Lola raring to go ahead of the new season
Lola Harris is looking forward to giving cricket all of her attention this summer.
Exams meant that that the 19-year-old spinner was unable to represent the Club last year but she’s raring to go ahead of the 2026 campaign.
We sat down with her at the Cooper Associates County Ground this week and started off by asking how she felt about her first year as a professional cricketer.
“It was definitely pretty cool,” she said. “I’ve been playing for Somerset since I was nine, so for me, it was a really proud moment to be a professional at the club I’ve grown up playing for. I really enjoyed it. It was quite a big step up, but I feel like I embraced the challenge quite well. It’s such a positive environment and I feel like everyone welcomed me really nicely.”
How difficult was it to balance your first year as a professional with your academic studies?
“I found it quite difficult at times because I wanted to give my all to both aspects, but I’m just really excited now. I can fully focus on cricket this year and living in Taunton now has been a game changer. I can now constantly be in the environment, and it just feels like I can give it my all fully.
“Just being in here every day is something I’ve never done before. I’m training every single day with the team, and I feel really excited to get going for the season.”
Was it daunting to walk into the dressing room for the first time as a pro last year?
“I’ve been around it for so many years and I’ve grown up playing with a lot of the girls, so it was really easy. It’s such a positive environment, like I said, and everyone was really welcoming, so I found it quite easy.”
What are you hoping to achieve this year?
“I want to really establish my role in the team and really contribute to hopefully a successful season. I’d like my individual performances to help my team. I obviously didn’t do that as much last year as I’d hoped, so I’m really looking forward to trying to actually play and get on the pitch and help out the team everywhere I can.”
How welcoming have the Club and the men’s team been?
“It’s strange because at the start I sort of felt a bit starstruck! Now it’s so nice, and the integration has been really good. They’re always so open, friendly and nice to have a chat with.”
What does it mean to you to be part of this group that is essentially establishing what it means to be a professional cricketer for Somerset?
“It’s amazing. It’s so different to anything I’ve ever experienced before, even with Weston Storm. It’s really professional and I’m really enjoying it.”
What’s the winter been like for you so far?
“It’s been so good. I’ve really enjoyed the winter. I’ve been working really hard especially on getting stronger and faster and I feel like that’s translated into my cricket very well already.
“I’ve just been to Sri Lanka with the Academy which was great. It was incredible and I learned so much from the two weeks I was there. It was great learning to bowl in the conditions, and it was tough physically. I think I’ve physically got so much better just from the heat! It was good to learn from the boys as well, and I had some really valuable conversations with them.”
Are you looking forward to the preseason tour?
“Absolutely. I think it’ll be so valuable. I think we’re already a really close-knit group but we’ve all been to various different places over the winter so it’ll be so nice to have a substantial amount of time just bonding as a team.”
