TOM Abell, who scored over 700 championship runs at an average of 36.30 in his first full season with Somerset in 2015, has just returned from five months playing Grade cricket for Fremantle in Western Australia.

“I enjoyed my time in Australia and did quite well, although the first part of my time out there was probably better than the second. In terms of experience and what I have gained from my five months out there I couldn’t have asked for more,” he said. “I think being away from home for five months and having to look after myself has toughened me up. As a Pom out there the Aussies love to get stuck into you so from that point of view I have grown up as a player as well which has hopefully stood me in good stead going into 2016.”

Abell also enjoyed some success with his bowling and picked up a couple of five wicket hauls.

“I wanted to work on my bowling when I was out in Australia and had as couple of decent games with the ball. But of course my priority is still my batting. However it’s another string to my bow and it won’t hurt to have done some work on it.”

This year the Taunton boy will be batting alongside Marcus Trescothick and new championship skipper Chris Rogers, both vastly experienced international cricketers, so what did the 22 year old think about that?

“As a young top order batsman I probably couldn’t have asked to have been among a better group of players with Hildy (James Hildreth) coming in at four as well. I am hopefully opening the batting with Tres and trying to learn off Chris Rogers so I am just looking forward to that experience.

What was Abell hoping for this season? “I was fairly happy with the way that things went last year but I need to back it up this season and take my game on another step. I would like to be a little more consistent than perhaps I was last year when I was a bit up and down.

“Early season is going to be tough but we are quietly confident in our own abilities as a team and yes we want to be getting off to a good start – that’s the main thing and where our focus is.”