Trescothick aiming to make history

Marcus Trescothick insists a first County Championship title would elevate the current Somerset team alongside their celebrated predecessors from the Ian Botham era.

Somerset enter the final round of four-day matches, starting today, just eight points behind Division One leaders Nottinghamshire.

A second-place finish in 2001 was the closet they have come to winning the competition.

And Trescothick believes going one better this year would warrant comparison with the reign of Botham, Viv Richards and Joel Garner, who lit up Taunton in the early 1980s.

"We've talked about the Garner era in the changing room and we just want to be alongside that," he said.

"We don't want to get rid of that part of the history of the club because it's been so great.

"But if we can be considered alongside that era as the first Somerset team to win the championship then that would be special.

"People know we're a good side and we've done well, but you only get remembered if you win trophies so hopefully we can pull it off."

Ian Botham, Viv Richards and Joel Garner never won the County Championship with Somerset

Rain has troubled the LV County Championship throughout the season but former England batsman Trescothick believes the strongest sides remain the ones chasing the title during the final round.

"We've not as seen as much cricket as we wanted as not many four-day games have gone the distance," he said.

"But the best teams are at the top - Notts, Somerset and Durham have consistently been the best teams.

"I'd say Durham are the best we've played. Every time we've faced them they've had Steve Harmison available. They're a real unit."

Trescothick is a staunch advocate of having two divisions in county cricket - although he insists the number of matches being played needs to be reduced.

"The standard of the county game is much higher now than when I first became involved with England," he said.

"When I left it was pretty good but the introduction of two divisions has improved it.

"Now there's so much riding on every game. We're going into the last round when any one of four teams could win the title.

"At the same time only two teams are safe - us and Notts. What more could you want? The two divisions breed a better standard of cricket.

"The only drawback of having two tiers is draws can get you where you need to be.

"Improvements can be made - we still play too much cricket. There is maybe one competition too many.

"If we want England to improve, something has got to give. Whether that's one or four-day competition I'm not sure."