Alfie Ogborne on Somerset's One Day Cup final preparations

The 21-year-old left arm bowler started cricket with his local village club Sparkford, before moving to join North Perrott where he helped the team to get to the semi final of The Cricketer Village Cup in 2020.

The paceman then moved to join Bridgwater in 2022 and it was on the strength of his impressive returns for the WEPL Premier One side that got him a run in the Somerset Second XI side later that year.

Alfie made his List A debut in the 50 over competition in August 2022 and his championship debut in July 2023 against Hampshire.

He missed out on the Metro Bank Cup that summer because of injury but this summer he has played in six of the matches and taken eight wickets at an average of 27.80.

In addition, Alfie has recently been out on loan to Kent where he has played two championship matches.

Looking ahead to the Trent Bridge final Alfie said: “It's a massive privilege to be playing in the Metro Bank One Day Cup Final this year.

“We are not too bothered about who we are playing and where it is because for this team all that matters to us is being able to represent Somerset on such a big occasion.

“As young players we are all a year older this year and I think we are all just that little bit wiser so we haven’t thought much about who we are playing against.

“Ahead of the final we are all very calm and this is just another match. We love playing together as a team so it's really exciting.”

After travelling to watch the Vitality Blast Finals on Saturday, the young bowler said: “It's hard to watch the boys lose and thoughts of the quadruple were there, having us won the Seconds T20 cup, but if anything that motivates us a little bit more. 

“Only four lads in the T20 side that played at Edgbaston are in the Metro Bank Final squad so there will be several new faces. We are all still really excited, feel confident and we are really keen, but it still hurts to lose yesterday.

“However, we are now excited for the next two weeks and we have got the county championship to look forward to and the Metro Bank Final so there are exciting things ahead of us.

“It’s quite scary to think where I have got to over the last two years and now to think I am sharing the field with players like Jack Leach every week. It really is quite unbelievable when I think about it.

“One thing that has helped me is not thinking about it too much and valuing myself and being out on that pitch for a reason. When I start to look back too much it can be a bit daunting and you ask whether you are in the right place or not.”

Alfie went on: “What’s in our mindset at Somerset this year is that we are the biggest and best club in the country at the moment and every single player is able to compete with every single player on the circuit and you can see that it the way that we have performed.

“It’s rubbed off quite nicely for me with taking the new ball in the 50 over cup all year and I’m quite happy with how I’ve gone.”

Alfie also talked about the people who have played such a large part in helping him in his career.

“My mum and dad will be there at Trent Bridge to watch and to win a trophy for Somerset is a dream in itself but I think from where I am, it's repaying my family for all the hard work they have put in and all the support they have given me over the years in helping me to get to where I am in my cricket.

“This dream of mine that I am pursuing is just as much theirs as it is mine so I’m very grateful and wouldn’t have it any other way than to have them watching. 

“Hopefully a lot of people from Bridgwater, North Perrott and Sparkford and my other family members will be there or at least watching and cheering us one because I think in cricket the people that you meet and the people you play with are in my opinion are just as if not the most important thing as to why you do well and why you play.”

Alfie added: “So regardless of whether we bring that trophy back or not they have been a huge part of my success personally and I'm very grateful for that.”