Last year’s continuous bridesmaids are the favourites with the bookies to win their first ever County Championship, but will the boys from Taunton finally get to visit the winners enclosure?
Strengths
Along with Mark Ramprakash, captain Marcus Trescothick is still the best English batsman and is likely to score heavily. He will be ably supported by James Hildreth who had a stunning 2010, as well as Arul Suppiah, Nick Compton and the promising Jos Buttler. Craig Kieswetter seems to have recovered from his trough of last season and should get back in the runs.
The bowling ranks have been strengthened with the addition of Steve Kirby, Gemaal Hussain and Ireland’s spin sensation George Dockrell. It will also be fascinating to see how county batsmen fare against Ajantha Mendis when he covers for Murali Kartik.
All in all it looks like a very strong squad.
Weaknesses
The batting paradise that is Taunton is likely to yield a more than average number of draws and the runs of Zander de Bruyn will be missed. Apart from that, there doesn’t appear to be many weaknesses although England calls could deprive Somerset of Hildreth and Kieswetter for the climax to the season.
Main man
It has to be Marcus Trescothick – how England could have done with him at the top of the order in the World Cup.
Look out for…
The continued development of Buttler, Hildreth and Kieswetter. There are some seriously talented young cricketers at Taunton.
Prediction
Champions – finally the promised land for Somerset and who’d argue with the bookies?
Where next?
County Championship Preview - Division 1: Lancashire
County Championship Preview - Division 1: Hampshire
County Championship Preview - Division 1: Durham
Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here
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