15 June 2015, Abell carried his bat through Somerset's innings against Nottinghamshire scoring 76 from 150 balls out of the Somerset's total of 200. Abell also scored a further half century in Somerset's successful fourth innings chase of 401, the second highest in the county's history, to record his first victory in a Somerset shirt. He followed this up with a further half century away at Hampshire in Somerset's next Championship game, and scored an unbeaten 21 to guide Somerset to a nine-wicket victory. On 29 July 2015, Abell made his list A debut for Somerset against Durham, scoring 23 in Somerset's seven wicket defeat. He made his maiden list A half century against Yorkshire, scoring 80 from 112 balls as Somerset chased down 178 to win by six wickets. Somerset were knocked out of the 2015 Royal London One-Day Cup in the group stage, with Abell scoring 202 runs in the competition at an average of 33. Having suffered a number of near misses, Abell scored his maiden first-class century for Somerset against Hampshire, on 10 September 2015. He scored 131 from 203 balls, in a partnership of 272 with Marcus Trescothick. At the end of the 2015 season Abell won the LV= Breakthrough Player Award, for his performances in the County Championship. He ended the season with 726 runs in the Championship at an average of 36, with one century and five half centuries. Abell spent the 2015–16 winter playing grade cricket for Fremantle District Cricket Club in Western Australia, and had a highly successful winter twice winning the Kookaburra player of the round award, in total across all formats he scored 641 runs at an average of 40 while he took 21 wickets with the ball at an average of 18. The 2016 season saw Abell continue to open in the County Championship with Marcus Trescothick with the club's new captain, former Australian Test match opener, Chris Rogers signed by the club to bat at number 3. After a disastrous campaign for Somerset in the 2016 t20 Blast, Abell made his Twenty20 debut in a much changed side for their final group match against Hampshire on 29 July 2016. Abell batted at number 5, scoring seven runs before being dismissed by Liam Dawson. Somerset captaincy On 21 December 2016, Abell was appointed Somerset County Cricket Club captain ahead of the 2017 season. T20 franchise career In December