SOMERSET will be hoping to bounce back from their opening T20 Blast defeat as they face three matches in four days, starting this evening against Essex.

They will have to do so without Corey Anderson, who impressed with 81 on debut at Surrey on Sunday, as the New Zealander is sitting out the trip with a back injury and has been replaced by Johann Myburgh.

Anderson is, however, hoping to feature over the weekend against Glamorgan (July 15) and Middlesex (July 16) as Somerset look to get their campaign up and running.

Today’s opponents, Essex, have also received a blow due to the absence of Tamim Iqbal, the entertaining Bangladesh batsman who this week returned home for personal reasons.

After the visit to Chelmsford (7pm start), Somerset head to Cardiff to take on Glamorgan at the Swalec Stadium (7pm), a venue where they have already tasted success this year courtesy of a 170-run victory in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Another quick turnaround follows, as the Cidermen head to Uxbridge to face Middlesex on Sunday afternoon (2.30pm).

Middlesex are arguably the most star-studded side in this year’s South Group, having added New Zealand pair Brendon McCullum and Tim Southee to a side that already includes England limited overs captain Eoin Morgan and his international teammate Dawid Malan.

Beginning with four away games is unusual, but captain Allenby told the County Gazette prior to the tournament that he had “no issue with it”.

“I look at the positives,” he continued.

“It means we are going to be together a lot at the start of the competition, on the bus and in hotels, so we will have an opportunity to talk a lot about the game and prepare in a different way on matchdays.

“I think it takes the pressure off, as things are out of our control and we just have to crack on with what’s in front of us. They are really tough away games, but we have a chance to get our heads together and plan how we are going to play this format.”

The 34-year-old will certainly be hoping his side have points on the board by the time local rivals Gloucestershire visit next Friday (July 21), otherwise qualification from the group stage for the first time since 2013 will already be a tall order.