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Last Updated: Monday, 1 August, 2005, 11:27 GMT 12:27 UK
Somerset revolution
By Martin Gough

Star South African Graeme Smith grabbed the headlines when he lifted the Twenty20 Cup aloft for Somerset.

Graeme Smith with the Twenty20 Cup as his young side celebrate
But when he flies home on Tuesday after a successful spell as captain of the Cidermen, a revolution will continue in the West Country.

May of those indulging in a raucous chorus of "Show me the way to Amarillo" as Saturday night turned into Sunday morning could be part of Somerset's success into the next decade.

Many regular followers will say it is about time the club enjoyed some success because it has been rare since they won the C&G Trophy in 2001.

Somerset still languish in the lower reaches of the County Championship and the one-day Totesport League.

But the Twenty20 Cup has helped a talented group of young players demonstrate their ability to unseat the underperforming old guard.

It is a refreshing change for county cricket, where mediocre experience - often in the form of foreign-born players - is preferred to youthful potential.

Wicket-keeper Carl Gazzard, 23, was man of the match in the semi-final, hitting 16 off the penultimate over, making two key stumpings and a run out.

James Hildreth, 20, was at the other end as Smith hit the winning runs and has been a regular scorer in the competition over the last two years.

And opening batsman Matthew Wood, 24, matched Smith run-for-run through the group stages, ending up with 366 at an average of 33.27.

Young boys have come in with key players and really put in the work; it's a collective effort
Graeme Smith
On finals day the big-time experience of former England seamers Andrew Caddick and Richard Johnson was put to good use instead.

But pace bowler Gareth Andrew, 21, was the Sabres' second-highest wicket-taker despite missing those last two games.

"We've got a good mix. We've got people like Caddy, who's amazing in the field, still lifts everyone," said Gazzard.

"But we've got a nucleus of young players who put their bodies on the line.

"We dive and catch everything, fly around the field and get our throws in. It lifts everyone and we believe that brings us wickets."

So far, though, those young stars have needed a totem around which to be successful.

I watched when we went to Lord's four years ago and wanted to become part of it
Carl Gazzard
Last year it was Aussie batsman Ricky Ponting, whose arrival brought their first Championship win of the season, closely followed by the second.

This season it has been Smith, still only 24 despite being in his third year as South Africa captain.

His unbeaten 64 in the final demonstrated his ability to innovate as well as dominate but the way he has passed on his knowledge has also been vital.

"We've got a fantastic leader who drives us on and is never satisfied," said Gazzard.

"We live with that and we're all becoming better cricketers for him."

Smith is modest about his own achievements, highlighting the bigger picture of the Taunton revolution.

"I think I've been a part of something but everyone's had a role to play," he said.

"Brian Rose and Mark Garaway have come in and started to work on building forward to the future.

Carl Gazzard celebrates a stumping
Gazzard was just one of the young players who starred
"Young boys have come in with key players and really put in the work. It's a collective effort."

Former Somerset Academy director Garaway coached most of this group to the 2nd XI Championship last year before taking them into the first team.

Rose captained Somerset to their first ever silverware, the Gillette Cup and the John Player League in 1979.

He was installed as director of cricket in mid-season, and immediately went about chopping back dead wood.

All-rounder Ian Blackwell was marked down last year as future captaincy material.

He has been fast-tracked into the job with Smith's departure, a fitting figurehead for a side whose potential is only just starting to show.

Said Gazzard: "I watched when we went to Lord's four years ago and wanted to become part of it.

"It's a dream at the moment and let's hope it continues."




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