Justin Langer will be meeting his 2008 season squad later this month.  Some of them will have had a chance to get a feel in the friendlies beforehand but do we have enough forf Division 1?

Marcus Trescothick is obviously a welcome permanent addition to this season. Now he's decided his career path we know we will have his talent on tap as long as he stays fit.  You just have to put that on the positive side of the equation.  He's still an England opener irrespective of whether he wears the 3 lions ever again or not.

Neil Edwards is expected to be a prime member of this side this year.  He has become a frontline batsman rather than a support player and we have to expect big things from him.  We need him to stamp his own authority on front end stands as he did last year.  If he doesn't we have a front three issue which may require John Francis to show he is on his way back in what must be his last season to prove himself in the Somerset first team.

Big season for James Hildreth. This is the one where he comes of age.  He isn't the upcoming youngster any more, he needs to develop into the 'big player' to push his career to the next level.  Another one who stamped his authority last year and needs to do that from the start this year.

These 4 must scare many bowling attacks.  There's 250 - 300 runs in the willow of our front end on a good day and we need loads of good days - especially in the first innings of CC games.

Ian Blackwell is the main man in our middle order.  He needs to be the catalyst for a big push from the centre if anything goes wrong up front.  He is our main holding spinner and if he doesn't do his job there it is harder for us to employ spin elsewhere in a more attacking role.  He wasn't devastating with the bat last year and we want to see that again.  Omari Banks is looking for a first team spot Ian....let's see your best game

Peter Trego our main 'seamer' allrounder.  Looked real good at the end of last season and another player we want big big big things from.  He can belt the ball and looks to be enjoying his batting.  We also need him in that 3rd/4th seamer position.  Which one he becomes will determine his real allround potential.  Need a HUGE season from this man.

Craig Kieswetter would be my first choice everytime but there are indications that Carl Gazzard is coming back and making a fight of it.  We need a big batting safe handling "wickie".  It's a key position in our line-up.  Personally I think Craig shaves it but he needs to work at it.

We have loads of stuff here.  Carl Gazzard is looking for a position as a batsman/keeper.  Wes Durston is pushing everyone here with the willow, he is reliable and a pressure man.  Arul Suppiah is more available than he was last year and he has a fielding prowess that may give him the edge in a close decision.  Rob Woodman will also be looking for a position quite soon, maybe not this year.   Our middle order tends to be 'one dayish' in their view of the game and we may need a more sensible approach in more Championship games.  Who will show the maturity to be reliable but still have the talent to murder poor attacks when necessary?

Steff Jones has certainly set his stall out early through his performances in Dubai...he's also shown that he has the confidence of the management and has leadership capabilities we possibly hadn't expected.  Ben Phillips is finally a contestant for a place but his value will depend on early performances, when and if he gets a chance. Mike Munday has to be a major consideration for this seasoon.  Irrespective of his performance in the last game of last season, he has to be a factor in this season where we will play on far more spinning wickets.  Is he what we hope he is?  Well if we don't play him we'll never know! Mark Turner also has to turn the promise he showed in his first run out into first team success when he gets the opportunity.  If not this season then next because he is the future we are hoping for.

These three are the main guys for our 8 and 9 positions along with Alfonso Thomas who is the big fast 'dark horse' in this race and we shall have to see what influence he has on the whole scenario.

Last but by no means least, the pair who keep on producing the goods that back up the runs of the front end or keep us in games we nearly throw.  Charl Willoughby and Andy Caddick. The left hand/right hand consistent scary opening attack that no-one in any division can take for granted.  It is vitally important that we don't over play these "two gems" and that they stay fit.  If the top ennd do their job then these two will provide the icing for all the cakes and possibly decide whether we see silver in the longer formats.  There can't be many more stupendous season in them but I just hope for one really marvellous on.  Partly to show that the best English bowler (how ever old he is) was in England for the winter and shouldn't have been and partly to give both of them a real rewarding end to storming contributions to the county.

Can we win anything?  YES.  Personally I think we have more chance in a one day or very short version of the game but a good solid start to the Championship campaign, dry wickets and perfromances from an attacking spinner plus good seam back-up and we have to be a decent bet in any game we play.  Langer may be the catalyst to something special but he needs Caddick, Trescothick, Hildreth, Willoughby, Blackwell, Munday and a batch of younger players to do their part consistently.  If this squad fires then there are very few squads that can match it's abilty.

BRING IT ON BOYS...LET'S GET STARTED!!

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