SOMERSET County Cricket Club will play three red-ball matches against first-class opposition at the Cooper Associates County Ground ahead of the new season.

The pre-season action will begin with a two-day match against Glamorgan starting on Monday, March 21. 

Gloucestershire will be the next visitors to the County Ground for a three-day match beginning on Saturday, March 26.

Finally, county champions Warwickshire will visit Taunton for a three-day fixture starting on Friday, April 1. 

When the fixtures were confirmed, Somerset head coach Jason Kerr said: "We start the summer playing red-ball cricket, so it’s important that those skills are in the groove by then.

"We have the flexibility to alter the format of those games, but we need to make sure that the guys have got enough overs under their belts, have spent enough time on their feet and that their skills are ready for the first game.

"It’s really important that we have strong competition."

Somerset will start their season with an away fixture against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, on April 7.

Kerr continued: "The three-day game against Warwickshire before we go to the Ageas will be key.

"We will look to pick 11 and play that game as we would do during the season.

"The other two games will give us the opportunity to get overs into people and time in the middle.

"It’s important that we are physically and mentally ready for the start of the season, and these games will certainly help with our preparations."

Somerset County Gazette: PRE-SEASON: Somerset will play against Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground (Image: Andrew Matthews, PA Wire)PRE-SEASON: Somerset will play against Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground (Image: Andrew Matthews, PA Wire)

"What’s really important is that you are ready for the format that you are playing first," he added.

"The transition of skills from red-ball to white-ball is easier when your foundations are in place.

"It’s vital that the players are confident going into the season, and if they’re comfortable with their red-ball skills, then the white-ball skills will take care of themselves."


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