Fast bowler Simon Francis is the hew `Hero of the Week' following his career best 5 for 73 against Warwickshire in the county championship match that finished at the County Ground over the weekend.

Twenty four year old Simon joined Somerset at the end of last season after being released by Hampshire where he had been on the playing staff since 1997.

Simon moved to the west country in the autumn and during the winter has worked hard at all aspects of his game, the reward for which is just starting to come to fruition after his fantastic run out in the Cheltenham and Gloucester semi final, and now he has taken his first five wicket haul.

Simon was born in Kent where he spent his early years, but then moved to Southampton. He attended Durham University where he played for British Universities for two seasons, in 1998 and 1999.

I caught up with Simon just after he left the field at the end of the Warwickshire match, and he gave me the following answers to the hero questions.

Q1 What sports do you enjoy apart from cricket?
A I enjoy playing hockey and appeared for England at Under 18 level.

Q2 Who was your idol when you were young?
A My two heroes have always been Ian Botham and fast bowler Malcolm Marshall, both great players.

Q3 Who is your favourite pop star or band?
A The Dave Matthews Band.

Q4 What do you do in your spare time?
A I don't seem to have had too much spare time this season thankfully, but if I do get any I try to relax or catch up on my sleep.

Q5 Where did you go to school, and when did you start to play cricket?
A I went to school at Yardley Court at Tonbridge where I started to play cricket, and then went to King Edward VI School in Southampton.

Q6 What is your favourite food?
A They tell me that I cook a pretty mean spaghetti bolognaise!

Q7 What has been your most memorable match for Somerset?
A The Cheltenham and Gloucester semi final against Kent when I came onto the field late in the game as a substitute fielder for Richard Johnson and got that run out!

Q9 Apart from the County Ground at Taunton, which is your favourite cricket ground and why?
A Lord's Cricket Ground, although I have never played there, where I hope that we will beat Yorkshire next weekend.

Q10 What are your cricketing ambitions?
A To play for England and help to win back the Ashes, and also to score a first class hundred.

Thank you Simon for giving us the time to answer the questions, and we all wish you every success in achieving your ambitions in the not too distant future.

© SOMERSET