Somerset Sabres are set to blood seventeen year old Michael Parsons in the day night match against Leicester Foxes at Grace Road this evening.

Fast bowler Parsons who will celebrate his eighteenth birthday in October has just completed his first year at the Academy in Taunton where he has made quite an impression for himself.

During this season he has played several times for Somerset Second Eleven, played for the Somerset Board Eleven and been a key member of the ECB Trophy winning Somerset Under 19's side.

Clearly delighted by his selection to play he told me earlier this morning: "I felt a bit nervous when I received the phone call to tell me that I was playing.It was a bit of a shock, but obviously I'm excited and really looking forward to the experience of playing in the first team and soaking up the atmosphere."

Parsons was born and brought up in Taunton and attended Ladymead School before moving onto Richard Huish College. Originally he played club cricket for Staplegrove in Taunton, but earlier this season joined Wembdon Cricket Club in Bridgwater.

Certainly the coaching staff at Somerset rate Parsons highly. First team coach Kevin Shine told me: "Having worked alongside the Academy boys during last winter I have seen a lot of Michael and have every confidence in him to go out and do a job for us."

Assistant coach Mark Garaway who is also the Director of the Academy at Taunton told me: "I am very pleased for him, and he thoroughly deserves a chance after putting in a number of excellent performances. One of his biggest strengths is the ability to remain unphased by challenging situations so we are confident that he will play well."

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