Ahead of the inaugural edition of The Hundred, Birmingham Phoenix have signed Somerset’s Will Smeed to replace the injured Warwickshire quick Henry Brookes – here’s the lowdown on the 19-year-old batsman.

Why is this a big deal?

The right-hander has been launched into the new tournament less than a year on from his first-team debut for Somerset and has only 12 T20 appearances to his name. Ahead of the Wildcard draft, he is the youngest player in the tournament.

Signs of a prodigy

Smeed’s name has rung around for a while and he made a notable impression in 2018 as a 16-year-old when he batted for Somerset’s seconds alongside Marcus Trescothick. The pair put on 92 against Sussex and both hit centuries. “It was such a great help to have him in my ear and to keep my going,” Smeed later told Somerset’s website. “It was really interesting to stand at the other end and watch how he goes about things as well.” A year earlier the former England batsman had made his thoughts clear on Smeed, tweeting: “Will Smeed is definitely a name to remember. Big future ahead.”

What’s he done so far?

Eleven T20 innings for Somerset so far have resulted in 283 runs at 28.30 and a strike rate of 132.86, with his best work coming this year – he is currently the club’s third-highest run-scorer this season with 189 runs at 37.80 and a strike rate above 140. Fast, whippy hands characterise the ball striking of the Cambridge-born teen.

Next stop, Birmingham

Smeed is now set to join a batting set-up which includes Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone, high-profile names in English cricket to learn from. The presence of just one overseas batsman – Finn Allen – in the Phoenix squad could help him land a starting spot alongside them.

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