TOM Abell was in at the deep end during his first season as Somerset captain and there were certainly choppy waters to negotiate.

Having successfully negotiated those, however, the 24-year-old is looking forward to leading the side out again in 2018 while also hoping to convert his potential with the bat into consistent big scores.

Asked if he feels more relaxed going into this campaign, he replied: “I wouldn’t say so, but I certainly feel better prepared.

“I don’t think you can ever fully prepare yourself for what’s to come over the summer but tactically I’ve taken a huge amount from last year and the experience we had really tested our resolve.

“A lot gets made of chances for the year but our sole focus is on that first game and making sure we’re ready.

“We don’t want to be playing catch-up again as we have done in recent years.”

Abell will be more aware than anyone of a need to continue his own upturn in form late last season into this campaign.

He has worked tirelessly over the winter, both at home and overseas, in a bid to ensure that is the case.

“I think my game is in a better place,” he said.

“I’ve been lucky enough to spend time out in the middle and I’m in a pretty good place with my batting.

“The experience in India was fantastic and I took a huge amount out of it in terms of playing spin.”

Playing on turning wickets has been commonplace in Taunton over the past two summers, though Somerset will have to be careful this year after the surface was marked ‘below average’ in the season finale against Middlesex.

“We want good wickets with all disciplines in the game - as I think we had last year,” Abell said.

“We have two of the best, if not the best, spinners in the country but equally we’ve got some highly-skilled seamers so we want them involved, as we do the batters.

“As a batting unit we were really tested at the start of last summer and I don’t think you can necessarily legislate for that.

“That’s behind us now and we’re looking forward – that wasn’t a true representation of who we are as players.

“I’m very optimistic about our batting unit with the work we’ve done.”

Somerset open their County Championship campaign against Worcestershire today from 11am; keep an eye on somersetcountygazette.co.uk for live coverage.