Gareth Andrew's success gives pleasure to his coaches

Those Somerset supporters who were present at the County Ground recently and who were fortunate enough to see Gareth Andrew make his debut in the National Cricket league match against Durham Dynamos will be in no doubt that the young all rounder has a very promising future ahead of him.

What is particularly pleasing about the nineteen year old is that he is Somerset born and bred, and his talents have been nurtured through the age group teams by a succession of local coaches, none of whom will be surprised by what he has gone onto achieve and all of whom will be absolutely delighted for him.

Gareth hails from Bruton and it was whilst he was playing for the local cricket club that he came to the notice of the Somerset coaches.

Peter Robinson recalls that it was at the Under 11age group when he visited the indoor nets at the County Ground that he was first impressed by the young all rounder.

"It was his bowling that impressed me most, because you don't get many lads of that age who can send it down the way that he did. He has always looked like he could go on and produce good performances at the top level right from an early age."

Somerset Youth Development Officer Pete Sanderson first encountered Gareth when he was coaching the Under 13's team. "The way that he played against Durham is the way that he has always played his cricket, and right from the start he has always been a hard hitting striker of the ball, and it's no real surprise to me that he has made it at that level," Pete told me.

By the time that he was fifteen Gareth was playing for the Somerset Under 17's and scoring runs and taking wickets against boys who were two years older with considerable success.

When he left Ansford School at Castle Cary at the age of sixteen Gareth became part of the Somerset Academy, where Julian Wyatt was in charge. During his first year at the Academy he played for the Somerset Board XI and also appeared for Somerset Seconds.

After missing part of last season with an injury, Gareth spent three months after Christmas out in Australia and judging by the way that he has so played far this season this has obviously helped him considerably.

Gareth gave a good account of himself when he played for the first team in one of their pre season friendlies so it will have come as no great surprise to County Ground regulars when he was drafted in to make his debut for the Sabres against Durham.

Somerset coach Kevin Shine rates the youngster very highly and told me: "Gareth Andrew is a very talented young player. He is a three dimensional cricketer and is one for the future."

Gareth's successful debut is just the start of what everyone hopes will be a long and successful career for the Cidermen, and will no doubt act as an incentive for the large group of very talented young players who are currently part of the ECB Regional Academy at the County Ground, who will all now have their sights very firmly set on playing for Somerset.