Cox will return even hungrier after defeat

Somerset skipper Jamie Cox will return to England next month in a hungry mood after his state side Tasmania failed to win the Pura Cup.

Jamie, who has enjoyed a record breaking season down under during the winter, was dismissed for 19 as the Tasmanian team lost to Queensland in the Pura Cup final at Brisbane earlier this week.

This morning Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson told me: "Before the game we sent Jamie a message of good luck, so we are naturally disappointed to hear that Tasmania were unsuccessful in their challenge for the cup."

"Of course the rub off from that could be to our advantage, because when he returns to England next month he will be ever more determined for success."

At least Jamie can take some comfort from the fact that when he returns to Taunton he will have somewhere to live with his new wife Helen and their baby son Lachlan.

As reported on the Somerset website and also in the local newspapers, a week ago Jamie was looking like being homeless on his return to the west country after his summer housing arrangements had fallen through at the last moment.

However, glad to say somebody read about the Somerset skipper's predicament and made contact with the club, as a result of which Jamie now has a house in the Taunton area to move into with his family upon his return.

Somerset Executive Assistant Sally Donoghue told me: "We are delighted and relieved that we have at last found somewhere for Jamie and his family to live. We are very grateful to the person who has made the house available, and now all we need to do is to make sure that it is equipped with a cot and a high chair!"