The start of the new cricket season may still be 167 days away but Somerset Coach Kevin Shine and his team along with some of the players are back at the County Ground and hard at work.

The coach told me: "We have already started our planning for the new season and several of the players are back here training and working with some of the younger players at the Academy."

One of the senior players who is training hard is fast bowler Richard Johnson, who was missing for some of last season through injury.

Kevin Shine told me: "At the moment we are working hard on `Johnno's' back foot which we hope will result in less stress on his knee and it seems to be responding remarkably well."

Keith Dutch , Simon Francis and new captain Mike Burns are all working with at the Academy and sharing their experiences with the young players which is proving to be invaluable for all parties.

The coach continued: "These are all exciting and very positive developments at the club. The senior players are busy working with the new intake at the Academy and it is very successful. There are a lot of very talented young players around at the moment including Stephen Wheeler, James Frazer, Robert Woodman and Richard Timms, and even younger we have James Fear who is showing a lot of promise."

Meanwhile Kevin Shine has accompanied Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson to some of the area meetings that have been taking place around the county.

He told me: "Despite our disappointing season all of the members have been very supportive, and very positive in their attitude. Everybody wants to draw a line under 2002 and concentrate on 2003 which is pleasing to hear."

© SOMERSET