Hampshire friendly switched as players undergo fitness tests

With conditions at the County Ground almost good enough to play cricket this morning,the groundstaff were busy mowing and working on the ground whilst the Somerset players reported back for their pre-season fitness tests.

The tests that all of the players who are back living locally undertook were specifically designed for cricket by the club's fitness instructor Andy Hurry, who trialled them earlier in the year with the young cricketers in the Academy.

At the end of the day the Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "It all went very well indeed and the players were brilliant.They have all gone about their winter training in a very professional way, and there has been a massive improvement upon the way things were at the same time before the start of last season."

New captain Mike Burns, who was one of those tested today told me: "Everyone performed really well which was no surprise. Because of the way we have been working through the winter we knew what was expected. It was hard work but good fun."

On Monday all of the players will report to the ground in the morning and if the weather permits during the afternoon they will get outside on the grass for some net practice.

Somerset's three day friendly match against Hampshire that was due to be played at Taunton on April 7th, 8th and 9th has now been switched to the Hampshire Rosebowl at Southampton.