Think Tank
The peculiarity and pull of Will Smeed's career trajectory
Cricketers have traditionally joined the T20 franchise circuit after establishing themselves through their international careers. Is Will Smeed's trajectory a trendsetter or an anomaly? ©Getty
When MI Emirates stepped out for their opening game in the ILT20, they had two players with stories that were similar but for one important detail: one represented the past in terms of the path that a cricketers' career arc might follow, and one represented the future. English batter Will Smeed and Kiwi pace legend Trent Boult are both making the most of opportunities to make a living on the global franchise circuit - opportunities that grew in number this month with the launch of both the ILT20 and the SA20. Yet they are also at opposite ends of their careers.