Will Smeed was called up as an injury replacement for Tom Kohler-Cadmore, needing to take a 200-mile journey to join Somerset's County Championship fixture at Chelmsford, despite not having yet made his first-class debut.
Smeed is facing a long drive from Abergavenny in East Wales to Chelmsford near the East Coast after he was called up to Essex's County Championship squad at the last minute. The incident followed Kohler-Cadmore's thumb-joint injury in the morning session of the first day after taking a catch to dismiss Wiaan Mulder. He was unable to open the batting when Somerset began their innings before tea, having bowled Essex out for 149, and Somerset sent Jack Leach out in a surprise move instead.
Smeed may not arrive at the ground in time for the end of play on day one but will be able to take the field on day two. It will be his first-class debut, after he opted to sign a white-ball only contract with Somerset at the age of 21 in 2022, before reversing his decision to become a white-ball specialist and signing a red ball contract last year.
Smeed was playing for the Somerset second XI before being called-up to Chelmsford. He smashed two centuries against Cardiff UCCE, hitting 148 off 189 balls in the first innings, before smashing 209 off 211 balls in the second, finishing unbeaten.
Somerset confirmed that Smeed's performance for the second XI prompted the decision to bring him into the side: "Following his performance this week for the Second XI, we felt that Will smeed deserved this opportunity."
Smeed had announced his 'retirement' from first-class retirement at the age of 21, before reversing his decision last season.
Match 14, Essex vs Somerset
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What are the new County Championship injury replacement rules?
Injury replacements are being trialled in English domestic cricket for the first time this year, with their first outing being in the opening round of the County Championship last weekend. In-game replacement players will be allowed in the case of illness, injury and significant life events.
The incoming player must be a like-for-like replacement for the injured player, the definition of which must be signed off by the match referee. All injury replacements also require clearance by county chief medical officers of both counties.
Explained: Why players can be subbed out for 'significant life events' in 2026 County Championship
Tom Westley became the first player to be subbed out of a match under these rules in the opening round of the Championship last week. He was replaced by Noah Thain after being struck on the hand by a ball from Sonny Baker. Jonny Bairstow was also subbed out of Yorkshire's opening match of the season, having suffered a thumb injury while keeping.
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