Somerset name their strongest available team for championship opener at Bristol

Somerset have named their strongest available team for the championship opener against old rivals Gloucestershire, that gets underway at the County Ground in Bristol on Friday, which means that the line up includes Marcus Trescothick.

The England star will be making a welcome return for the Cidermen who will be anxious to get their championship campaign off to a good start, after being relegated to Division Two at the end of last season.

The county's three new signings, batsman James Bryan, all rounder Aaron Laraman and West Indian Test bowler Nixon McLean have all given a good account of themselves in the pre season matches and are all selected.

Certainly there is no shortage of confidence at the club. New captain Mike Burns told me: "We are all really looking forward to getting going in the championship. All of the batters and bowlers performed well in our match against Loughborough earlier this week, and we are going into the match feeling very positive indeed."

New batsman Bryant, who scored an impressive century against Loughborough UCCE last weekend, is also raring to get his competitive season underway. During a break from his net practice at Taunton yesterday morning he said: "I'm feeling really good and looking forward to the first championship match. I seem to have found some good form out in the middle which is very pleasing and I'm look forward to scoring many more runs for the county."

Somerset's two England left handers, Ian Blackwell and Trescothick were also enjoying some last minute batting practice in the nets, and showing that they have lost none of their old form.

Even though he has been overseas playing cricket all winter, Trescothick is just as keen to get started again. He said: "It can't come soon enough for me, it's just a shame that we are not playing down here at the County Ground."

Looking forward to the match coach Kevin Shine said: "This is what we have been training hard for all the winter. We have had one of our most competitive pre seasons ever and now we have to go out there and put it into practice."

The full Somerset squad to face Gloucestershire is: Marcus Trescothick, Peter Bowler, Mike Burns, Jamie Cox, James Bryant, Ian Blackwell, Rob Turner, Aaron Laraman, Richard Johnson, Nixon McLean, Simon Francis and Keith Dutch.

Andy Caddick, Somerset's third England player is expected to make his return for the county in their championship match at Derby on April 30th.