IT WAS great to find out I am one of six players on the shortlist for the LV=Breakthrough Player Award for my performances in the County Championship this season.

The panel included Jason Gillespie, Mark Butcher and David Parsons and it is nice to think that people like that view me as a good young player coming through.

Obviously my first year was a big breakthrough but this has also felt like a breakthrough year in terms of being more consistent and taking on a bit more responsibility in the bowling group with senior players like Will Gidman and Ian Saxelby not around any more.

One of our big focuses this year has been on bowling in partnerships and building pressure as an attack. We have all tried to support each other and it has been a massive help having Liam (Norwell), Payney (David Payne), Foz (James Fuller) and Matty (Matt Taylor) at the other end.

I have been lucky enough to be involved in the England Development Programme over the last two years and that has definitely helped me progress. I would love to progress into a Lions Squad and eventually play for England but I don’t set any goals I just try to keep focusing on doing my job and trying to win games for Gloucestershire.

Richard Dawson and Ian Harvey have also been a big help, Daws with his energy and keeping things simple and Harv with his knowledge on the game.

It’s been a tough few days having played on Friday night in the T20 in Bristol then travelling to London and playing a Championship game the next day before another T20 on Wednesday.

Because we lost in three days we have more of a chance to recover and I think moving into another T20 will freshen us up, too.

A few of us, me, Jack (Taylor), Liam and Tav (Will Tavare) are heading over to Wimbledon to see if we can get in. We don’t think we have much of a chance but it will be nice to try and soak up some of the atmosphere.