He attended Bristol Cathedral School and afterwards St Cross College, Oxford,[2] on a Major Stanley's scholarship where he won blues at rugby and cricket in the same academic year.
Averis built a reputation as a solid one-day performer, and in 2001 was able to make a major breakthrough into the Championship side.
A stocky, powerful seam bowler, he was the club's highest wicket-taker in the National League and Championship that year.
His pace was a fairly constant 80+ mph, though he developed an excellent slower ball with the help of former team-mate Ian Harvey.
An invaluable member of the one day side, he was a reliable fielder and decent lower order batter, who looked as though he genuinely enjoyed his cricket.