FORMER Somerset CCC player Paul Bail passed away suddenly on February 24, aged 58.

Paul was born in Burnham-on-Sea on June 23, 1965, into a cricketing family and between 1978 and 1984 attended Millfield School, IN Street, where his many natural sporting talents were nurtured and developed.

The top order right handed batter made his debut for Somerset Second XI in 1983 and the following season made 200 opening the innings against Lancashire at Preston.

Paul made his first team debut for Somerset against Yorkshire at the end of May in 1985, and retained his place for the following home game against Warwickshire in which Viv Richards scored 322 to set a new record for the county.

His career best for Somerset was 78 not out in the second innings against Kent at Canterbury in September 1985.

On leaving Millfield, Paul went onto Downing College, Cambridge where he studied for a degree in Economics, and represented his Varsity side at both cricket and football.

He gained blues at cricket in each of the first three years years, the high spot being the 174 against Oxford University and won football blues in two of the years, achieving the rare double of playing at both Lord’s and Wembley Stadium.

In total Paul played in seven first class matches for Somerset in which he averaged 22.90. He also played in 20 first class games for Cambridge in which he averaged 21.70.

Paul later went onto play Minor County Cricket for Wiltshire and after moving to London to pursue a career in the financial world enjoyed a very successful career playing for Richmond CC.

Vic Marks, who captained Somerset in all of the first class matches Paul played in, said: “I remember Paul Bail as a bright, charming young man and an elegant batsman from Burnham on Sea.”

He was also extremely bright. Educated at Millfield he was  a Cambridge University graduate with the scope to excel beyond the game of cricket. And that is what he did, leaving the club after a handful of games in 1985 and 1986.

As a young cricketer he may have been unfortunate to find himself playing in a side at a low ebb.

Curiously he is often remembered as evidence that the wicket upon which Viv Richards hit his triple century against Warwickshire at Taunton was initially a lively surface. Opening the batting he was forced to retire hurt, having been hit on the helmet.