Somerset travelled north to Blackpool on Monday ahead of their vital championship relegation match against Lancashire boosted by the news that Andrew Caddick will definitely be playing.

Having been deprived of taking maximum points in their most recent game on Saturday by the Warwickshire last pair who batted out for the final twelve overs the presence of the England paceman will be most welcome.

Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "Andy Caddick will play for us against Lancashire which is great news. We have just played our best championship cricket in the draw against Warwickshire, and now we expect a good contest at Blackpool. We are two sides who are battling it out in the lower reaches of the table, so a lot hangs on the result."

The Cidermen's other England star, Marcus Trescothick made the journey with the rest of the team, and will have nets ahead of the game, but the final decision as to whether he plays or not will not be made until just before the start of play.

Whatever decision is made later today, it is now looking almost certain that Trescothick will play for Somerset in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy Final at Lord's on Saturday, news that will gladden the hearts of all supporters.

After a welcome return to form by skipper Jamie Cox over the weekend during which he scored 44 in the championship match and 65 in the NUL game he told me: "It felt good out there and it was nice to score a few runs. With four vital championship matches and of course the C and G Final next weekend this is a good time to find a bit of form. We are delighted by the news that Andy Caddick will play for us on Tuesday, that is an added bonus."

The presence of Caddick will mean that one of the other pacemen will probably have to make way for him, but that decision will be left until just before the start.

The Somerset team for Blackpool will be chosen from: Marcus Trescothick, Jamie Cox, Mike Burns, Peter Bowler, Matt Wood, Keith Parsons, Ian Blackwell, Rob Turner, Keith Dutch, Richard Johnson, Matt Bulbeck, Andy Caddick, Simon Francis and Steffan Jones.

With the Red Rose county, who are currently placed just above Somerset in the table, due to travel to Taunton in September for the return match, victory in both could well save the Cidermen from the drop to the second division.

© SOMERSET