MARCUS Trescothick made a fluent 75 as cricket returned to the Cooper Associates County Ground, with Somerset hosting Ireland for a four-day friendly match from today.

A reasonable crowd filtered into the ground - with entry being free across the four days - to see Ireland win the toss and elect to bowl.

Trescothick and Eddie Byrom opened the batting for the hosts - potentially the top order partnership for Somerset's County Championship matches if an overseas signing cannot be secured in place of Cameron Bancroft before the start of the season.

Trescothick looked in fine touch as he made his way to 75 (off 88 balls, with 13 fours and a six) before being trapped lbw by Barry McCarthy.

McCarthy also dismissed George Bartlett for a three-ball duck, leaving Byrom on 35no and James Hildreth on 4no at lunch, with Somerset 120-2.

The 2018 County Championship season is now just one week away, although Somerset have to wait an extra week to get their campaign underway, at home to Worcestershire from Friday, April 20.