I think that Somerset have been the best team in the country as they has proved themselves to be at the very top of all 3 formats, yes they won nothing but the margin between success and failure at the top is so small that regimes in sport have spent millions trying to find that last 1% gain.
I was lucky enough to talk to Sir Clive Woodward when he was at Southampton as he was renting a flat in the same block as my wife's parents and as a massive Rugby fan spoke to him about the foundations of a team, Rugby or Football as it was at the time. He made some very true observations about the first few steps being the biggest factors and the last few being the smallest but most vital. In competition most teams will have gone for the obvious and easy to implement steps, squad, leadership, management, training etc, but they all do this to a very similar formula. As I stated before I think that the fact that the county with low revenue and small finances takes on and beats most other counties is a lot to do with the last few small factors working well. Consider the amount that Hampshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire have at their disposal for players, staff and facilities and you will see a big gap between them and Somerset.
I have a lot of time for Andy Hurry and think that his approach and background is working as a positive for the team. If players feel the bemoan the need to find a shoulder to cry on then maybe they are not cut out for the very top level of sport. If they need advice as to improve their game or merely to try something different then from what I hear he is a no nonsense kind of guy who deals in realities. He is as is Jason Kerr too a ECB 4 coach and that requires a level of knowledge beyond merely playing first class cricket. England are now spending more time assessing if a player has the mental capacity to fight the very best in an England shirt as much as if they possess the skills. Plenty have had the gifts but not the brain or steel to back them up under pressure, a mix is always needed.
I think that the signing of a 32 year old bowler does not get you going until you think that he will have the mental toughness and honed skill sets required to compete, if it is true that he harbours a desire to play for England and has moved down the road to get Div 1 cricket to force awareness then that is fantastic news for Somerset as I think we could benefit from sub International players being regulars, Trescothick, Kieswetter, Hildreth and Kirby could all be playing every game next season and with good quality solid Pro's such as De Bruyn, Thomas, Trego and Kartik in the side and some players trying to force themselves into these lists the progress that has been made over the past 4 years will continue. I hope that we don't forget that Hurry has been instrumental in making the side a lot more professional in its approach to fitness and the technical side of the game as well as coming up from the bottom divisions to the top of all 3 formats.
I think that they are the best overall and will have the strength to push further next season and win trophies to prove it. And luck always plays a part no matter what anyone says, we are human and make mistakes, some more than others, I'm sure no one is wishing for a title but the more you practice the luckier you get.......
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Topic: CB40 final Warwickshire vs Somerset (Read 11678 times)