Explosive batsman Will Smeed has changed his mind about becoming a white-ball specialist and has signed a new contract with Somerset that covers all formats of cricket. This decision opens up the possibility for him to play in the County Championship.
In 2022, Smeed, then 21 years old, made headlines when he decided to focus only on limited-overs cricket. He stated at the time that he needed to concentrate on white-ball formats to become the best cricketer he could be. This was seen as a significant move, highlighting the growing divide between limited-overs and first-class cricket, especially as such a young player made this choice.
However, after a hamstring injury last summer, Smeed played Second XI County Championship matches for Somerset. This experience led him to reconsider his focus. Now, he aims to earn a place in Somerset’s Championship team.
“I really want to play more cricket than I did last summer,” Smeed explained. “After getting injured and missing playing time, I played some second XI red-ball games at the end of last year and really enjoyed it. That’s when I started considering this option.”
He added, “Watching the team’s impressive performances in the Championship last year, especially the incredible wins, made me eager to be part of that team.”
Smeed has previously shown his red-ball skills, scoring a century in a Second XI match at the age of 16. Despite this, his career has primarily been in T20 cricket, with a single List A appearance for England Lions. In 2022, he made history by scoring the first century in the Hundred competition and has since played in various franchise leagues like CPL, PSL, and SA20.
Somerset’s Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry, commented, “Will has immense potential, and his return to red-ball cricket will definitely strengthen our batting options for the County Championship.”
Hurry further noted, “When Will initially signed a white-ball contract, he made it clear that he wasn’t closing the door to red-ball cricket. Our members and supporters will be thrilled that he is now available for selection in all formats for Somerset.”
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