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Search forSomerset target star trio for EPL
Saturday, September 06, 2008, 08:00
All three are former Somerset overseas players of a recent vintage. The new EPL is being designed to mirror the successful Indian Premier League which featured four overseas players per side.
Current captain and overseas player Justin Langer is under contract for 2009 but is not likely to continue to 2010.
Director of cricket Brian Rose said: "It just depends on the policy on the EPL from the ECB and how the overseas players will be divided.
"But as far as we are concerned, Cameron White, Graeme Smith and Ricky Ponting, who have all played for the club, would be natural targets for us.
"I am sure all three of them would probably want to play for Somerset again if they can. We have to project forward to 2010 now, as I am sure other counties are doing."
An Indian TV deal is sure to be a major aspect of the lucrative new EPL set-up. That means there is likely to be at least one Indian player per team.
But Rose is confident he can attract top overseas players to Taunton and White, more so than Ponting and Smith, enjoyed a longer spell with Somerset.
The Australian all-rounder enjoyed two highly successful seasons with Somerset in 2006 and 2007 as the County Championship Division Two title was won.
White, a middle-order batsman and leg-spinner, recently won a recall to the Australia side for the one-day international series with Bangladesh.
Australia captain Ponting had just over a month at Taunton in 2002 while South Africa skipper Smith was in charge for three months in 2005.
"The batsmen like the pitches but players also like the atmosphere at Taunton as well," said Rose. "The crowds always back Somerset and with the new development Taunton will be the best ground in the country to play a Twenty20 match.
"Also it is a nice town for the families to come to because cricket is the main focus of sport in the county."
The third day of Somerset's County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge was abandoned without a ball bowled before lunch yesterday.
Notts are 46-2 in reply to Somerset's 252 all out. Coach Andy Hurry said: "The lads have shown resolve and character to come back from the first day."
The forecast for the final day today is not much better so a draw looks a certainty. If there is no further play Notts will take seven points and Somerset six.
Assuming the other games in this round of matches are also drawn, second-placed Somerset will go into the visit of Durham to Taunton on Tuesday four points behind leaders Notts. The Durham game is Somerset's game in hand on Notts.
Somerset's final two Championship fixtures are against Yorkshire at Scarborough and against Lancashire at home.
Somerset's Second eleven also had their Championship game abandonded as a draw at Taunton Vale yesterday.
In reply to the hosts' 300-6 declared, Hampshire were 266 all out with three wickets for Michael Munday and two each for Ben Phillips and Steffan Jones. Somerset reached 55-0 in their second innings at the end of day two.
England women's Twenty20 international against India at Taunton yesterday was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
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