A NUMBER of former Somerset cricketers were guests of the club for the final day of the match against Hampshire.

The players enjoyed a carvery lunch together and afterwards spent time in one of the hospitality boxes in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion.

Among those attending was Simon Ecclestone returning to Somerset for the first time since injury forced him into early retirement in 1998.

The left handed batter, who was vice captain in 1997 the year he scored 951 runs, said: “It was great to come back and catch up with everyone. It’s been a long old time and I didn’t quite know what to expect but it was most enjoyable.”

Simon went on: “All this time passes but seeing some of the guys who I played with you just carry on where you left off. If you are in any team for an amount of time it’s such an intense period that it’s like going to school with people - you’re there for such an intense period you see them more than you do your family, so when you catch up there’s always something to talk about.”

He added: “It was like carrying on where we left off 25 years ago - it was a really nice day and very therapeutic.”