JAMES Hildreth has always been one to make the most of the winter time and the last few closed seasons he has completed a degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University, writes Richard Walsh. 

This winter, however, the stylish right-handed batsman who was the leading run scorer in English cricket in the summer is working towards his Level 4 Coaching Award.

Hildreth said: “I am working towards my Level 4 coaching qualification and part of that I need to get more experience working with cricketers so I spoke to Steve Snell, who is the Director of the Academy, at the back end of the summer and he was quite keen to get me involved as well.

“I have been working with a few of the batters this winter doing some sessions on Tuesday evening and on Sundays and it has been really good so far.

“I want to get more experience coaching as this is a potential avenue for me to go down when I finish playing.

"At the moment it is going really well and I enjoying it.”

Hildy was one of the first players to come through the Somerset Academy, as he explained: “I think I was on the first year of the Academy at Somerset and it doesn’t seem that long ago when we had Mark Garaway in charge and Darren Veness was here - and he still is - as the strength and conditioning coach.

“I have just started my Level 4 and it takes two-and-a-half years to complete the course so there is still quite a long way to go with it.

“I am also doing some coaching at King’s College where my wife, Aimee, works as well, which I am enjoying.”