SOMERSET’S young all rounder Josh Thomas has made a great start to the season and in the two Second XI matches that he has played to date, he has hit his career best score and followed up with a half century in the second.

Last week in the Seconds fixture against Essex at Colchester the 20 year old, who is a left handed batter and slow left arm bowler, hit a career best 157; then in the game against Middlesex at Taunton Vale he made 55 in the first innings.

The local boy learnt his cricket at Taunton St Andrews and played up through the county age groups before joining the Somerset Academy from where he signed his first contract in 2023.

“I’m feeling good about my cricket,” he said “I spent the winter in Western Australia playing for a team called Pinjara near Perth which was a great place. I felt that it went well for me with both bat and ball and I’d love to head back there in the future.

“I had a really good start to the season for them with a couple of hundreds and it also went well with the ball. It was good to get my 10 overs in every weekend, because I want to carry on with my bowling.

“We reached the T20 Finals, which we sadly lost in the end so I asked if I could stay a bit longer than planned.”

How did Josh cope with being away from home and living on his own? “It was always going to be tough - it makes you realise how good it is at home!

“I spent a lot of time on my own which has made me much more organised, which is going to help me in all aspects of life and in my cricket as well.”

He went on: “ I opened the batting out in Australia in the 50 over white ball competition which is where I want to bat so I have started opening the batting in red ball here.

“I have enjoyed success with my batting early on this season but I definitely want to carry on with my bowling because I know I have got something there.”

What have been some of the factors that have helped him enjoy his early season success? “I guess it’s about just how hungry I am for runs, and a desire to score and be a bit more selfish. Obviously we are so strong at Somerset that it’s going to be hard to get into the first team with just one century so I’m going to need a few more so just need to keep on scoring the runs. I’m feeling good at the moment and feel like I know my game a lot more this year.

“I need to keep working hard and being hungry for runs.” Looking ahead to the season Josh said: “I don’t want to look too far ahead ;I just want to try and keep on scoring as many runs as I can in the Seconds. I hope to get into the squad for the One Day Cup - last year when I did play I felt I could impact the game a bit more because I had a bit more experience- so I’m looking forward to the campaign.”