FORMER Somerset CCC Academy youngster Sam Underdown, who is in his first year at Loughborough University, is back for the festive season and is spending as much time as he can at the County Ground, Taunton, writes Richard Walsh.

The top order left handed batsman, who lives near Wellington, said: “It’s been a busy few weeks at university so it’s good to take a break and come back to spend some time at the County Ground with the lads who are here.

“The training regime here at Somerset is pretty tough and we are in early mornings and it’s a lot of commitment but it’s been very rewarding so far for me, so it’s pretty full on.”

Sam also talked about his regime at university. “Up at Loughborough the training is pretty hard as well. They try to follow the way that first class counties approach it so I have been kept pretty busy in terms of cricket and fitness training as I would be if I was down at the County Ground.”

He went on: “When I finished my time on the Academy I was awarded a Somerset Scholarship which I was delighted about. It means that I can carry on with my studies but when I come back I can play for the Seconds, train as if I was a full time member of the club that hopefully might lead onto something for me in the future.”

Reflecting on the past season he added:“Last summer at times for me was a bit disappointing and it didn’t help that I got an early injury which left me behind a little bit.

“However I had some good performances and I have learned a lot over the latter part of the summer that I can bring into this winter and hopefully improve upon next season.”

For the start of the 2016 Sam will be playing cricket for Loughborough MCCU about which he said: “We have already found out our first class fixtures and they start after our tour to Trinidad at the end of March.

“I think the trip will be a mixture of training and some matches so I’m really looking forward to going out there because I have never been to the West Indies. It will be a new experience and a fantastic way to put the finishing touches to my pre-season.

“We are straight into it after that and have got two months of playing university cricket which will be a good challenge and I am looking forward to it.”

Looking to next season with Somerset, Sam said: “The 2016 season isn’t far away and for me it will be a really full on summer because by the time that I come back here I will have already played three or four months of cricket, that will hopefully set me up for the July to September fixtures.”