Essex bowler Ben Allison going from strength to strength

But the Colchester-born paceman believes there is still so much to come from him, in his blossoming career.

"I'm still quite a young cricketer at the age of 22 but it's a short but sweet career so hopefully I can really showcase what I can do," said the Essex bowler.

"I remember my first game when I was about eight years old playing for age groups and my dream back then was always to play for Essex.

"To now say that I've played in all formats for my county is a very proud moment.

"But going forward, it's about making noticeable performances or match-winning wickets or innings to really help the county go forward and make a name for myself."

Allison, who has been at Essex since he was eight years old, has come a long way since starting off his cricket journey with Colchester and East Essex.

His family have a rich history with the Castle Park club and Ben's brother Charlie, who plays for Essex's second XI, has been turning out regularly for their first XI in the Hamro Foundation Essex League, this season.

"Colchester and East Essex was a massive part of me growing up," said Allison, who signed his maiden professional contract with Essex in April, 2019.

"Even now when I go to the club, I know the people there very well.

"My first step into cricket with them was a really good one to have.

"If you just look at the cricketers that they've had there in the past, the likes of Graham Napier, Ben Foakes and Reece Topley, it's a big club.

"It's got a lot of youngsters coming through who have actually got really good potential, as well.

"That talent keeps coming and it was a real good first step into cricket for myself.

TGS PHOTO (Image: TGS PHOTO)

"As a family, we've all got really big ties to Colchester and it's always going to be that way - whether they like it or not!

"My Dad played a couple of years at Colchester but he mainly played for Wivenhoe, which isn't too far away from Castle Park.

"Ollie and Charlie followed me playing at junior level at Colchester and that's all kept going really.

"Charlie is still playing there and Ollie is now trying hard to see what he can do in golf, so he's not playing as much as he was.

"But Charlie is playing week in, week out for them if he's not got school commitments.

"He's got the potential and I genuinely do believe that me and him could both be walking out on the field for Essex, one day.

"That's something that as a family, we'd be very, very proud of."

Allison's cricket career was also greatly influenced by his link-up with PiriPiri Cricket and their head coach, Ben Stephens.

As a youngster, the right-arm fast-medium bowler benefited from the mentoring of Colchester and East Essex bowler Stephens, who coached him at his PiriPiri coaching events since he was ten years old.

"Ben's been with me for all the journey basically," said Allison, who made his First Class debut for Essex in April, 2021.

"I regard him now as one of my best and closest mates.

"The connection we've had has been a goldmine, especially getting free coaching sometimes!

"His involvement with my development has been massive and I comfortably say that I wouldn't be here playing for my county now if it wasn't for the help of Ben Stephens."

Allison is currently on duty with the Essex squad taking on Kent in the County Championship, at Canterbury.

The England under-19 international is hoping to finish the season on a high note.

He said: "I've just come back from injury.

"If I'm being honest, I'd like to have contributed a bit more this season.

"But hopefully, with these four games to come I can start putting my name in the hat and hopefully get a spot.

"I went through a purple patch of form where I think I must have taken a wicket in the first over for five games straight in the T20 Blast.

"That's probably my best form that I've had, this year.

"We always want to win everything.

"Going into the last four games of the season, to be in the position where we're probably out of the County Championship is a bit of a strange one.

"But our goal is to aim as high as we can and gain that momentum, going into next season.

"Our skipper Tom Westley touched on earlier the fact that in 2018, we finished off strongly and it led into the momentum for the 2019 season where we won the Blast and div one, too.

"Hopefully, that can bring good fortune again.

"There may not have been trophies in the cabinet this year but for the club, it's been a really positive one in terms of the number of youngsters who have come through and shone for us.

"You've got the likes of Luc Benkenstein, Jamal Richards, Robin Das and Feroze Khushi who are very young cricketers still but who have all contributed, this year.

"That's definitely been a real positive for the club."

ESSEX COUNTY CRICKET CLUB (Image: ESSEX COUNTY CRICKET CLUB)

Allison and a host of his Essex team-mates were at Whitehall Resources on Severalls Business Park last Friday to help raise the profile of the Colchester Food Bank via Essex Cricket and Whitehall Resources, who are the official training wear sponsor of Essex Cricket.

Whitehall Resources, who are enjoying their first year of their new agreement with the club. welcomed Essex CCC to their Colchester offices to make food package donations to the Colchester Food Bank.

Allison added: "Everyone knows the current living situation, at the moment.

"Times are tough and it looks like they're going to get tougher before they get better, unfortunately.

"We're cricketers but we also want to show that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

"I think Essex as a county is brilliant at getting involved with their community.

"It's a massive county and you don't really ever see what some people have to go through a lot to provide food or whatever it may be for their kids.

"It's about hopefully us putting a smile on kids' faces and as a community, just to make sure that everything is OK."