Smeed on a 'different level' - Kohler-Cadmore

BBC News

09-07-2025

Somerset batter Will Smeed has progressed to a "different level" this season, team-mate Tom Kohler-Cadmore says. Smeed is the T20 Blast's leading run-scorer this season with 428, adding another 32 runs to his total as Somerset beat Essex in the T20 Blast to secure their spot in the quarter-finals.Kohler-Cadmore hit 90 off 39 balls during the victory, dominating stands of 88 and 55 with Smeed and Tom Abell in his highest T20 score for Somerset."Smeedy's gone to a different level this year, he's adding and adding to his game and his consistency this year has been great to see," he told BBC Radio Bristol.
Smeed is playing in all formats of the game this season, having been on a white-ball only contract with Somerset in 2023 and 2024.He has played in all 11 Blast matches for Somerset, with a batting average of 47.55 and strike rate of 147.07, and has also hit 15 sixes, including two on Tuesday night at the County Ground."It's always fun batting with him because I know the bowlers are under so much pressure when he's on strike that it almost seems that they give me some easier balls," Kohler-Cadmore said."Also I feel like he's adapted to be able to rotate as well, I think we've seen that in some of his previous knocks - Gloucester away - he's really maturing and taking the game deep and winning us matches so batting with him is always fun."
'Real team performance'
Kolher-Cadmore also praised Abell for also being "outstanding" during the Essex win as Somerset extended their lead at the top of the South Group table, 12 points clear of Surrey who have played two games fewer."That's one thing that we look at as a team is how well we're actually contributing," he said. "It's not always an individual having a great night it's how do I contribute and get that guy on strike, or keep the team going forward, and I felt his [Abell's] knock was just as crucial."Somerset won the 2023 Blast title but were beaten in the final last season by neighbours Gloucestershire. They have three group matches remaining away to Kent and Surrey on 11 and 13 July, and then at home to Gloucestershire on 18 July before a break until the quarter-finals in the first week of September."If we perform anything like we can, we can beat any team in this division and in this competition," Kohler-Cadmore."It's making sure we keep putting our performances in and keep building towards the back end of the tournament."