White: We are not suddenly a bad team

Somerset v Hampshire

May 26-29, County Ground, Taunton, 11:00

HAMPSHIRE will look to bounce back from their first County Championship defeat of the season when they travel to Taunton, insisting they are not a bad outfit.

Despite being many people’s favourites to be relegated this year, the south coast side got off to a flyer this season, winning at Yorkshire before drawing at home to current champions Middlesex.

Their season hit a blip last weekend though, falling to a defeat to Essex inside three days as last year’s Division Two winners topped the table.

Hampshire now face a Somerset team who sit bottom of Division One and Ageas Bowl coach Craig White knows his side have the ability to fight again.

White said: “One bad performance doesn’t make us a bad team. It’s been one bad game, the three before in the Championship were very good.

“Maybe we had a hangover from our one-day cricket where we didn’t do very well, so maybe there was a lack of confidence floating around, I don’t know.We’ll let the dust settle and sit down and discuss the team.We’ve had a blip in the game against Essex, we want to see us bounce back.”

Somerset’s last game saw them rescue a draw thanks to Marcus Trescothick’s 50th First-Class century, while the left-handed opener also passed 25,000 runs for Somerset. He’s not thinking of retirement just yet though.

The 41-year-old said: “I don’t envisage stopping any time soon. There are a lot more years yet to continue with what I’ve got to do. Hopefully I can continue to tape the body up. As long as I’m good enough, I’ll continue to play. I love playing cricket.

“Absolutely, I doubt myself. That will never go away. I felt a million miles away from top form this season. I’ve been really battling for rhythm.”