PRIOR to last week’s LV County Championship clash between Somerset and Warwickshire, Tom Cooper had taken just 11 first class wickets in 65 matches – so a career best 5-56 to help bowl Somerset to victory on the last afternoon would have come as surprise to most people, including the man himself.

The part-time bowler had sent down just 47 overs this season and taken one wicket for 150 runs – and a modest Cooper said his wickets were down to a spin-friendly pitch.

He said: “To be honest I don’t think I had to do much with that hole that there was in the wicket.

“I think the praise should go to Jack Leach who made it turn and spin off the good part of the wicket.

“After Keith Barker dug that hole for the off-spinners it was just a case of firing it in there and hoping for the best.”

Cooper also took the winning catch to remove Oliver Hannon-Dalby off the bowling of Jack Leach, about which he said: “I didn’t think it was going to get close to me for a second there, but it’s nice to take that catch off Leachy and get 11 wickets for him in the match, which is very well deserved and shows all the potential he has.

Reflecting on his season, Cooper said: “My time here has been very enjoyable and it’s a shame I haven’t scored a few more runs.

“They are a great bunch of guys and there are a lot of positives going into the future.”

ALL-rounder Lewis Gregory says he feels ‘privileged’ to have been called up to the England Lions squad to play against Pakistan A in a T20 series in UAE.

The 23 year-old said: “It was great to get the phone call to say that I was going to be involved with the Lions side in the T20 before Christmas and I feel very privileged to be called up.

“I am really excited to get going and see what impact I can make.

“I am also involved with the EPP batting and spin camp so that will be a good three and a half weeks to work on my game.

“This summer my batting hasn’t been as good as I would like but I have been working hard on it and making good progress in the nets with some technical work that will stand me in good stead going forward.

“This is another great opportunity to work with some quality coaches and move my batting forward before the T20 games against Pakistan A.”

“The batting camp starts mid November for about two and half weeks followed by two weeks of T20 so that’s something I am really looking forward to this winter.”