Looking out from his office overlooking the County Ground on a bright sunny morning earlier today, Somerset Chief Executive turned his thoughts to the new season which is only just over two months away.

Mr. Anderson told me: "Structured practice is now underway, and the attention is turning to the make-up of our best side in all competitions.

"The key to it rests on the unknown factors. On the batting front will Piran Holloway rediscover his form of two years ago, when he was the second-highest run scorer in the National League in the country, will Peter Bowler in the autumn of his cricketing life continue with the form that he displayed in 2001, and will Keith Parsons develop into a top order County Championship batsman?

"Will our young bowlers Bulbeck, Tucker and Trego come through to fill what is perceived to be a bowling vacancy?

"Further down the line the big question is will Caddick be discarded by England after the World Cup next winter, and be available for Somerset for the whole of the 2003 and 2004 seasons? This factor alone clearly has an impact upon the expectations placed upon Bulbeck, Tucker and Trego.

Mr Anderson concluded: "The players as a group all feel that we are well positioned to challenge for one or more of the one day competitions, but in the Championship we really need the gaps to be filled by people in form."

© SOMERSET