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Oscar Coleman Joins the Academy
Today we shine the spotlight on our latest Academy player, Oscar Coleman.
The 16-year-old bowling all rounder attends Taunton School and plays his club cricket at Taunton Vale.
He explained how he became involved in the game.
“My parents are sports teachers so I’ve grown up with sport,” he said. “I started playing cricket when I was really young. I play cricket, football and hockey but cricket is the one I’ve enjoyed the most.
“I went for trials with the Somerset Under 10s and I managed to get selected and have been involved ever since.”
Oscar also talked about last season.
“I had a pretty successful year in 2023,” he said. “I was selected for the Bunbury Festival and I also got called up to play for Somerset Under 18s at the start of the season against Wales in a T20. I did a pretty good job and then stayed in the team for the rest of the season.
“I played in the Under 18 finals, but we lost to Warwickshire which was very disappointing. I think that there were only three of our team who were in the upper sixth, the rest of us were a lot younger, so we did well.
“My best score was 103 not out at Taunton School against Wellington. My best bowling was five for seven which was the season before last against Millfield. The whole school was watching which was really nice.
“I play my cricket at Taunton Vale and played one game for the First Team in the T20 Cup against Wembdon. Most of the time I played for the Seconds and Thirds and got a few half centuries, which was pretty decent.”
What is he hoping to gain from being involved with the Academy?
“I’m hoping that coming onto the Academy will help me to develop as a cricketer, and then maybe give me some chances to play for Somerset Seconds and see how I fare with that. I did get to play in one Second XI game last year against Gloucestershire at Rockhampton. There were quite a few First Team players involved with that game as well which was quite cool. It was a bit scary because I had to go out to bat after seeing Lewis Goldsworthy getting hit in the ribs by a ball. The bowling was a big step up from Under 15s cricket. It was a lot more accurate.
“I’m a seamer and I enjoy being able to open the bowling with the new ball. I was injured in 2022 so had to work really hard in the winter to get back. I wouldn’t have said that I was really fully fit, but this coming season I will be back to full fitness.
“I’m one of the youngest in the Academy so I have to face up to older bowlers and bowl against older batters, which is going to be a good experience and will help me out a lot as well.”
What is he hoping for in 2024?
“Maybe a few hundreds. A few five-fors would be nice too.”
