DESPITE the driving wind and heavy downpours Somerset’s Media Day on Thursday attracted a very large turn out from members of both the national and local press corp, writes Richard Walsh.

Individual interviews took place in the 1875 Club and the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion from 0830 onwards, before at 10am Lewis Gregory the new SCCC Captain, joined with Director of Cricket Andy Hurry and Head Coach Jason Kerr for a Press Conference.

The trio then answered a variety of questions from the floor.

Asked whether Jack Leach was going to be fit for the start of the season Jason Kerr said that at this stage they didn’t know, but he was doing really well in his rehab and the club was also awaiting some clarification from the ECB.

Lewis Gregory was asked what it meant to him being appointed as captain.

“It’s a huge honour to captain Somerset and it’s something I am really excited about. There are some seriously talented cricketers in the squad and it’s about trying to get them into the place where you see the best of them.”

Regarding the appointment of Lewis as captain Andy Hurry said: “In the T20 over the the last couple of seasons we have seen the followership that Lewis has generated within the squad. We have such high ambitions here that it’s important we have someone as a leader who can perform out on the field, set examples and really galvanise the team.”

Asked about what has happened over the last year that is going to improve Somerset’s performances in 2024 Andy said: “ I genuinely believe that there is another years experience and lots of leaning from that previous year, and there’s that maturity and a huge sense of belief within the group. The T20 success last year really galvanised the group and there’s a real hunger for success and desire to keep pushing on across other formats of the game as well.”

He went on: “We are really excited about the progress and the growth the players have made during the closed season and out in Sri Lanka and Abu Dhabi.”

The Director of Cricket confirmed that Somerset are close to finalising a replacement overseas signing for Will Sutherland that will be announced in the next few days.

Asked what Somerset’s chances of winning the county championship or doing very well this season, Jason Kerr said: “They are great, we have got an unbelievable squad and as Andy Hurry said they have got another years experience. You can’t underestimate how powerful it is to win a trophy.

Following us winning the 50 over comp in 2019 covid came along so we were unable to build upon it ,however we can use the Blast as a platform from last year, and the confidence that’s in the group and the ability and talent that’s there.

“One thing that’s tangible is the connectivity that’s within the group, the way they’ve trained and the togetherness there’s been in the winter. They are together as a group as I’ve ever seen and it’s for them to go out and enjoy themselves and play the brand of cricket people want to watch and if we do that we will get the right results.”

Jason added: “Certainly with the squad we have they can achieve anything and we will encourage them to do that.”

Following the press conference individual interview continued before the team and individual photographs were taken in the Centre of Excellence.