THREE talented young cricketers Ben Church, Oscar Coleman and Bertie Michael have taken the next step on their cricketing journey by being awarded a place on the Somerset Academy.

Ben Church is a right handed top order batter and wicket-keeper who hails from Bath where he attended Beechen Cliff School before moving to Taunton School last year.

Ben, who plays club cricket for Bath CC, enjoyed a successful 2023 the highlight of which was going to Sri Lanka in February and scoring an unbeaten century to help Somerset Under 18s beat Wales at Newport.

Oscar Coleman is a 16 year old bowling all rounder who attends Taunton School and plays his club cricket for Taunton. He has played up through the Somerset age groups and enjoyed a successful year in 2023, being selected for the Bunbury Festival and playing regularly for Somerset Under 18s.

His highest innings last year  was 103 not out for Taunton School against Wellington and made his debut for Somerset Seconds against Gloucestershire at Rockhampton.

This coming season 2024 Oscar is hoping to score a few hundreds and claim a few more five-fers.

Bertie Michael is a left handed top order batter who is 15 years old and is a pupil at King’s College, Taunton since joining in Year 9.

He plays his club cricket for Taunton Deane and since moving to King’s has played age group cricket for Somerset.

Bertie enjoyed a successful 2023 during which he went to the Bunbury Festival where he scored a 100 in his final innings. He was also part of the King’s Under 15 side that won the National T20 knock out cup at Arundel, scoring 65.

This coming season Bertie is hoping to get chosen for the Super 4s, play for Taunton Deane First XI and score lots of runs!