Somerset will be heartened by the news that they will have the services of their two England contract players Andy Caddick and Marcus Trescothick for the championship match against Surrey that starts at The Oval on Friday.

Earlier today chief executive Peter Anderson told me: "We have received confirmation from Duncan Fletcher that both of our England players are available for the Surrey match."

The chief continued: "Clearly with the injury to Richard Johnson this will come as a boost to us, especially as Steffan Jones will also be making his comeback in the same match."

He went on: "From an England perspective this makes sense because this is a top fixture with class players in it played on a test match ground."

Regarding the teams performances so far this season he told me: "One of the joys of cricket is that nothing is ever certain, and whereas Somerset are playing well in county championship, our one day form has been very very poor."

He continued: "The amazing thing about this is that the coach and the players have really analysed what made us such a success last year and knowing that we haven't been able to put it into practice on the field this year. This is as much of a mystery to the players as it is to the coach."

The chief concluded: "My own guess would be that it is all to do with confidence. Cricket more than any other is game of confidence, and you can't coach confidence."

© SOMERSET