Caddick back in business

Andrew Caddick had a back operation in the off-season

Evergreen seamer Andy Caddick is hoping to return from a back operation fit and firing for the new season as Somerset aim to go one better this year.

Caddick’s 70 LV County Championship wickets carried Somerset to the Second Division title last summer and he is keen to ensure standards do not slip.

“Coming up into the First Fivision, we will probably be the underdogs," he told ecb.co.uk ahead of Somerset's opening championship game of the season against Lancashire at Old Trafford, which starts on Wednesday.

“But we have a very good chance of upsetting a few of the big boys. If we stay fit then we’ve got a very good chance to do well in the competitions.

“I think a few of the players found their game. They found what they needed to do and how they needed to approach cricket.

“Some very strong points came out of last year. Myself and Charl (Willoughby) stayed fully fit across the course of the summer. That is what has got to happen this year."

Caddick is entering his 18th season in first-class cricket and the 6ft 5in paceman is determined to show he still has it in him to be the best.

“I like to prove people wrong,” he admitted. “At the age of 39 I can still play at the highest level.

“That is a very big motivation for me and I will continue to do that until the day I retire.”

With injuries and fitness playing a big part in recent years, especially for fast bowlers, it is testament to Caddick’s strength that he has not been affected as much as some others.

Caddick took 70 championship scalps in 2007 © Getty Images

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“I’ve only had a couple of major injuries,” he confirmed. “Pre-season, I do a lot of swimming, but during the season it is just bowling - that’s all it is.

“There is nothing you can do, as far as physical exercise is concerned, that can actually mimic the actual bowling.”

Caddick had an operation on a spinal disc in the off-season and spent much of his winter rehabilitating from that to ensure he is completely fit for the 2008 campaign.

“I did a lot of hard work after Christmas for six to seven weeks just to get myself fit again,” he said.

“I’ve done a lot of swimming and I’ve been doing some cross-training and a bit of rowing, treadmill training and a bit of road work.

“Then it was off to Abu Dhabi in the lovely heat to continue training. It has been done in stages, but it is going very well.”

The pre-season tour to Abu Dhabi gave Caddick the perfect opportunity to test out his back in competitive match conditions and he was impressed with the tour as a whole.

“To win three out of four matches was brilliant, especially after we kept losing the toss and had to bowl first in the heat.

“Everyone did a very good job, we enjoyed it, and we got what we needed out of it.”

The Somerset squad are in high spirits and looking forward to showing that 2007 was not a one-off when it comes to trophy success.

“We are very jubilant and very positive,” Caddick added. “We know it is going to be a big ask for us this year.

“But we are very keen to start and raring to go.”