Two months after his match-winning 94 helped Somerset clinch the Vitality Blast title at Edgbaston, Will Smeed is still buzzing from the experience. The 24-year-old batsman played a starring role in the final, capping off an extraordinary season and creating the best memory of his career to date.
Currently in Abu Dhabi for the T10 tournament and soon heading to South Africa for the SA20 in December, the King’s College graduate is gearing up for a busy winter packed with franchise cricket. But beyond limited-overs success, Smeed is equally determined to cement his place in Somerset’s County Championship red-ball team for the 2026 season, as he shared with Somerset CCC’s official website.
“The Vitality Blast Finals Day was incredible—both matches were intense and competitive, with any team capable of winning on their day. Luckily, it was Somerset who came out on top,” Smeed said. “That win is definitely my favourite memory so far. Contributing in the final made it even more special. In the semis, it was Pepsi (Tom Kohler Cadmore), and in the quarters, it was Dicko (Sean Dickson). We just knew we needed different players to step up at every stage, and that’s been our strength over the years—from one to eleven, everyone contributed to lifting the trophy.”
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Looking ahead, Smeed is excited about his upcoming T10 experience. “T10 is incredibly fast-paced and offers a unique learning opportunity. Playing alongside and against players of such high calibre is amazing. I’m eager to perform well in this format.”
Smeed’s passion for red-ball cricket remains strong. Last summer, he notched up two centuries for Somerset’s Second XI and expressed a clear desire to return to regular red-ball action. Although he didn’t make a first-team appearance in the 2025 County Championship, where Somerset finished third, he’s ambitious about breaking into the squad next season.
“I loved playing red-ball cricket again last year. It was great to spend time in the middle and get some runs. Moving forward, I want to play as much cricket as possible across all formats—red ball, white ball, T20, and T10—and keep improving,” he explained. “My next goal is to make the Somerset County Championship team, even though competition is fierce. I’ll work hard in the Seconds to make my case for the First Team.”
For Smeed, the focus remains clear: maximize every opportunity and develop as a cricketer, no matter the format.