There must have been a sigh of relief in Taunton when Australia announced their squad for the Ashes series. Jamie Cox, the Somerset captain and opening bat, had been touted as a possible for the tour, but despite consistent success in Australia, the selectors ignored his claims.

The loss of Cox, the county's second-highest run-scorer last season, would have been difficult for Somerset to bear. They already know that they will be seeing precious little of Marcus Trescothick and Andy Caddick this season as both players have been awarded central contracts by England. Caddick played just three championship matches last season.

However, Somerset were busy during the winter bolstering their squad and signed fast bowler Richard Johnson and off-spinning all-rounder Keith Dutch, both from Middlesex.

A fit Johnson is a genuine contender for a Test place. He was selected for the tour of South Africa in 1995-96, but a back problem forced him to withdraw even before the party set off. Very much in the Angus Fraser mould, he took 50 first-class wickets last summer and is a capable lower order batsman.

Somerset will hope Peter Bowler delivers more of the same this season. He scored 1,305 runs at an average of 62.14 last summer.

But members will be hoping Rob Turner rediscovers his form with the bat after a disappointing season last year. He hit a shade under 500 runs at an average of 20.50.

All-rounder Graham Rose will have been happy with his contribution with the bat last season, scoring more than 500 runs at an average of nearly 40. But he will probably want to achieve more success with the ball this time around, having taken just 29 wickets in 15 first-class games last season.

As an understudy to Turner behind the stumps, Somerset welcomed 25-year-old wicket-keeper James Knott from Surrey during the winter.

Somerset have also said farewell to Paul Jarvis. The Yorkshire pace bowler left county cricket at the end of last season during which he had played in only two first-class games.

Squad: I Blackwell, P Bowler, M Bulbeck, M Burns, A Caddick, J Cox (captain), K Dutch, C Gazzard, J Grove, P Holloway, C Hunkin, R Johnson, I Jones, P Jones, J Kerr, M Lathwell, K Parsons, G Rose, A Suppiah, P Trego, M Trescothick, J Tucker, R Turner, T Webley, M Wood.

Overseas: Jamie Cox (Australia).

In: K Dutch (Middlesex), R Johnson (Middlesex), C Hunkin, A Suppiah, T Webley.

Out: A Pierson, P Jarvis, G Kennis.

© CricInfo Ltd.