From coach to coach driver: Maynard gets his licence

Somerset's director of cricket, Matthew Maynard, has decided to take a hands-on approach to team travel arrangements by qualifying as a bus driver.

The former Glamorgan and England batsman passed his Public Vehicle Licence this week and will get behind the wheel when the squad leaves for Canterbury on Thursday, for Friday's opening T20 Blast game against Kent.

"It was something I thought about last year," Maynard said. "There were times when our driver Nick Yeo had to stop on the way home to collect another driver to bring us back. As you know, on the longer journeys, one driver cannot do the whole trip.

"I will help Nick out when his time runs out. My first trip will be down to Canterbury because you can't do that trip in four-and-a-half hours, so I will share the driving down there tomorrow.

"I thought it would be good for my own personal development too. Don't get me wrong, I love cricket and would love to be here at Somerset for a good number of years. But if that doesn't happen, I could always become the coach driver for the lads."

Shane Warne, who famously described a coach as "something you travel in to get to the game", would surely approve.