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The Hundred 2023: Birmingham Phoenix all-rounder Benny Howell on how ADHD affects his game

Benny Howell celebrates taking a wicket with Birmingham Phoenix captain Moeen aliGetty Images

Benny Howell (left) has taken 27 wickets across the three seasons of The Hundred for Birmingham Phoenix

By Nick Ransom
Neurodiversity journalist

The Hundred: Birmingham Phoenix v London Spirit

Venue: Edgbaston Date: 24 August Times: 15:00 BST (women) & 18:30 BST (men)

Coverage: Ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, with the BBC Sport website and app having live text updates and in-play video clips alongside the commentary.

All-rounder Benny Howell spent his childhood "mucking around", both in cricket nets and, sometimes he its, in the classroom.

In many ways, it is what's served him so well. That early fascination with the spin and movement of a ball has meant, nowadays, we see him lining up for Hampshire and Birmingham Phoenix.

A lot of cricket fans see Howell as a talented player who has competed around the world, taking seven wickets in this year's Hundred, but he is also not shy about being neurodivergent or "thinking differently".

He was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a child, something he says made him "the weird kid" that was "constantly in trouble" trying to fit in.

These days, Howell "thrives" on being different and, like others, he does not see it as a disorder, just a different wiring in the brain.

One in five people are neurodivergent, a term which celebrates those who are autistic, dyslexic, dyspraxic, have ADHD or another way of thinking.

Of course, you never grow out of it. Concentration is still something that Howell has to battle and it is also one of the reasons Test and red-ball cricket has never appealed to him, mainly because of its repetitiveness.

"I found it challenging a lot of the time," its the 34-year-old. "I like to be creative and do lots of different things, especially with my bowling. Also, the concentration levels with my batting sometimes, I would get a little bored and that would have an effect. I'd make a bad decision and get out."

It is this lack of concentration those with ADHD are known for but, while there are challenges, there are many positives to this constant need for stimulation. It leads to new ideas and out-of-the-box thinking.

After watching a baseball match in the United States, Howell impulsively went to give the sport a go in Australia during the off-season and learnt various types of deliveries.

It resulted in his introducing a 'knuckleball' to his bowling repertoire.

"I became obsessed with pitchers and baseball. I ended up thinking, 'well, why can't I bring that into cricket">