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Somerset seek inspiration from imported captain

Despite some bright patches, Somerset over the past few years have generally underachieved.

Chief executive Peter Anderson and coaching director Dermot Reeve both know that Somerset have the talent to do much better and have taken the bold step of appointing their new Australian overseas player, Jamie Cox, as captain.

Cox, Tasmania's vice-captain and an opening bat with an excellent reputation, faces a stiff task, but the Australia captain, Steve Waugh, himself a most effective overseas player for Somerset in the past, is convinced that Cox has the leadership potential and the quality as a player to make a success of the job.

Somerset will miss Richard Harden, who, after 14 seasons with the county, has decided to try his luck with Yorkshire. Harden, a model of consistency, has suffered badly from injuries over the past two seasons, but still has a career batting average of close to 40.

Peter Bowler's decision to relinquish the captaincy was not surprising, for its burdens, combined with some back problems, badly affected his run-getting. He has undergone a successful operation on his back and should now return to his customary heavy-scoring ways.

The departure of a bowler of Mushtaq Ahmed's quality would normally be expected to leave a big hole in the bowling but, in truth, the Pakistani leg-spinner, also troubled by injury at times, had not recently been making a great impact.

In Mushtaq's absence, Pierson's opportunities should increase. He is a useful off-spinner, particularly when giving the ball air. There will be considerable interest in new signing Saqib Mahmood, a young Kettering-born leg-spinner, who was spotted in a benefit game by Rose.

The seam bowling should once again be strong, with the hostile Caddick, surprisingly ignored by England in last summer's Test series against South Africa and omitted from the Australian tour party, an imposing spearhead.

Caddick will again have reliable support, including Paul Jarvis, the former Yorkshire, Sussex and England seamer.

Cox and Reeve have much to do, but they have some good material to work on.

Team Details & First-Class fixtures

Staff: N Boulton, M Bulbeck, M Burns, P D Bowler, A R Caddick, J Cox (capt), P C Holloway, P W Jarvis, S Jones, J I D Kerr, M N Lathwell, S Mahmood, K A Parsons, A R K Pierson, D A Reeve, G D Rose, L D Sutton, J Tucker, M E Trescothick, R J Turner (wkt), A Van Troost, B J Trott.

New players: J Cox, P W Jarvis (from Sussex), S Mahmood.

Released: R J Harden (to Yorkshire), M Ahmed, S Ecclestone (retd), K J Shine (retd).

Beneficiary: Andrew Caddick.

1998 record

Championship: 9th (P17 W6 D4 L7)
AXA League: 14th (P17 W6 L8 T1 NR2)
NatWest Trophy: 2nd rd
B & H Cup: Group (P5 W2 L2 NR1)

First-class fixtures

April:
Thurs 15 Cambridge University (Fenner's). Mon 19 Warwickshire (Edgbaston). Thurs 29 Yorkshire (Taunton).

May:
Fri 14 Nottinghamshire (Trent Bridge). Wed 19 Leicestershire (Taunton). Mon 26 Surrey (Oval).

June:
Sun 2 Durham (Riverside) Wed 9 Gloucestershire (Bath). Tues 15 Worcestershire (Worcester). Fri 25 New Zealand (Taunton). Wed 30 Sussex (Taunton).

July:
Fri 9 Derbyshire (Derby). Wed 21 Middlesex (Taunton).

Aug:
Wed 4 Northamptonshire (Northampton). Wed 18 Kent (Taunton). Tues 24 Essex (Chelmsford).

Sept:
Thurs 2 Glamorgan (Taunton). Wed 8 Hampshire (Southampton). Wed 15 Lancashire (Taunton).