SOMERSET fans will need no reminding that they are one of just three counties never to have won the County Championship.

With that in mind, the signing of Australian Matt Renshaw is a good omen, as the batsman is fresh from a productive season with Queensland which ended with them winning the Sheffield Shield.

Renshaw’s form earned him a Test recall - albeit in far from ideal circumstances in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal - and the left-hander is now looking to take that confidence to Taunton.

He said: “I had a really good second half of the season having struggled quite a lot in the first half in what was my toughest period in First Class cricket so far.

“I got picked [for Australia] quite young and took the opportunity, but after that I probably wasn’t scoring enough runs and didn’t deserve to be in the Ashes side.

“You have to look at the positives, though - we won the Shield, I scored quite a few runs and forced myself back into the Test side. A few people fall off the radar when they get dropped but I wanted to put pressure on.”

Runs with Somerset will only enhance that pressure, as well as boosting his chances of featuring in next summer’s Ashes.

“All the Cricket Australia people are really enjoying the Aussies playing over here as we look to put pressure on the selectors," he said.

"The Ashes series over here next year is massive - we haven't won over here in a long time."

Renshaw's Test career so far has been a mixed bag, from the highs of 184 against Pakistan to the low of being dropped for Cameron Bancroft - who he has now replaced for both club and country - ahead of last winter's Ashes.

In order to consolidate his place in the Australian side, the left-hander will have to score his runs from number three this summer in a change from his usual role.

“I’ve always opened in First Class cricket and for most of my club career, but I’ll do whatever is best for the team,” he said.

“We’ve got Marcus at the top with Eddie, so it’s a really exciting opportunity for him - hopefully they’ll put on some good partnerships and I’ll follow them.

“[Trescothick] is a genius, isn’t he. He’s such a nice guy and it’s massive to feed off someone as educated as him within cricket. It’s exciting to be a part of.”

So could Somerset replicate Queensland’s achievement and take home four-day silverware?

“We’ve been talking about it a lot,” he admitted.

“I’m really looking forward to bringing what I can to this team and putting runs and wins on the board.”