The prince of North Otago is still very much a fledgling Black Cap but he has made a useful start to his career at the top level and is having a whale of a time.
Smith, 26, made his ODI debut in Sri Lanka, and grabbed two wickets in the opening reverse fixture in Wellington on Sunday.
Those games bookended two tests against England in which he claimed seven wickets and managed a high score of 42.
Smith hailed the early influence of new Black Caps white-ball captain Mitchell Santner as he adjusted to life in international cricket.
"It’s awesome, getting around these guys," he said.
"Playing under Santner is awesome. He’s a calm captain, and he gives me that backing when I go out every time. I feel like I can go out there and do a job for the boys.
"It’s an exciting time. There are some fresh faces but there’s also a lot of familiarity, you know. I played with Jacob Duffy at Otago for a number of years, and played a bit of New Zealand A cricket with some of the other lads.
"That helps. It helps calm the nerves, I suppose."
Smith is a proud son of Waitaki Boys’ High School and played his early first-class cricket with the Otago Volts.
He is now established in Wellington, however, and relished the opportunity to help the Black Caps to a thumping nine-wicket win in the opening ODI at the Basin Reserve.
"It’s always special to pull on the New Zealand colours and play in front of a home crowd.
"The Basin’s a special place to me. It was nice to run out there."
Like any cricketer, Smith has to deal with the challenges of not always being picked in the playing XI.
He was not selected for the third test against England, and also carried the drinks for all three T20s against Sri Lanka.
"That was obviously disappointing. But it’s about finding a way to contribute, help the guys out off the park, run the drinks, be a good team man ... and when your number gets called, you have to be ready for the opportunity.
"I feel like doing those 1% things off the park is going to help the boys, and that’s ultimately what you want to do when you’re the 12th man."
Hopefully, Smith will be earning the drinks, not carrying them, when the Black Caps and Sri Lanka meet in the second ODI in Hamilton today.
Their opening win came from a "very clinical performance", Smith said.
He was very clear about his job if he earned a fourth ODI cap today.
"You’re constantly learning and adapting, but my role in this team is to be one of the four seamers and come in at eight and provide a bit of impetus with the bat.
"Hopefully if I get a run in Hamilton, I can do the same.
"Seddon Park is a great ground. It typically swings here as well, which is good for the seamers."
Second ODI
Hamilton, 2pm
Black Caps: Mitchell Santner (captain), Tom Latham, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Darryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitch Hay, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke, Michael Bracewell.
Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (captain), Asitha Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Janith Liyanage, Eshan Malinga, Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Mohamed Shiraz, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dunith Wellalage, Chamidu Wickramasinghe.