Paying my first visit to the Cooper Associates County Ground since early December there was a distinct pre-season feeling about the place.

Out on the pitch the mowers were being put to good use and taking full advantage of a slightly warmer sunny day and there was a smell of new mown grass to enhance the feeling that the new season is not that far way.

Many of the Somerset players had spent the morning training and were sporting shorts as they made their ways along St James’s Street in search of some lunchtime refreshment.

As they walked they stopped and chatted to supporters about the prospects of the coming season and what might lie ahead.

After the exploits of 2024 everyone is is hoping that in Somerset’s 150th season they can go that one step further and win some silverware

The Centre of Excellence was equally busy in the afternoon when it was the turn of the Somerset Women to make use of the facilities.

It won’t however be very long before the sight and smell of the onset of the new season is accompanied by the sound of willow on leather.

In fact its closer than you think, Somerset’s opening match in the County Championship starts on April 4, which is less than 11 weeks away, before which of course there will be some re-season matches to look forward to.

Likewise Somerset Women open their season at Taunton with a Metro Bank One Day match against Lancashire on Sunday, April 27.

This year of course there will be much more cricket to look forward to so if you haven’t purchased your membership yet log onto www.somersetcountycc.co.uk to see what suits you best.