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SOMERSET batsman–wicket keeper Alex Barrow is spending his off-season competing in New Zealand for reigning club champions Cornwall CC in Auckland.
The 23 year old had a disappointing start to the 2015 season but came back strongly to play in all six 50-over competition games as well as scoring heavily for the 2nd XI.
Barrow played in the Devon Premier Division for Exeter, averaging exactly 49 from seven trips to the middle.
Cornwall CC has a great history, having produced a number of international players including Martin Crowe, who played for Somerset during the 1980s.
‘I’ve been happy with my cricket since I’ve arrived and in the two-day competition I’ve scored 44 and 89 in the two matches,’ said Barrow.
‘I should have made that into a big 100 as I had a long time to bat on the day.
‘However I’m pleased with the way I’m going and pleased the changes I made after a bad start last year.’
The youngster from Frome, who completed his education at King’s College, Taunton has yet to make is debut in the short form of the game, but is in a positive mood following his success in New Zealand.
‘My form in the twenty20 has been good,’ said Barrow. ‘I’ve scored more than 150 runs in four games averaging over 50 with a strike rate of over 140, which has been great for me, experimenting and finding new ways to play strong shots.’
But not everything has gone Barrow’s way after suffering a minor back injury before the festive period.
In addition to playing Barrow is also giving up his time to coach young players at his club.
‘I’m also providing one-to-one sessions as well as helping out the junior teams,’ he said.
‘The club has 1,500 junior players which is probably the biggest in Australasia.
‘I'm also helping run the summer holiday clinics, ranging from five to 15-year-olds. All of it has been good fun and I have met some really good people through that.
‘It was great that a few of the New Zealand players came in to our clinic the other day to surprise the kids.
‘Needless to say they loved it and they had a game of indoor cricket with them and took photos afterwards.’
Despite being half way around the world, Barrow still keeps in touch with his Somerset team-mates, wherever they may be.
‘Somerset players seem to be spread right across the world but we have got our ‘WhatsApp’ group so you’re never far from a Trego joke on there and I’ve chatted to a few guys about their time away too,’ said Barrow.
‘As always the season comes around pretty quickly. It will be nice coming into pre-season having spent three months playing over here.
‘For now my focus is on scoring more runs at Cornwall and developing my skills as a player and as a coach and other aspects that I’m trying to develop.’