SOMERSET'S 2014 County Championship campaign gets under way on Sunday (April 13) when Somerset entertain Yorkshire at the County Ground.

Marcus Trescothick, now in his 22nd year in the first class game, knows only too well that pre-season form counts for nothing once the serious cricket gets started.

He said: “We have had a good preseason and had time to get our preparation right so we are ready for the start of the championship against Yorkshire.

“It has gone pretty well but now we move into a different phase of the season and into the proper games.

“The challenge for us is to get it right in the proper games, and that is the real test which we are all ready for.”

Yorkshire ended as runners-up in the four-day competition while, after fighting to stave off relegation for much of the summer, the Cidermen found some late season from and finished in sixth place.

In recent years, Somerset have not enjoyed the best of starts to the season so the cricket bosses will be hoping to improve on their performances against Yorkshire which both were drawn in 2013.

Trescothick went on: “Yorkshire are a good bowling side and we are very aware of their attack, so we have got to be on our game against them.”

Talking about his own players, the local hero said: “All our top order batsmen have had time at the crease and scored runs and its great to have Jamie Overton fit again and his brother, Craig, as well and Alfonso Thomas, who always adds something extra to the team.

“This is always an exciting time of the year when you get into the proper games, so our challenge now is all about trying to convert the preseason into the real competition.”

Vice-captain James Hildreth said: “I always look forward to the start of the first championship game, especially against Yorkshire who have got a good squad and are a always a tough side.”

Things don’t get any easier for Somerset because their second match in the championship, which they have never won, is away against Durham – who were the winners in 2013.