Will Smith

Did you know Will Smith captained Alastair Cook? Yes, they attended the same school - Bedford School. Smith started his career with Bedfordshire before moving to Nottinghamshire in 2002. The right-hand batsman played three games in Nottighamshire's title winning campaign in 2005, but could not establish himself as a regular and hence moved back home to Durham - a place where he played seven seasons and also led the side to the Championship in 2009.

A preferred opening batsman, Smith can bat anywhere in the top six and his part-time off-spin has been more than handy for the county sides he has represented. When playing for Notts, Smith registered his maiden Championship hundred against Middlesex, but less playing time for a champion side meant he had to look elsewhere and that is when Durham came calling.

Smith turned up for Durham from 2007-2014 and during this time he was part of three Championship winning sides - 2008, 2009 and 2013. In the initial stages of his Durham career, Smith was a prolific scorer, 925 runs in 2008, over 700 runs in 2009 and though 2010 was a disastrous season, a year where he contemplated retiring, Smith returned in 2011 because of vacancy in the top-order due to injuries, to rack up close to 1000 runs.

His form started deteriorating from thereon and though he scored 509 runs in Durham's third title winning year in five years, he was released from the county side. Hampshire then came to his rescue by offering him a two-year contract and he immediately repaid them with his best county season - 1187 runs in 2014 at an average of 51.60.

Life at Hampshire also gave Smith more opportunities with the ball. His off-spin was used more effectively in the T20 format. In the 2014 edition of the T20 Blast, Smith accounted for 20 wickets and led his side to a fifth successive finals day. He was the sixth highest wicket-taker of the tournament.

The next couple of seasons saw Smith cementing himself in the Hampshire side. He only missed two games in the whole of 2015 season and also got his county cap, while in the next he went on to record his best first class score - 210 against Lancashire. Even though Hampshire survived relegation due to Durham's financial issues, Smith could not. He returned back to Durham.

One of the main reasons for Durham signing Smith was the experience he brings with him and also previously leading the county side. The first time he captained Durham, he took over the reins from Dale Benkenstein and also led Hampshire when James Vince was on the national duty.

Smith is also very passionate about horse racing and is already in the process of a career after cricket. He has been doing media work for the Racing UK television channel and is also National Hunt manager for Nick Bradley Racing. However, Smith reckons he has still plenty of cricket left in him.

"I have scored runs at the highest level, I've been scoring runs all year and I am still fit. When you look at Colly, Marcus Trescothick, Darren Stevens, all in their 40s, who's to say I can't have another five or six years playing the game?" he said after moving back to Durham.