ALASTAIR Cook has dominated the cricketing headlines this week after stepping down as England captain, and Somerset fans wishing to see how he starts the domestic season will be able to do so in the Cidermen’s very first match, writes Paul Martin.

Somerset kick off their 2017 County Championship campaign against Essex at the Cooper Associates County Ground on Friday 14th April, a match which is set to feature England’s all-time leading Test match run scorer.

As a player who now specialises in the longer form of the game, Cook will not be required for England for the one-day matches against Ireland or South Africa or June’s Champions Trophy.

Consequently, he will be available to represent his county until the Test series against South Africa begins at Lord’s on July 7th.

Cook’s newly-promoted side begin their season a week earlier than Somerset, hosting Lancashire at Chelmsford at the same time that Tom Abell’s side face Oxford University in a warm-up match.

The season opener will also pit the respective sides’ new overseas players against each other, with Somerset’s South African batsman Dean Elgar set to face New Zealand seamer Neil Wagner, who is filling in for Essex before the arrival of Pakistani quick Mohammad Amir.

The Cooper Associates County Ground will also host England Under-19s vs India Under-19s on Wednesday 16th August.

Tickets cost £5, while members and children can get in free.

Somerset youngsters George Bartlett, Tom Banton and Louie Shaw are currently on duty with the national youth squad in India and will be hoping to be included in front of their home crowd.

To secure your membership in time for the start of the 2017 season, click here.