SOMERSET are all set for the first match under their new floodlights tomorrow as Essex visit Taunton in a televised Royal London One-Day Cup clash (1pm).

The 54-metre lights were installed over the winter and used towards the end of days two and three against Kent in the Specsavers County Championship opener at the start of the month.

READ MORE: 'Unreal achievement': Hildreth hailed after setting new Somerset record

Tomorrow will be the first day/night encounter under the lights and sees Somerset looking to continue their strong start to the season.

The hosts sit top of the South Group with three wins from three going into the match.

Looking ahead to the prospect of playing floodlit cricket in Taunton, Somerset batsman James Hildreth said: “It is going to be brilliant.

“I played under lights here when I first started when the lorries used to come in with temporary lights for televised games, and if it was too windy we couldn’t play.

“It is fair to say these ones are on a different level – the light show before the season started was brilliant – and it will be fantastic to play under them in front of our crowds.

“I am sure it will be an amazing atmosphere and a real occasion.”

Team news

Somerset squad: Tom Abell (c), Azhar Ali, Tom Banton, George Bartlett, Dom Bess, Jack Brooks, Josh Davey, Lewis Gregory, Tim Groenewald, James Hildreth, Craig Overton, Peter Trego and Roelof van der Merwe.

Opposition in focus

A KNIGHT of the realm is set to open the batting in Taunton on Friday as Sir Alastair Cook arrives as part of a strong Essex side.

His opening partner, Varun Chopra, has starred in the one-day competition so far, making back-to-back centuries in the first two matches - but he misses the trip to Taunton with injury.

Cook has made 40, 16 and 9 in Essex’s three matches - a win and two defeats - and will have fond memories of his most recent visits to Taunton in 2017.

The England legend made an unbeaten century in the County Championship before striking 65 in a Royal London One-Day Cup victory a month later.

Fellow England internationals Tom Westley and Ravi Bopara are also part of the visiting squad, along with experienced captain Ryan ten Doeschate and Australian seamer Peter Siddle.

Essex squad: Ryan ten Doeschate (captain), Ravi Bopara, Alastair Cook, Sam Cook, Simon Harmer, Dan Lawrence, Aron Nijjar, Rishi Patel, Jamie Porter, Matt Quinn, Peter Siddle, Paul Walter, Tom Westley, Robbie White

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