HAPPY New Year to all supporters of the Cidermen and what a year it has been with silverware in the trophy cabinet and the emergence of a home grown batting talent.

They are the two high spots in what has otherwise been a disappointing season for Somerset, especially for those who are still awaiting the time when a Somerset captain guides his team to the county championship.

July 15 is the one date that Somerset fans will cherish from 2023 - the day their heroes rounded off a record breaking campaign in the T20 competition with victory over Essex in the final at Edgbaston.

The threatened bad weather, the low totals, the bowling and fielding performances and to cap it all that miracle catch by Tom Kohler Cadmore to defy the odds, sent Somerset fans back down the M5 with something to celebrate - at last, after so many disappointments.

James Rew’s batting was the other high spot of the season. The top order left handed batter and wicket-keeper is still only 19 years old and the youngest member of the team, yet on many occasions throughout the summer he brought calm and stability to a batting line up that was all too frail.

James was the first player in the top division of the championship to pass the 1000 runs for the season, and the only one in the Somerset side, scoring over 300 more than second placed Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

The youngsters total included five centuries and a best of 221 - his first double century as he ended with an average of 57.15.

As a reward for his success James spent time in the lead up to Christmas at an England training camp in Abu Dhabi and on January 6 heads off to India with the England Lions.