Trego tips his hat to White

Cameron White is among the world's best Twenty20 players, according to Peter Trego

As understatements go, Peter Trego’s assessment of Cameron White’s batting prowess takes some beating.

“He can give it a steady nudge, that lad,” Trego said of the Australian who wrote himself into the Somerset history books last year with a savage 48-ball century against Gloucestershire in the Twenty20 Cup.

White also smashed 141 not out at Worcester – the highest score since the competition’s inception in 2003 – and topped the national averages with 63.

His tally of 403 runs in eight matches was bettered only by his team-mate Justin Langer, while few batsmen could even get close to White’s astonishing strike-rate of 180.

All-rounder Trego believes such consistently destructive batting has earned White the right to be numbered among the greats of the shortened form of the game.

“He has to be up there with the best of them around,” Trego told ecb.co.uk on the eve of Somerset’s first match in this year’s tournament, a trip to Edgbaston to face Warwickshire on Friday evening.

“He’s brutal when he gets going, and on his day there’s no ground in the world big enough to stop him. Bowlers are scared of him.

“The thing about it is he hits in such a controlled manner – it’s not mindless slogging. He hits straight and he hits hard.

Trego frees his arms against Warwickshire in last year's competition

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“In that way, Taunton helps with the short, straight boundaries, but plenty of players have come here and not got anywhere near what Cameron has done.

“He has showed glimpses of how good he is on the one-day international stage but it amazes me how he isn’t a regular in the Australia one-day team.”

It is because of players such as White, who have wielded their blades with such devastating effect, that the Twenty20 Cup has evolved at such a rapid pace.

The thousands of fans who flock to see the thrill-a-minute matches are being treated to bigger hits, more outrageous shots and higher totals as bowlers haemorrhage runs and boundary boards take a pounding game after game.

“We got 250 against Gloucestershire last year, which is just unbelievable in a 20-over game,” added Trego, referring to the match in which White hit 116 off just 53 deliveries, with seven fours and a staggering nine sixes.

“You can’t do that unless you’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

“You’re not going to churn out a decent 40 in Twenty20 - it’s very much a ‘it’s my day’ kind of game.

“There’s an element of pressure to perform but it’s more a chance to express yourself and enjoy it.”

It is impossible not to have fun on the pitch, according to Trego, thanks to the huge crowds – Somerset’s first home game, against Northamptonshire on Sunday, is sold out –and unique carnival atmosphere.

Spectators revel in the joyous atmosphere of Twenty20

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He said: “You’re playing on a Friday night, for instance, people are coming after work, they’re having a few beers – everyone is enjoying themselves.

“The atmosphere is a massive bonus because every sportsman wants to play in front of a decent crowd.

“It’s hard work chasing the ball around, and it’s intense – it’s the closest you’ll get to a game of football from a fitness point of view.

“But 20 overs is nothing the field, the game is over in time, and you get a decent amount of rest. Basically, it’s three weeks of fun cricket.”

Trego is deprived of the chance to build on his impressive start to the season - he sits 10th in the PCA player rankings - as an intercostal injury rules him out of the Warwickshire clash.

He does, however, expect Somerset – winners of the competition in 2005 – to challenge for honours on the back of their fine championship form.

“We won the Twenty20 a couple of years ago and we’ve got a great balance of experience and youth,” he said.

“The club might be pushing the younger guys forward in the shorter format this year, but we’ve got such a great top order – Marcus Trescothick, JL (Langer) and Cameron – that we know we’ll score runs.

“Sport is a massive momentum thing and, whatever game you’re playing, if you’ve been scoring runs or taking wickets you go with the flow. We’re all looking forward to it.”