Somerset to draw on experience to reach Finals Day

Head coach Jason Kerr has led Somerset to the past four T20 Finals Days

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr says they will be drawing on all their experience when they face the Bears in the T20 Blast quarter-finals on Saturday.

Somerset are seeking to reach their fifth consecutive Finals Day and clinch what would be their third title in the competition, having won in 2005 and 2023.

The club won 11 of their 14 group matches to finish level on points with south group leaders Surrey and reach the knockout stage of the competition.

"We'll always look at how we can improve and try and keep driving standards year on year trying to take the team forward," Kerr told BBC Radio Bristol's The Pavilion.

"But the team on paper now is vastly experienced, they've been in numerous situations now where their backs are against the wall and they've obviously been in the ascendancy so we'll need to draw on all that come Saturday and hopefully the weekend afterwards."

Kerr said Somerset have no injury issues heading into the weekend, with seam-bowler Riley Meredith - who is the top wicket-taker in the competition so far - among those available after playing for Welsh Fire during the Hundred.

"He's a real X factor for us," Kerr said, of the Australian.

"He's got that little bit of extra pace and combine that with incredible skill so we're fortunate and hopefully we'll keep him as fresh as we can for the weekend."

With New Zealand bowler Matt Henry also unavailable after his spell earlier this summer, Kerr said they would be looking at bringing South African all-rounder Migael Pretorious into the competition as well as seamer Jake Ball, while balancing the squad with three remaining County Championship matches this month.

"We're looking at Migael but through the MB 50 [One-Day Cup] he's been struggling with a bit of an ankle injury so again with one eye on Championship cricket next week we'll manage him," Kerr said.

"We've obviously got the incredibly experienced and skilled Jake Ball who played at the back end of the group campaign stage so we've got options and we'll assess.

"We've got 14, 15 in the squad and we'll pick what we believe is the best 11 come Saturday."