FOR many of the Somerset young guns The Metro Bank One Day Cup Final will be the biggest day of their careers, but it will also be a very big occasion for Paul Tweddle, who has been the head coach of the 50-over side for the last four years.
Ahead of the final on Sunday, Paul said: “I’m ecstatic for the lads who have been involved because I think that they deserve the opportunity.
“They have played some really good cricket and it has been nice to be able to have seen them grow with the competition over a few years.
“Now, it's great to be in a position where we have the opportunity to win it.
“It’s been amazing to see the growth in the individuals and being able to largely keep the squad together through that time and watch their development has been brilliant.
“Most of the guys who are playing in the 50-over competition – people like James Rew and George Thomas and Alfie Ogborne – have all made their Somerset debuts in this competition.”
There seems to be a real togetherness among the players in the 50 over team.
“They are a very close knit group because they have grown up and played a lot of their cricket together across several years, so they are really close and have grown together more as they have played,” said Paul.
“Now, to have someone like Jack Leach come into the side and fit in so well and add what he does to the group has been amazing.
“Jack and Sean Dickson are the senior players in the team, and Josh Davey is also available for the final of the competition, which has been huge for the lads to have that level of support and to play alongside them.”
What does it mean personally to the coach?
Paul said: “I couldn’t be prouder that we have gone on this journey together which has been my first step into being a head coach.
“The staff who have been involved have been amazing and have offered so much support over the few years we have been doing this competition.
“As a coach, you hang your hat on developing people and developing players and getting them better and this is an example of their development over a number of years.
“I feel a huge amount of pride to have been able to take this group on their journey and now be in with a chance to win some silverware at the end of it.
“This is only the start of it for these guys because they are hungry for first-team cricket and want to play as much as they can, so its largely just the start of their careers.
“You have got a few guys who have played more cricket but as a group and as a nucleus of a side they have got a huge amount of cricket to play for Somerset moving forwards across all formats.”
The head coach added: “Over the next few years, the 50-over side will continue to grow and adding in new players. Hopefully, we will be able to keep the strength that we currently have in the side, despite losing the players we do to the The Hundred.”
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