SOMERSET opener Marcus Trescothick has insisted that the pre-season excitement remains as strong as ever as he prepares to begin his 25th first-class season at the club.

The 42-year-old has looked in good touch in the friendly fixtures and is now raring to go ahead of the curtain raiser against Essex, which begins at the Cooper Associates County Ground on Good Friday.

Reflecting on the build-up, the left-hander said: “We had a good trip away to Spain and since then the pre-season games have been OK – it’s been a bit rainy at times but generally we’ve looked pretty good and it’s exciting now that we’re close to getting going.

“We’ve had a lot of one-day cricket which has provided the good results, but we also had a good win against an admittedly under-strength Lancashire side.

“It has been good and the guys have done what they needed to do in terms of runs and wickets, but it always comes down to adjusting to the mental challenge of playing the first competitive game.”

Trescothick will be joined at the top of the order by overseas player Dean Elgar, who has scored three centuries for South Africa over the winter and now returns for a second stint at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

“Dean was here in 2013 and proved to be a great guy to have in the team,” Trescothick said.

“He’s obviously now progressed to opening the batting, and having two left handers at the top will be an interesting combination so we’ll see how it goes.”

Elgar’s arrival means a drop down to number three in the order for new skipper Tom Abell, a player Trescothick feels will benefit once the talking stops and the cricket starts.

Speaking about his new captain, the opener said: “He’s settled in fine – I think he’ll grow into the job quickly and I can’t see there being any issues.

“The attributes are all there and once the season gets going it will be a lot easier as he can focus on playing the game rather than all the speculation around it.”

Last season’s second-placed finish was the fourth time a Somerset side have ended as Championship runners-up during Trescothick’s years at the club, and the Keynsham-born batsman outlined the hunger he and the squad have to go one better this time out.

“I think how we ended last year has given us something to look at. We were very good from the middle of last season but you’ve got to do more throughout so a good start will be key," he said.

“The team is gelling nicely – the youngsters are forever getting more experienced and the older guys are still contributing, while the introduction of Steve Davies is good and will certainly add a lot to the team.

“The club have made no bones about the fact the Championship is priority. That is the position we’re in and we desperately want to win it.”

On a personal note, Trescothick goes into the new campaign knowing that one more hundred will see him overtake Harold Gimblett and stand alone in the record books as Somerset’s all-time leading century maker.

Looking ahead to the possibility, he said: “I guess it is on my mind because I get told about it a lot!

“At the start of your career you don’t necessarily set out to achieve these things but once you get closer it becomes a target to try and get to.

“Ultimately, though, you have got to concentrate as much as you can on winning games and these things come up as by-products of that.”

Trescothick will have his first chance to etch his name into the history books over the Easter weekend – make sure you join us on Good Friday for over-by-over coverage of day one.

You could also have the chance to be there on Saturday for day two – just ‘like’ our new Somerset CCC Facebook page before 11am on Friday for your chance to win two tickets.