After an excellent breakout year in 2024, Archie Vaughan is setting his sights on becoming a genuine allrounder for Somerset in 2025.
He broke into the first-class cricket side this season, helping Somerset to compete on three fronts as the Cidermen reached the finals day of the Vitality Blast, the final of the Metro Bank Cup and finished second in the County Championship.
Speaking to the club’s media, Archie said making hid first-class debut was ‘special’ and that since the end of the season, it has been nice to see the family and play golf since the season ended.
He said he could not have imagined the season would have gone quite as well as it did for him.
He added: “I can’t quite believe – reflecting on the end of the season – what I’ve gone on to achieve so I’m very grateful to get so many opportunities at a high level and to perform well is always nice.
“I don’t know how to describe the trajectory of how its all come about but to get the opportunities – firstly in the Metro Bank – was a great insight into what first team cricket is about and then to get the call-up to play first class cricket and then contribute with the ball is quite surprising.
“But I worked quite hard over the winter, so to get that opportunity on a friendly wicket for spinners was great and to bowl alongside Leachy (Jack Leach).”
Nearly 12 months ago, Archie toured with Somerset in their winter camps. He said it was ‘huge’ to allow him to get to know the team.
“it’s just what you need before the start of the season.”
He said he isn’t sure what his best position in the order is, adding: “I’ve always been a batter who can bowl a bit. I’ve never really considered myself as a genuine allrounder but that’s the thing I want to get to, definitely.
“I’ve got a lot of stuff to work on with both the bat and the ball but I’ll keep trying to get better at both.”
The former Millfield Academy student said that he started bowling ‘out of boredom’ during Covid-19 lockdowns and eventually transitioned to bowling spin at his local club.
Archie said his transition from second XI cricket to the first team was made easier by how welcoming the players were.
“In the second team, I played with the likes of Rewy (James Rew) and Casey and all these players and a few of the younger lads and Somerset is one of those teams where I feel like you could just walk in and perform straight away,” said Archie.
He said that in 2025 he just wants to ‘keep playing lots of cricket’.
