JUST over a year after being persuaded to step down as Durham captain, Will Smith yesterday put his troubles behind him by batting all day for 153 not out at Edgbaston.

He was left out of the four-day team for the rest of last season and only got back in when Mark Stoneman broke a hand in the first match of the current campaign.

"Everybody else in the top seven had made a century, so I was feeling under a bit of pressure," said Smith, whose celebration of his ton underlined his pleasure and relief.

"It was tough for various reasons last year. I did reach a point where I was considering what else I might do, but I love playing for Durham and want to do it for many more years.

"It was in my hands. The captaincy's gone - there's no awkwardness, I just see myself as a member of the squad. I'm a batsman and I have to score runs.

"I got myself as fit as I've ever been in the winter and that helps you to bat all day. I felt fit when I was scoring runs in 2008, but the mental effort which goes into captaincy can drain you. I have huge admiration for any captain who scores big runs at the top of the order."

Smith, who had not made a century since September 2009, was on 99 at tea, which he described as "a bit galling".

"I just had an apple and decided it would be silly to squander this chance to make a big score by giving it away.

"It's a pretty flat pitch, but hopefully it will go up and down a bit later in the match, and if we bowl with discipline we should have a chance to win."