After being dropped from the West Indies team for their 2003–04 tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, Smith regained his place for England's tour following an impressive domestic season, where he was the leading batsman in the Regional Four Day Competition, scoring 842 runs at an average of 76.54. His good form continued into the first Test of the series, where he made 108, described as a "gritty effort laced with occasional panache", his first Test century. Smith was unable to play in the final two matches of the four-Test series after fracturing his thumb while practising in the nets.