One player who is determined to be in the starting line up for the first match of the season against Cardiff UCCE at Millfield School on Saturday is Matt Bulbeck, who has been missing from the Somerset scene for too long.

The twenty two year old who made such an impact for Somerset in his debut season in 1998 has been sadly limited in his first team appearances over the last couple of seasons due to a back injury.

After a winter during which he has worked very hard at his fitness levels hopefully all of that is now behind him and on the eve of the new season he told me: "It feels really great to be out on the grass at the County Ground again, and I'm pleased to say that I'm bowling as well as I have for a very long time."

Matt continued: "We are fielding a strong side against the West of England Premier League XI on Monday and I will be playing. I'm really looking forward to the first game at Millfield on Saturday, and want to be in the line up."

Matt Bulbeck's comments are very good news for Somerset who have a bowling vacancy in their team after the departures of Jason Kerr to Derbyshire and Jamie Grove to Leicestershire.

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