Somerset are victims of their own success according to England one day ‘keeper Craig Kieswetter, who has just returned to training with his team mates at the County Ground, writes Richard Walsh.

After finishing joint top of the championship on points in 2010 and runners up in 2012 as well as reaching a number of one day finals, this summer the Cidermen managed to stave off the threat of relegation from Division One and reached the knockout stages of both the YB40 and T20.

In some clubs eyes that would be deemed success – but not at the County Ground.

Kieswetter said: “As a club we set our standards so high that when we don’t achieve what we expect of ourselves for us it’s disappointment, whereas for some other counties it would be a very good season, which goes to show the high level that this club has moved into.”

Kieswetter added: “It goes to show that the expectancy for the players is high. When you come and sign for Somerset the expectations are high because this club revolves around success and is continually striving to get better.

“To achieve what we did in the light of what was going on was not too bad a season, in fact it’s a good sign.”

However Kieswetter realises that there is still a lot to do.

“Lets not be naive, there is a lot of work that needs to be done. There has been a bit of a reshuffle at the top and the players have to take the responsibility on themselves to develop and get better.

“We cannot stand still and stagnate, we need to get better. When you are down at the bottom of the table then you need to win to stay in the top division which brings a lot of pressure from the supporters and from the media.

“It adds a different dimension to the way that you look at things and there is a lot more at stake.

“When you are scrapping it out at the bottom it’s an important time to try and stay strong as a whole team. I think it was a good lesson and hopefully we have learned from that.”

“At that stage guys stood up and found some form and that’s what matters not how good it looked or how pretty it was because it’s a results-based business we are in and at the end of the day we got what we wanted and stayed up.”

Kieswetter is back for a month before jetting off to Australia on December 12 to play for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash T20 competition where he meets team-mate Alfonso Thomas who is playing for Perth Scorchers in the opening match.

The Taunton Area AGM is taking place at the County Ground next Thursday, November 21, starting at 7.30pm.