Articles
Tom Abell - Somerset Captain
Tom Abell named as Captain for Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club have named 22 year old University of Exeter graduate Tom Abell (Combined Honors 2015) as Captain for the 2017 first class cricket season. Tom signed a full time contract with Somerset after graduating and was a cricket scholar at the University.
Tom was earmarked from a young age as a player with huge potential, growing up in Taunton and progressing through the Somerset Academy, successfully applying for a cricket sports scholarship whilst studying. He also continued to to work with Somerset County Cricket Club throughout his studies, making his Somerset 2nd X1 debut in 2010, with the firm ambition to play professionally. Tom has gone from strength to strength and appreciated the support given to him through the High Performance Programme;
“Being a scholar has also given me the chance to take full advantage of links with Somerset, and I have been hugely grateful for all the help and support I have received in enabling me to meet my Exeter and Somerset commitments” (speaking in 2016).
In his breakthrough season after graduating in 2015 Tom won the highly coveted LV= Breakthrough Player Award for his fine performances for Somerset, many of his efforts were whilst opening the batting with former England International Marcus Trescothick. He scored his maiden first-class century as well as amassing an incredible 725 runs at an average of 38.16. Previous winners of the award include the highly talented Joe Root (2012), Rory Burns (2013) and Alex Lees (2014). Tom is currently in Australia furthering his cricket ambitions and experience and hopes to drive Somerset on further with his dynamic performances.
Tom spoke to the Somerset County Cricket Club website about his appointment as captain,
"I feel hugely privileged and humbled. To follow on from some of the previous captains of the club who are listed on the honours board in the pavilion is an incredible feeling...."
The University of Exeter wishes Tom all the very best for the 2017 season and beyond.
The University of Exeter runs both a men's and women's cricket club. The men's 1st team compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Premier A Division and the women's 1st team compete in the BUCS Premier South Division. The men's club run three other teams competing in BUCS leagues and a captains X1. Both the men's and women's teams also enter the annual winter indoor league competition. Coaches are assigned to all teams entered into BUCS competitions.
Date: 16 January 2017