Kieswetter keeping calm

Craig Kieswetter has been pleased with Somerset's form in the last two years

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Somerset wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter is confident his team can upset the odds and steal the LV County Championship Division One title from Nottinghamshire’s grasp.

Somerset are due to play Lancashire at Taunton, starting on Wednesday, with only eight points separating them from the Trent Bridge outfit.

“We still have expectations to win the championship,” Kieswetter told ecb.co.uk.

“Lancashire are down at the bottom and not playing the best cricket, and we are at the other end.

“Things seem to go well for us at home - we’ve only lost two games in the last two years - so we are very positive going into the game.”

Somerset won Division Two of the championship last year to earn promotion into the top-flight, but Kieswetter conceded that this year it has been a lot harder to compete.

“We steamrolled through the championship last year. We played a couple of the teams in the first division in one-day cricket and we knew we were right up there.

“It was just a matter of believing we were going to do it. I think we have proved to everyone we are competing at the highest standard.

“It has been quite a hard season having to grind victories, rather than steam-rollering and we are obviously going to have to win the game (against Lancashire) to potentially win the championship.

“We are chuffed, but we also let a couple of errors slip, and a couple of points.”

Nevertheless, spirits are high in the Somerset camp with every player having contributed at some point during the season, something which Kieswetter attributes to their success.

Justin Langer led Somerset to the LV County Championship Division Two title last year

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“Last year, two or three individuals did the performances, but this year it has been more of a team effort,” he said.

“The wickets have been shared and there have not been as many hundreds as last year. It has been more of a team effort, which is another positive we have taken.”

Former Australia opener Justin Langer joined Somerset as captain at the start of the 2007 season and has overseen a remarkable rise in the club’s fortunes, something which is not lost on Kieswetter.

“I think the results speak for themselves,” he admitted. “Going from bottom to first and now in the first division.

“He has been a massive, massive influence and he is a perfectionist so he always wants you to do the best you can and never give up.

“He has brought a very positive and professional influence into the dressing room.”

Taking the championship title would be deserved reward for Langer’s team after two very consistent seasons and Kieswetter is determined to ensure they do their best to achieve their aim.

“Obviously going into every competition we want to win every one we play,” he said.

“But definitely since Somerset have never won the championship it is a massive incentive to win the championship and start a new era down south.”