The many layers to Eddie Byrom

NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: An Irish passport, a journalist father and ambitions of playing for England. The Somerset youngster is a simple player with a cosmopolitan background

• Eddie Byrom wins the war against Simon Harmer
• Somerset take control of Bob Willis Trophy final

That there isn't anything particularly special about Eddie Byrom is not to discredit his ability. In his short first-class career he has built a reputation for occupying the crease, having a solid defence and taking advantage of anything loose. But it is another thing altogether to reproduce those traits when it matters.

Against an Essex attack which provided moments of pressure and weakness in equal measure, Byrom was able to model his game on the peaks and troughs of his opponent's performances. It was a well-formed century, digging in when the going got tough - particularly on day one underneath cloudy skies - and taking advantage when opportunities arose as conditions improved.

It was uncomplicated knock which gives Somerset a strong grip of the Bob Willis Trophy final at Lord's.

Byrom may only be 23 but there are already plenty of layers to his backstory. Born in Harare, in 2015 he moved to England as a teenager on a cricket scholarship at Kings College.

^{The few at Lord's to watch Eddie Byrom's innings was treated to a fine knock}

He joined the Somerset academy and via a spell back in his homeland with Rising Stars he became a staple at the Taunton club. His ascent has been gradual but a stellar 2019, which included a stunning T20 Blast half-century against Surrey, saw him win a contract with Hundred side Manchester Originals.

His father is a freelance sports journalist while he travels on an Irish passport - though he is unequivocal over his international ambitions.

"I moved over from Zimbabwe when I was 16, got on the Somerset academy and progressed from there," he said. "Zimbabwe is a mess right now and I've certainly committed to playing for Somerset and eventually for England so that is definitely my ambition."

He had previously told The Cricketer of his desire to represent the country which provided him with his first big break - and now where his finest individual performance has occurred, at the home of cricket no less.

With his previous centuries coming against Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers at Kwekwe Sports Club and Cardiff University at Taunton, it isn't exactly surprising that this might be Byrom's most significant three-figure score.

^{Marcus Trescothick has unsurprisingly been a major influence}

"It has to be right up there," he admitted. "It is certainly the most important, in such a big game. It is not exactly the Championship. It is the Bob Willis Trophy and nevertheless still a final. The best two teams are in the final and it is a massive game."

Byrom isn't just a man of many parts, but a player whose technique is a result of consulting with openers of the past. The natural fluency of his stroke-play bares a resemblance to Marcus Trescothick - who before working with England had joined the Somerset coaching staff alongside Jason Kerr following his retirement. But he isn't the only one to influence his success.

"I've done quite a bit of work with Tres," admitted Byrom. "He's been a great influence on me. I've been lucky at Somerset to have some great opening batters to learn from in recent years. 

"Chris Rogers, Dean Elgar, Matt Renshaw, so to have them to learn from has been excellent and I've learned a thing or two from Tres so it's not a surprise to see a few things in my game."

For unrivalled coverage of the county season, subscribe to The Cricketer and receive 3 issues for £5