Smith’s elevation caps off a memorable 12 months for the Oamaru-raised player.
The Wellington right-armer, who made his first-class debut for Otago aged just 17, was named the men’s domestic player of the year at the New Zealand Cricket awards in March.
The 26-year-old was a standout performer in the Firebirds’ winning Plunket Shield campaign, leading the competition with 33 wickets at just 17, including career-best first-class figures of six for 36 against Canterbury.
His performances in the white-ball arena were also impressive — claiming 11 and 13 wickets in the Ford Trophy and Super Smash campaigns respectively.
Smith’s four for five against the Volts in Alexandra were the best figures in the Super Smash last year. But it has been with the red ball where he has had his most consistent success.
He is uncapped at senior international level but has the firm goal of making the Black Caps test side as a genuine all-rounder.
"That's the goal anyway, to try bat seven in a test team," Smith said.
"I think what sets me apart from other seamers is potentially having that batting there that can add a little bit of balance to a side."
His stint in county cricket with Worcestershire this year proved really valuable.
"It's nice to, you know, have a sort of a prolonged period of playing consistently and I think that's probably why the results are so good, [you’re] just playing all the time.
He feels "fitter and stronger" and " I think I've probably gained a little bit of pace and the consistency of the pace is there through sort of second and third spells.
"I think that's probably why I've started taking a few more wickets."
Smith also shed some more light on his surprise decision to transfer from Otago to Wellington three years ago.
"I had five years with Otago and then when Rob Walter, the coach for Otago, left, we sort of had a little bit of a changeover with the coaching.
"I sort of came to a bit of a crossroads.
"So I sort of felt that that was the right time for me to take my career to the next level. Obviously Wellington at the time had quite a few Black Caps already.
"I thought that would be a good opportunity to learn off those guys."
Smith was full of praise for Walter who helped guide him through his "formative years".
He got a lot of love from his hometown, Oamaru, when the news broke yesterday.
"It's nice to still have that connection with Oamaru and obviously North Otago Cricket.
"I started there, [played] a lot of age-group cricket, went to school at Waitaki Boys’ and graduated in 2016, so they've been a huge part of my journey.
"I played my last game for North Otago in 2021 when I was playing for Otago, so hopefully I've got a few more left in me still."
The 27-year-old Clarkson has featured in three ODIs and six T20s for the Black Caps since making his international debut in the first ODI against Bangladesh in Dunedin in December.
The hard-hitting all-rounder broke into Black Caps contention off the back of a successful 2022-23 domestic campaign where his performances helped the Central Stags lift both the Plunket Shield and the Ford Trophy.
Both players have also represented New Zealand at under-19 level.
