Taunton School student Ollie Heard is the latest Academy signing to be unveiled by Somerset County Cricket Club.

A right-arm fast bowler, Heard plays his club cricket for Taunton St Andrews and has progressed through the EPP system and the Potential Somerset Player Programme.

Heard moved to Taunton at the age of seven and was snapped up by the club’s pathway system within a year. His rise to the Under-18s is a massive credit to both the coaches and his own dedication to reach this stage. Not to mention the Heard family and friends, who no doubt have racked up some serious miles already in his fledgling cricket career.

Heard told the Somerset CCC website: “Being part of the Somerset EPP and PSP has helped me so much and has allowed me to improve my game in every facet. I’ve worked a great deal with Andrew Griffiths and he has helped me to improve my bowling massively and enabled me to get into the position that I am today.

“I got selected for the Super 4s, which was a goal for last season and that was a great experience. Now I’m hoping to get selected for the England Young Lions squad.

“Now that I’m on the Academy, I’m hoping that I will get more contact time here compared to the PSPP plus there will be more time in the gym and more help with my bowling and fielding. That will hopefully raise my levels to enable me to become a professional cricketer. I’m here for two nights a week for gym work, fielding, batting and bowling sessions and then at school I have a few batting sessions as well where I work with Pete Sanderson and Marcus Trescothick.

“Being part of the Somerset EPP and PSP has helped me so much and has allowed me to improve my game in every facet. I’ve worked a great deal with Andrew Griffiths and he has helped me to improve my bowling massively and enabled me to get into the position that I am today.

“I got selected for the Super 4s, which was a goal for last season and that was a great experience. Now I’m hoping to get selected for the England Young Lions squad.

“Now that I’m on the Academy, I’m hoping that I will get more contact time here compared to the PSPP plus there will be more time in the gym and more help with my bowling and fielding. That will hopefully raise my levels to enable me to become a professional cricketer. I’m here for two nights a week for gym work, fielding, batting and bowling sessions and then at school I have a few batting sessions as well where I work with Pete Sanderson and Marcus Trescothick.”

All Somerset CCC supporters wish Ollie and everyone in the Academy the very best over the next year. There’s nothing like seeing one of our own rise through the ranks.