Former King's College pupil Tom Webley is making quite a name for himself "down under" this winter.

Tom, who had an impressive career as a schoolboy at King's College in Taunton, where he played a major part in helping the first team to remain unbeaten in 2001, is spending the winter in the sunshine in Western Australia.

Last summer Tom played twice for Somerset Second Eleven and also appeared in a number of matches for the county at Under 19's, where, "He put in some steady performances with both bat and ball," the team coach Peter Robinson told me.

Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson said, "The club have had some very pleasing news about junior player Tom Webley, who has of his own volition gone out to Perth where he has forced his way into Grade cricket."

Mr Anderson continued, "He started playing for South Perth 3rd XI, was then selected for the 2nd XI, and is now playing in the first team along with the likes of Test star Damian Martyn and other senior Aussie players."

Tom Webley's performances have impressed Mark Garaway, the new Somerset Second Eleven Coach, who already knew of the youngsters ability through his former role as Cricket Development Officer with Hampshire because of his performances for Bournemouth Cricket Club.

Somerset coach Kevin Shine said, "This is the kind of thing that we like to see, young players exhibiting character and challenging themselves."

When former Somerset favourite Dennis Breakwell, who coached Tom at King's College heard the news he told me, "For him to go over there and do well at his age is absolutelty brilliant. I'm really delighted for him."

© SOMERSET