Let's try to steal ourselves away from the murky waters of rugby's bloodletting and Adebayor's ugly and alternative uses of his boot in pursuit of Robin van Persie's head, to the gentler and more civilised exploits of cricket at Taunton.

Somerset had looked a decidedly hot tip for championship honours at the start of the season. They may have lacked one fast bowler and were at times suspect in mid-order batting. The weather also turned against them and, before long, Durham were striding away in search of the pennant.

We should never under-value Durham's triumphant newly-acquired stature as first-class cricket's newcomers with a spanking ground, boundless ambition, clever recruitment and an envied policy that had them striding to the top of the table

Ian Blackwell has already demonstrated that it was a wise move of his to transfer his dressing room peg to Chester-le-Street. Without any sign of gloating, he implied that Somerset CCC's chances – and his own in the West Country – were limited by Taunton's amiable snooker-table track

The departure of Blackwell, as this column pointed out, was a matter of regret. Not only did he look like a Somerset CCC man but he played like one. His shots were as naturally beefy as the well-fleshed livestock which not so long ago inhabited the erstwhile market just across the road from the ground

Somerset are coming to the end of a season which does them some credit. There have been fine individual performances by the splendidly revitalised Marcus Trescothick. Nor should we forget that timeless and victorious slog of undeniable fearless style by Peter Trego

Yet, what also remains an abiding memory for the county? It is surely the maturing brilliance of Craig Kieswetter who only the other day, it seems, was swotting for his A levels at Millfield.

He came to this country from his native South Africa where he'd been playing international cricket at Under-17 and 19 level.

Just like Andrew Caddick, in his early New Zealand days, Kieswetter didn't feel he was progressing in the right way. Increasingly, he liked the idea of a future career in England. And that was a view shared by the former Somerset left-arm seamer Mark Davis, who keeps a perceptive tutor's eye on Millfield's cricket. Kieswetter has a thrilling innate talent. His repertoire of shots has extended to a degree few could have expected.

On top of his natural technical skills have emerged the ability to improvise without the need to sacrifice the lavish style, whether opening with Trescothick in the one-day matches, or building an innings with care, craft and power.

Premature praise can too often misfire. But it is hard not to be excited by the young Craig. He may have a Johannesburg-sounding surname, even if his mother is a Scot, and he has a British passport. He lacks the brash personality of some talented South Africans. He is quiet and is ready to take advice.

Now comes the prediction. He qualifies for England in February and the pundits are all talking eagerly about him. His confidence and temperament have never been a problem. At the crease he's the young batsman with a future that can only continue to buzz bountifully. He has the makings of a true match-winner. That could be, within two or three years, an acclaimed attribute for England.

As a wicketkeeper, he arrived at Somerset looking fallible. Catches were dropped But the learning process, still not finalised, has become at his best and most intuitive, quite a revelation. His eight victims against Lancashire were so nearly a county record.

He knows he needs to go on improving behind the stumps. England's search for a stumper has for some years been a matter of concern, Kieswetter will by next year be high on the list of Test match candidates. This thrilling tyro could be just one step away from stardom. But for the moment only whisper it.