his move across the bridge from St. George's where he spent all of his cricketing career, helping the club win league, Knockout and Camel Cup titles.

Smith has made the switch to play under his younger brother, Clay, and to help the club out while youngsters Chris Foggo and OJ Pitcher are in England. There are also rumours that Glenn Blakeney might not play this season.

"There is no dissatisfaction with St. George's per se, St. George's have always been where my heart's at and I gave them 25 years," said Smith earlier this week. "But if I play this year it's to help my brother out because they've got OJ and Chris going away and I'm not certain what the situation is with Glenn, whether he's going to be playing or not. So Clay had a bit of a shortage of early order batsmen.

"Even the thought of playing with him (Clay) again is enticing because I always enjoyed playing with him. He and Allen Richardson are probably my two favourite people to bat with."

The only times Wendell and Richardson batted together were in Cup Match and in the Eastern Counties for David's, but their chance to play together is lost now that Richardson has dropped down to the St. David's Commercial League team.

"Allen and I always talked about playing together and in fact I nearly talked him into playing with me at St. George's in the mid-1980s when we were running hot," Smith revealed. "He was actually ready to sign up but it didn't come through and then a couple of years ago he tried to coax me into playing (at St. David's). We started playing together as schoolboys and I actually called him and told him why not do it this year."

Like Clay, Wendell also has knee problems (in his case a weak right knee) and, combined with other commitments such as his job as a school principal, isn't likely to be able to play a full season. He last played a few games in the 1999 season for St. George's.

"A lot of it will have to do with whether I can get myself in shape, I'm not going to go out there if I'm not ready," he says.

Smith never officially retired from either Cup Match, where he is the only player to score 1,000 runs, or from league cricket. "I never said I retired, I just took a break because I had school commitments," he stressed. "At this time of year and when June kicks in I may have to step back. I not planning to play every week, just a few games to help them out."

And a return to Cup Match is definitely out, he says.

"I wouldn't even consider Cup Match, because I know I wouldn't be able to get myself fit to the level that I would want to be for Cup Match," said the player.

"I have that kind of standard that I've held for myself so to play two days in the heat of Cup Match takes a lot of stamina and mental concentration."

Smith also revealed that it wasn't his brother, or anybody else, who persuaded him to join St. David's.

"I was the one who told him 'look, I'm thinking about coming over' and he said 'no problem'," the opening batsman said. Whether he will be up to the challenge of facing the new ball is another matter.

"I haven't had a hit yet so I don't know," said Smith who has trained twice with the team.

"Really he's got Glenn and Billy Joe (Phillip Pitcher) and I'm not over there looking to take anyone's place but to help them out. If he had Chris and OJ, I don't know if I would even be coming out, although the idea of playing in the Premier Division is encouraging.

"It's a very cerebral game and the secret to batting is more mental than physical in that it is more application and shot selection," said the former Cup Match captain.

"However, you need to be fit to be running between the wicket."

St. David's open the defence of their Camel Cup next weekend with a derby match against their fierce rivals, St. George's, next Saturday at Wellington Oval. The other semi-final sees Western Stars playing Southampton Rangers at St. David's with the winners meeting in the final next Sunday at Sea Breeze Oval. Smith helped St. George's win five Camel Cup titles and now could be featured for the new champions as early as next weekend.

"Maybe...I'll have to wait and see," he says.

"Some people might say why all of a sudden would I leave (St. George's) and play for St. David's and I'll just say it's a chance to play with my brother and help my brother out. Our blood is thick.

"It's not some great, big season-long comeback, it's just a matter of helping him out, really. To tell the truth it's very doubtful that my knee will hold up."

Years ago it would have been Clay learning from Wendell, who was regarded as one of the shrewdest captains and coaches locally. Now the shoe is on the other foot.

"Interestingly enough I'm learning a lot from him," Wendell admits.

"He's into the CD Roms from Australia and is taking his coaching to another level. He has drills from down there and at his sessions I'm learning drills that are new to me, so from that perspective it's a bit of a learning experience, keeping in touch with some of the latest techniques in the game.

"His sessions are high intensity and fun. The stuff from Australia makes his sessions enjoyable." Smith has also be coaching Southampton Rangers juniors.