Anyone who has visited the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton over the last few days can’t failed to have noticed that the entire outfield and the square are now covered with sand.

So exactly what is going on at the ground where only a fortnight ago Somerset were completing their final home championship match of the season against Northamptonshire which thankfully they won to guarantee their survival in the top division for another year?

Head groundsman Scott Hawkins told the Gazette that after the last game of the season the top of the outfield and the square was removed after which it was power raked and 232 tonnes of sand has been spread over it.

This has then been power raked and seeded with new grass, which is expected to begin to germinate in a couple of weeks time and will be ready to start mowing in November.

The object of the exercise is to further improve the playing surface and the drainage of the outfield.