By Grockle
February 3 2005

The picture of James Hildreth is quite relevant here. He is one of the questions that need answering in Taunton during the coming summer! Over the next couple of weeks we will look at the different aspects of the changing face of Somerset Cricket here and on the messageboards.

2005 here we come!!

It is less than 10 weeks until the start of the new season and we look forward to a better season.

Will we be looking out at a new vista in Somerset? 

We have a new committee structure.

We have a new coaching structure

We have a number of new captain options

We have a new set of international players

We have a new 'younger' face as the old boys leave

Or do we? 

Is the new cricket management structure anything other than a new paint job on an old problem?

Will the movement of Kevin Shine to Youth Development and the promotion of Mark Garraway to Head Coach actually change the view of the squad towards playing for their county?

Who will captain the side in the important sections of the season and will the new man at the top provide the impetus to change levels of confidence and commitment to winning?

Will the 'Ponting Effect' have an influence twice?  Is he here for anything other than Ashes experience?  Is Smith the man for the job, off the field as well as on it?  What is an Alby Morkel and can we use it?

Will the young lads do it for us or fall by the wayside?  Can they fill the boots of vetrans like Bowler and Caddick - will some of our vetrans (who are still here) let them?  Can the performances that promised a lot last year be maintained into the second season by the likes of Hildreth and Gazzard?

I can offer opinions and let you tear them to bits on the forums but we will all have to wait and see really whether the new plan is anything different to the old one.  But it will be fun to speculate won't it.

The season starts here so log on read and respond and we'll see if our predictions actually come to pass or we are all sitting there eating humble pie while others smugly tell us that they told us so.

"The more things stay the same, the less it changes"  Spinal Tap - The Majesty of Rock