With the shortest day now in the past and the turn of the year in sight, thoughts at Somerset County Cricket Club are firmly focussed on the 2003 season and trying to ensure that all possible measures are taken to enable the club to gain promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.

The club has already made three impressive signings in West Indian fast bowler Nixon McLean, South African top order batsman James Bryant and promising young allrounder Aaron Laraman from Middlesex, each of whom will strengthen the Cidermen's bid for success next summer.

In the days leading up to Christmas officials at the club spent a considerable amount of time on the telephone to South Africa trying to get the latest information on two of their new recruits.

The Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson told me: "Somerset are trying to make an assessment as to whether Nixon McLean's contract with the club for 2003 will be affected by a possible recall to the West Indies team. If he is recalled the West Indies are due to play Australia and Pakistan at home with matches scheduled to take place up to the end of June 2003."

Nixon McLean is currently in very good from in South Africa where he is playing for Natal. Last season he was one of the leading bowlers on the domestic scene and this year in his four matches he has taken 16 wickets at a cost of nearly 23 runs each.

McLean told me: "I have a contract with Somerset County Cricket Club which I hope to fulfil. Joel Garner was a hero of mine and I was thrilled to bits to be given the chance to fill his enormous boots."

He continued: "My contract with Somerset is attractive because it states that it will be me and not Andrew Caddick who bowls with the wind, and it will always be me who bowls into the end with the most grass!"

In reality the likelihood is that because McLean is already playing in South Africa, where the World Cup is due to take place in spring 2003, he may well be recalled for that competition.

Beyond the World Cup it is difficult to predict, but officials at Taunton will certainly be watching West Indian team developments very carefully over the next few months.

The signing of batsman James Bryant by Somerset is looking better and better with each day that passes by.

Referring to the Eastern Province batsman Mr Anderson told me: "Respected observers of the game in South Africa have been contacting me to say that the signing of James Bryant is a very shrewd move indeed. He is said to be technically a very good batsman, and his second attribute is that in the field he is on a par with Jonty Rhodes," all of which is very good news for Somerset supporters.

© SOMERSET