TOM Fell is determined to be part of a bright new future at Worcestershire.
Having dropped out of university to sign a two-year deal at New Road earlier this summer, the 19-year-old academy graduate is intent on making the most of his opportunity.
It has been a learning curve for the batsman so far as he adjusts to the world of regular first team cricket for Steve Rhodes’ side.
He demonstrated his potential with an unbeaten 62 in the second innings against Australia in July as well as 94 not out in the rain-ruined LV=County Championship Division Two match against Kent earlier this month.
But Fell was also out for a duck in the YB40 victory at Warwickshire and run out when on 43 in the nine-wicket Division Two defeat to Lancashire last week.
However, he feels he is improving all the time and is looking forward to more time in the middle with the County.
“It’s going pretty well at the moment, I’m feeling in good nick,” Fell said. “I was disappointed to run myself out in the first innings against Lancashire for 43 but things are going well and hopefully that will carry on.
“We’ve just got to take it game by game and the target is to win every game from here on in. Hopefully we can go away to Leicestershire this week and get a good result there.
“Playing first-team cricket, you can only learn, especially as a young player.
“The more you play the more experience you get and the more you learn from top players, playing with and against, so it can only be a good thing.”
One of those is Moeen Ali, whose exploits with bat and ball for Worcestershire have earned him a call-up by the England Lions.
“I think he’s just an absolutely fantastic player and is a really good example of how to bat long and get big runs as he’s proved all year,” Fell added.
“He’s a great person to have in the dressing room to learn the way he goes about things.”
Fell, who is also heading to Adelaide to link up with the Darren Lehmann Academy this winter, is one of a raft of youngsters currently plying their trade at New Road.
Matt Pardoe, Joe Leach, Ben Cox, Brett D’Oliveira and Charlie Morris have all been thrust into the spotlight this summer and, although results have been mixed to say the least, Fell sees plenty of positives.
He said: “There’s a lot of good youngsters coming through from the second team and even in the first team at the moment so the future’s got to look good for Worcestershire, which is nice to see.
“Once the experienced players are gone it’s always good to see youngsters who can come through and fill their boots.
“They are big boots to fill but, having the academy and second team doing so well, it’s something that can definitely happen in the future.”
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