SOMERSET travel to Southampton to face Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl on Friday evening in their final group match in this season’s Nat West T20 Blast competition, writes Richard Walsh.

Somerset may be unable to qualify for the qualify for the next stage of the T20 so Matt Maynard has taken the opportunity to give some of the younger players on the staff and those who have impressed in the Second’s the chance to appear for the senior side.

Looking ahead to Friday’s match the Director of Cricket said: "We have selected a young squad for this game because it is important for these players to gain First XI experience. We can't qualify for the latter stages of the competition so this is the ideal opportunity for these guys to get that time in the middle in the high intensity world of First XI cricket.

"Max Waller will captain the side at the Ageas Bowl. He has captained the Second XI on numerous occasions with success and steered the side to the recent Second XI T20 Final at Arundel. He has captained a number of the young players in this squad before and knows their strengths well. He is therefore the person best placed to use this knowledge on the field to our benefit.

Matt added: "This will also give Jim Allenby a bit of a rest from the added pressure that the captaincy brings. This will enable him to be as fresh as possible when he captains us in our Royal London One-Day Cup match against Sussex on Saturday."

The Somerset squad for Friday evening’s T20 game is- Jim Allenby, Adam Hose, Pete Trego, Tom Abell, James Hildreth, Tim Rouse, Ben Green, Dom Bess, Ryan Davies (wk), Josh Davey, Max Waller (capt), Ollie Sale and Michael Leask.