With a week to go until the Under 15 Boys set off for this year's Tour of South Africa, Somerset CCC's Tom Lammonby reflects on his experience returning to the tour as a coach last year for the 2026 brochure.

Returning to South Africa this time as a coach was an incredible experience, one filled with memories and flashbacks to my own tour there as a player back in 2014. Taking on a coaching role for the first time and being responsible for a group of young players was something I found both challenging and very rewarding. The experience taught me a lot, and I hope the players took just as much from it too.

As I remember from 2014, the cricket itself was naturally the highlight of the tour, but I hope the boys returned home with more than just cricket memories. Spending two weeks away from the comfort of home, living closely with teammates, and adapting to a completely different environment can be challenging. I thought they handled everything brilliantly. It was great to see them grow in confidence throughout the trip, both individually and as a group.

One of the most rewarding parts of the tour for me personally was seeing the friendships within the squad become stronger as the days went on. Those friendships and shared experiences are often what stay with you.

From a coaching perspective, it was a privilege to work with such a talented group of young cricketers over an extended period of time. There were moments where I was tough on the lads but understood that they are only at the beginning of their cricketing journeys and still learning every day. I tried throughout the tour to help create an environment where the boys could enjoy their cricket, improve their skills, develop important life lessons, and make lifelong memories alongside their teammates.

Overall, the tour was a great experience and one that has already taught me valuable lessons that I’ll carry forward in my coaching journey. While I don’t think anything can truly replicate the experience of touring as a player and the memories you create with your teammates, I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience South Africa again from a completely different perspective.

A huge thank you to Matt & Matt for giving me the opportunity to experience it again.