Jamie Smith is aiming to use the upcoming season of The Hundred as a platform to revive his place in England’s limited-overs cricket squads. At 26, the England Test wicketkeeper-batsman, who has recently been excluded from the T20 format despite a strong 64 against the West Indies in his last appearance, is seeking to re-establish himself in white-ball cricket after a 50-over batting average of 21.77 led to his removal from the one-day international team.

Smith was acquired by Southern Brave for £300,000 and is set to make his first appearance in a T20 or Hundred match since playing for London Spirit last August. The Brave face Welsh Fire at the Utilita Bowl to begin their campaign. Smith plans to bat at the top of the order but also values learning from teammates David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, and Marcus Stoinis, who have been successful in middle-order roles. He noted his experience batting in the middle-order for Surrey and highlighted the challenges of that position, emphasizing that gaining insights from his colleagues could help him adapt and take advantage of future opportunities at the domestic or international level.

England’s limited-overs head coach, Brendon McCullum, who remains a supporter of Smith’s potential, is attending the competition and could observe Smith’s performances firsthand. McCullum’s role has recently been confined to overseeing England’s white-ball teams, and Smith expressed hope that strong displays could lead to inclusion in England’s squads and eventually a place in the limited-overs sides once again.

Smith acknowledged the disappointment of being dropped but remains determined to contribute across all three formats for England. He reflected on his missed chances opening the batting in ODIs and recognized the strength of the current T20 side, which reached the World Cup semi-finals earlier this year and holds the number one ranking globally.

Meanwhile, England face injury concerns as Jacob Bethell was ruled out of The Hundred due to a knee issue sustained during the recent ODI series. The 22-year-old left-hander’s team, Birmingham Phoenix, will proceed without him, and an official statement from England’s cricket authorities confirmed he has begun rehabilitation but did not specify the expected duration of his recovery.

Smith also commented on recent developments in England cricket, expressing surprise over the international retirement of captain Ben Stokes and the departure of McCullum from his coaching role. He described the previous team environment as positive and supportive, crediting it for some of his most enjoyable moments as a cricketer, and noted that despite his current focus on The Hundred, these changes have been notable within the English cricket community.