The career of a young wrist-spinner can be a daunting one - especially with the short boundaries and batting-friendly surfaces at Taunton - but Max Waller has gained a reputation as something of a T20 specialist and, as of the end of 2016 was Somerset's second highest wicket taker in the history of the format.

Waller developed through the Somerset youth ranks and attended Millfield School where he eventually captained the first XI. He played a few games for Somerset's 2nd XI in 2007 and impressed enough to earn his first professional contract.

He broke into the Somerset first team in 2009, making his first-class debut at Hove and playing four Championship matches that season. He was rewarded with a new two-year contract and spent the winter of 2009-10 on the ECB Performance Programme. He attended Bournemouth University and combined his studies with working part time at a local golf club.

In one-day cricket his opportunities have been greater, particularly in Twenty20 where he has a good record, took 4 for 16 against Warwickshire at Taunton in 2012 and is an excellent fielder. Throughout it all, he has retained a youthful countenance, so much so that, at 25, he recorded on Twitter that he was "left spewing" when he was refused the purchase of a 15-certificate video until he could show some ID.

With first-class opportunities largely absent at Somerset, Waller turned to Dorset and became their senior professional for the 2016 season, fulfilling that responsibility alongside his T20 exploits for Somerset.

ESPNcricinfo staff