Somerset cricketers Carl Gazzard and Piran Holloway who are both spending the winter out in Perth in Western Australia have been involved in a car accident in which the driver of a land cruiser was killed when he collided head on with a truck.

Fortunately both of the Somerset players were uninjured but obviously shaken by their experience.

Piran Holloway told me: "The land cruiser flipped over the lorry and rolled but, luckily I was able to hold the skid and prevent it from landing on top of us. We tried to help get help and get the man out but unfortunately he was dead. We were all ok but a bit shaken and sunburnt after spending four hours on Wannaroo Road directing traffic."

Regarding the demise of England in the ashes series Piran told me: "It's quite amazing how much better the Australians are than the English. That is not to say that they don't have their weaknesses, but England have been a joke out here and I did not expect anything else to be honest."

He continued: "The Australians were so confident in the damage that they had done to the English batsmen in the previous tests that they stopped bowling to their weaknesses and still got them out."

Piran, who is coaching grade side Scarborough, expressed his own views on what has been happening in the English camp.

He told me: "I feel sorry for our players because I see an equally talented group in the English team who I feel could easily beat the Australians if they achieved half of their potential as batsmen and bowlers. It scares me that the coaching staff have not prepared them for this encounter, or if they have then it astounds me how poorly they have gone about it. It is remarkable that with the introduction of the new coaching courses and development structures how many coaches just don't get what cricket is all about."

With regard to the young wicket-keeper batsman Carl Gazzard who is playing for Scarborough this winter Piran told me: "Carl is going well with his batting and it looks a lot better although he accepts he has a lot to do. He has managed to get a few 30s and last week he made 60 and hit one on the off side which he was pleased with."

Referring to his own cricket the left hander told me: " With another English season approaching I am starting to practice in the nets. I have got a few areas to work on but I am excited about the strides that I made after my own operation last year and feel I am almost back to full strength, which is good news. I'm sure that 2003 will be an enjoyable and rewarding year for both myself and the club."

© SOMERSET