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Tom looking to build on 2024
Tom Abell is about to start his 12th season for Somerset and is hoping to continue his good form of 2024.
Despite missing the first part of the last campaign through injury he scored 657 runs with three centuries including a career best 152 not out at an average of over 50.
We sat down with the 31-year-old to get his thoughts ahead of the new season and to look back on 2024.
“Of course, I was gutted to be injured at the start of last year because I felt like I was ready to go,” he explained. “Then I had to sit out for six or seven weeks.
“However, I was fortunate enough to be part of the group as we pushed for the Championship title. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our year, but we are certainly coming back this season hoping to be in a similar position come September.
“It’s no secret that Championship cricket is a huge deal here and we place a lot of pride and emphasis on performing well in the competition. Last year was brilliant and our best year in red ball cricket for a long time and that’s reinvigorated the energy and passion within the group to keep ourselves at the top.
“Last year we enjoyed our cricket and we were competing and winning against top teams and that’s where we want to be. I don’t see any reason why we can’t be in that same position come the end of the season.”
Tom stepped down from the captaincy after the 2023 season, so how different was it approaching the season without that responsibility?
“Captaincy is a completely different role,” he said. “You have to think about the whole group, about teams and every single person within every decision you make. There are so many aspects that you have to consider, whereas now I’m back amongst the group as a player.
“There are elements of captaincy that I have enjoyed, and I miss but equally it’s great to be back part of the group and having a bit more focus on myself and my own game. It’s always been the case that I want to lead from the front with the bat and now I have a little more time to work on the things that I want to work on in my game.”
Does Tom still hold aspirations to play for England?
“Absolutely. That’s never going to diminish. Things are always changing, but the desire is certainly still there. I just want play well, that’s my focus. I hope that leads to the next stage but all I can control is how I go about things and how I perform for Somerset.”
