Former Somerset favourite Andre Van Troost who was on the staff at the County Ground during the 1990's until he was forced to retire through injury is returning to the county to get married.

The 6ft 7inch tall fast bowler who took over 150 first class wickets for the Cidermen is marrying his long time girl friend Rebecca at Fivehead Church, near Taunton on Saturday afternoon at 4pm.

Among the guests will be a number of the Dutch national cricket team, as well as several of his former Somerset colleagues including chief executive Peter Anderson.

The Somerset boss told me: "Andre was a very popular member of staff and he will be as frustrated as we were that his career as a fearsome fast bowler didn't blossom as we all thought it would. With his personality and intelligence he deserves to be successful in his future life."

Meanwhile, Somerset players Mike Burns and Matthew Wood will no doubt be pleased that at long last they have a free weekend.

For the last three weekends they have been part of a group of twelve cricketers who have spent seven days in total at the Centre of Excellence at the County Ground trying to gain their Level Three Coaching Award.

New skipper Mike Burns who was the only player to top 1000 championship runs in 2002 told me: "It has been pretty hard work, but well worthwhile. We had sessions on tactical batting and bowling and wicket-keeping and a one on one. We also had a session on captaincy, which made me realise how much there is to the job and just how important communication is for the captain. Being involved with the coaching course really made you think about your own game."

Mike is already planning to put his experience to good use. He told me: "We should know the outcome of the course in about six weeks, but in the meantime I shall be spending time this winter coaching some of the Academy boys."

Batsman Matt Wood also found the whole experience worthwhile. He told me: "It went well, and both Mike and myself found it very beneficial. Being a batsman the hardest part for me was the bowling especially because it was a bowling coach who was running it."

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