County Championship preview: Somerset

2009 in a nutshell A few more home wins – seven draws from eight games last summer – might have produced a first County Championship, but in the end they had to settle for third place as well as being Twenty20 Cup finalists, second in the Pro40,and quarter-finalists in the Friends Provident. LV County Championship Division 1 3rd Pro 40 Division 1 2nd Friends Provident Trophy Quarter-finalists Twenty20 Cup Runners up What they'll be playing in this season LV County Championship Division 1 Clydesdale Bank Pro40 Group A Friends Provident Twenty20 – South Captain Marcus Trescothick, always one of the lads at Taunton, replaces the steely Justin Langer, muttering stuff about fun and discipline. Leading from the front is very much the Trescothick way with 1,817 championship runs at 75.70 banked last summer. Director of cricket Brian Rose takes on another burden this summer, overlooking preparation of a wicket that may have been considered a bit too batsman-friendly in the days of Phil Frost, the groundsman made redundant before Christmas after 22 years at the County Ground. Ins and outs In Murali Kartik (Middlesex), Nick Compton (Middlesex), James Hayman (youth) Out Neil Edwards (Nottinghamshire), Andy Caddick, Carl Gazzard, Justin Langer (all retired), Steffan Jones (Derbyshire), Wes Durston, Omari Banks (both released) Overseas players Murali Kartik (India), Damien Wright (Australia), Kieron Pollard (West Indies – Twenty20), Cameron White (Australia – Twenty20). Damien Wright will have his third spell of county cricket while Murali Kartik is with Kolkata at the IPL. The Indian's loopy left-arm spin is reminiscent of Phil Tufnell before conservatism took hold and is a potent weapon on English pitches where he lures cocksure batsmen to their downfalls. Key players Someone is sure to mutter something about "Trescothick for England", but the opener's role this summer is managing the transition from Langer. Peter Trego hit a century in 54 balls last season as Somerset had Yorkshire supporters choking on their Shipham's paste sandwiches as they knocked off 476 to win at Taunton. This is the season for him to graduate from maverick matchwinner into a consistently excellent top-class performer. With Rich Gould as chief executive and Rose as director of cricket, Somerset look to have a strong team off the field as well. Ashes factor Matt Prior may be the man in place and a much-improved wicketkeeper, but weight of runs will always sway selectors and if Craig Kieswetter repeats his championship haul of 1,242 with four centuries, then who knows? The South Africa-born stumper's inclusion in the one-day squad was pretty rapid, coming a day after he qualified for England. Prediction for 2010 Third in Division 1. Marking time in both formats. The key will be the kind of square Rose prepares and who will take the wickets which were shared around last summer once Charl Willoughby had accounted for 54. It won't seem the same at Taunton without Andy Caddick after 19 years of stalwart service.