SOMERSET Emerging Player Programme all rounder Theo Lamey will shortly be heading off on the trip of a lifetime when he flies out to Johannesburg, writes Richard Walsh.

He will be spending two months at St Stithians School as part of an exchange arranged by Kings College, Taunton where his is a pupil.

The 14 year old who is a top order batter and right arm bowler has been playing age group cricket for Somerset since the Under 7s. He now plays regularly for the Somerset Under 15s and has been on the Emerging Player Programme since he was 12. 

Theo has been involved with Taunton St Andrews juniors for a number of years but during the summer of 2023 he played his club cricket for Devon Premier League side Bradninch and Kentisbeare which is not too far away from where his family now live.

Playing against Sidmouth and batting at number five he scored 51 off 77 balls which included five 4s to help his side to victory.

It is thought that Theo who was still only 13 at the time could well be the youngest player to score 50 in the Devon Premier League, and is in good company because the two other youngest are Lewis Gregory and Ben Green who are both now established players at Somerset, who were 15 at the time.

Theo is a highly talented all round sportsman and in addition to cricket he plays county level hockey, squash, golf- off a handicap of 6, and tennis and is also part of the Bristol Bears rugby programme where he pays as a fly half. He loves all sports but cricket is his number one and his  ambition is to play cricket for Somerset and England.

The 14 year old will follow in the footsteps of the Rew and the Thomas brothers and Will Smeed who have all been part of the King’s College exchange so he is in good company.

Theo flies to South Africa on 10th January so will catch the second half of their domestic season and will be opening the batting for the St Stithians Under 16s, but wont be bowling as he is continuing with his rehab programme for a back injury.

This will provide Theo with a good few weeks of cricket out on the grass before he comes back for the start of the 2024 season in England.