SOMERSET cricketers are heading out to Abu Dhabi next month as part of the Club’s pre-season preparations.

The squad will leave the UK on March 6 and the the trip will involve outdoor training plus two T20 fixtures and a two-day red-ball match against Essex CCC.

Somerset head coach, Jason Kerr said the trip is incredibly important.

“The guys who have been with us over the winter have worked incredibly hard, but there’s no substitute for time out on the grass. It will also give us a chance to reconnect as a whole group and hone our skills.

“It’s important for the players to spend time in each other’s company. There’s a big journey ahead of us over the next few months and the guys will be spending a lot of time together. Therefore, it’s important that we have clarity on the direction that we want to be going in. This will certainly help us to achieve that.”

Director of cricket, Andy Hurry added: “We will be playing two T20 games back to back on March 10th followed by a two-day red-ball game starting on March 17th.

“We’ve had a lot of players away this winter, so this is a great opportunity for us to get everyone together. Being away as a group provides us with the chance to spend quality time together both on and off the field.

“We’re not asking them to be the finished article by the end of the trip because there is a process leading up to that Warwickshire game on April 6.”