Smeed, however, was unable to play as a like-for-like replacement at the top of Somerset’s order … because, at the time of the injury, he was still batting for the second XI against Cardiff UCCE at Abergavenny, where he followed up his first-innings 148 with an unbeaten 209 from 211 balls.
Kohler-Cadmore’s injury occurred in the eighth over of the match, when he clung onto a sharp slip catch to dismiss Wiaan Mulder off the bowling of Jake Ball. The ball appeared to flick his left thumb before he caught it in his right hand, and he was already leaving the field for treatment as his team-mates celebrated the wicket.
The substitution was ratified by the match referee, James Whitaker, at approximately 2.30pm. However, before Smeed could complete his journey from South Wales, the contest that he was attempting to join had gone into overdrive. First, Somerset’s seamers bowled Essex out for 149 in 51 overs. But then, after opting to call up Smeed rather than turn to their reserve batter, Archie Vaughan – himself an opener – Somerset were in turn reduced to 16 for 3 inside six overs, leaving Smeed in danger of running out of partners before he could set foot in the middle.
Regardless of the chaotic circumstances, Smeed’s call-up was a notable moment in the career of a young player who took the groundbreaking decision, in November 2022, to focus exclusively on white-ball cricket, in order to maximise his opportunities on the franchise circuit.
Kohler-Cadmore was the third player to be substituted in five days of County Championship action this season – all of them after suffering hand injuries. Tom Westley, Essex’s captain, sustained a broken finger while batting during his side’s opening round victory over Hampshire, and was replaced by Noah Thain, while Yorkshire’s captain Jonny Bairstow took a blow to the thumb while keeping against Glamorgan, and was replaced by Will Luxton.