Somerset all rounder Keith Dutch who joined the county before the start of the 2001 season has no regrets about his move to the west country.

The twenty eight year old told me, " I've been very impressed with the set up here.Somerset are a very forward thinking club.They have good facilities, an indoor Centre of Excellence and two very keen and developing coaches in Kevin Shine and Mark Garaway, who have really got involved and are taking the club forward."

"It's been a good move for me and I was delighted to have an input into the success of the 2001 season which was good news for everyone. Now we have to look to maintain and improve on that this season," he told me.

He continued, "When I came here there were no promises or guarantees,but if I performed I was told that I would get a chance. The backroom staff gave me every opportunity to play and prove myself.I came here as an unproven player but after the first third of the season I started to blossom in 2001."

Despite scoring over 500 championship runs, which included his maiden first class century, and taking 35 wickets in the four day competititon it will be for the dramatic innings he played against Warwickshire in the semi-final of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy that he will be remembered for by most people.

What was he hoping for in 2002 I asked him. "I definitely think that we can win another trophy this year. We have got a strong squad, and on the plus side we have got Richrad Johnson who may get overlooked by England, which is disappointing for him but good for Somerset," he said.

On a personal front "Dutchy" and his wife Emma have recently bought a house near to Taunton and are settling in with their three year old daughter Lauren.

He told me, "It's a lovely place for us to live as a family, the quality of life here is so much better than where we were in North London."

He concluded,"It's getting to that time of year when we are brushing up our skills ready for the new season.I'm really looking forward to it!"

© SOMERSET