With many members pushing for the inclusion of homegrown youngsters, Brian Rose felt compelled to defend the signing of the Kolpak recruit Charl Willoughby. �..One of our biggest concerns was our seam attack, which last year lost more than 150 playing days through injury,�.� says the director of cricket. But already his statement that Willoughby and Australians Cameron White and Dan Cullen �..may not all play together at one time�.� has been reassessed �.. a sober reflection on the progress of those youngsters.

Still, the allrounder Peter Trego�..s circuit of the shires �.. Taunton to Canterbury to Lord�..s to rejoin the family in Weston-super-Mare �.. is bearing fruit, notably May�..s maiden Championship century. �..I went to see Peter play for Middlesex twice last year without him knowing,�.� says Rose a little sheepishly. �..I was very impressed. I had a long chat with Embers [Middlesex coach John Emburey]. He said he has limitations but there was plenty to work with. He hits hard, can field brilliantly and swings it a bit �.. which will help at Taunton. And he�..s very competitive.�.�
Rob Steen, The Wisden Cricketer