Will Smeed, the promising cricketer from Somerset, has revised his contract to participate in all formats of the game starting in 2025. Smeed, who has been with Somerset since his under-10 age grade, has predominantly played under a white-ball only contract since the 2023 season. This amendment signifies a pivotal shift in his career trajectory, allowing the talented player to broaden his horizons and contribute more comprehensively to Somerset's endeavors.
Despite his limited exposure to red-ball cricket, Smeed is eager to embrace this new challenge. He has already made notable appearances in the Pakistan Super League, SA20, Caribbean Premier League, and International League T20. However, his foray into first-class cricket remains uncharted territory. The young cricketer has expressed a keen interest in expanding his skills, having enjoyed playing a few second XI red-ball games towards the end of last year.
"I picked up an injury and it felt like I hadn't really played any cricket. I played a few second XI red-ball games towards the end of last year and really enjoyed it. That's when I started to think that this would be a good option." – Smeed
Smeed's enthusiasm for red-ball cricket is further fueled by his admiration for Somerset's recent performances in the County Championship. The team embarks on their upcoming season against Worcestershire on Friday, 4 April, with Smeed poised to become an integral part of their strategy.
"Watching how the team went about things in the Championship last year was great and some of the wins were absolutely insane. It would be crazy to not want to be a part of that team." – Smeed
Somerset's director of cricket, Andy Hurry, welcomed Smeed's decision to diversify his cricketing repertoire.
"We all know Will has a huge amount of potential, and his return to multi-day cricket will certainly add depth to our County Championship batting options," – Hurry
Smeed's contribution to Somerset has been significant since he made his debut in 2020 and signed professional terms a year later. He has made 64 T20 appearances for the club, scoring 1,669 runs with 12 half-centuries. Notably, he was part of the victorious 2023 Blast-winning side.
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