Our transatlantic cousins would call them the losingest side in town – 24 all told – but such is the investment in youth and ground, it would be a pity to panic, albeit tempting. Except for the batting monologues of Cameron White and the accumulated nous of Andrew Caddick and Charl Willoughby – the Championship’s deadliest new-ball duo, with 129 wickets – the growing pains might be intolerable. James Hildreth’s career-best 227 against Northamptonshire could not mask dismay at the inability of himself, Arul Suppiah, Neil Edwards or even Matt Wood (despite plenty of one-day runs) to make a century in any other Championship match. That shortcoming was rammed home when the 22-year-old Australian White amassed 773 Championship runs in seven matches while deputising in the prolonged absence of the captain Ian Blackwell. If White returns and he has signed up to do – Bill Alley’s standing as Taunton’s best-loved Cobber may be in peril. As for gains, a lack of top-order runs prompted a change of keeper, with Sam Spurway an impressive substitute for Carl Gazzard. And, if Marcus Trescothick has to return to the shires to rediscover his oomph, they will be boogieing in the streets of Bridgwater.

Rob Steen The Wisden Cricketer