Following his record equalling five victims in the recent NUL National League match against Kent Spitfires on Sunday, Somerset wicket-keeper Rob Turner has been named as the new 'Hero of the Week'.

When asked to nominate a new hero Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson had no hesitation in putting forward this year's beneficiary as his candidate.

The chief told me: "Of course amid the euphoria of a rare victory it is easy to lose sight of a telling contribution, and Rob's four catches and a stumping on what turned out to be a difficult wicket just underlines what a great keeper he is and England must be mad to have overlooked him."

Rob was born in Malvern but moved to Weston super Mare with his family when he was young.

He played for Cambridge University between 1988 and 1991, and captained the side in 1991. Rob made his first class debut for the county that same year against Sri Lanka, and his championship debut followed a year later.

In 1993 he played in six championship matches, and in 1994 he became the regular first team `keeper, a position he has held onto ever since.

I caught up with Rob during a six a side tournament which was held as part of his benefit activities and he gave me the following answers to the `hero' questions.

Q1 What other sports apart from cricket do you follow.
A Over the years I have followed Aston Villa but this season they have not got off to a very good start. Sometimes I play golf, and last winter I had the good fortune to record a `hole in one' at Oake Manor Golf Course.

Q2 Who was your idol when you were young?
A The Australian wicket-keeper Rodney Marsh was always a hero of mine.

Q3 Who is your favourite pop star or band?
A The Lightening Seeds are my favourite band at the moment.

Q4 What do you do in your spare time?
A In truth I don't seem to have very much spare time now that we have got Jamie, who is seventeen months old and starting to walk.

Q5 Where did you go to school, and when did you start to play cricket?
A I went to Uphill primary School at Weston super Mare and then onto Broadoak School, before moving to Millfield School where I played in the first eleven for three seasons. I started to play cricket first at one of the Weston super Mare Cricket Club Tuesday youth nights, where my Dad and my brother were involved. I was probably about seven or eight at the time.

Q6 What is your favourite food?
A No doubt about that one it has to be curry, and my real favourite is a chicken tikka bhuna.

Q7 How much training do you do every week, are there any special exercises?
A In the winter I train regularly and in the playing season when there is time. My special exercise is a back strengthening exercise.

Q8 What has been your most memorable match for Somerset?
A Without a doubt that has to be the Lord's final in 2001 when we won the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.

Q9 Apart from the County Ground at Taunton, which is your favourite cricket ground and why?
A New Road at Worcester is next most favourite ground because it is very similar to the County Ground at Taunton.

Q10 What is your cricketing ambition?
A I achieved my cricketing ambition to a certain degree in 2001 which was to win silverware at Lord's. However my ambition now is to regain first division status and help to win the county championship for Somerset.

Thank you Rob for your answers, and we all look forward to you achieving your ambition, hopefully next season.

© SOMERSET