Trescothick confirmed as Somerset captain

As widely predicted, Marcus Trescothick has been confirmed as Somerset's new captain after Justin Langer revealed earlier this week he would not be returning in 2010.

"Being made captain is a huge honour for me, particularly as I am Keynsham-born and have been associated with the club since my school days," Trescothick told the county's website. "I've been a player for 17 years and I believe the time is right for me to take on the role. I am really looking forward to the challenge."

Trescothick has enjoyed a prolific season and is by some distance the leading scorer in the country with 1745 runs in the Championship. His top-order displays also helped Somerset to the final of the Twenty20 Cup, which earned them qualification for the Champions League Twenty20 in India.

Trescothick is aiming to travel to the tournament, his first overseas assignment since pulling out of Somerset's pre-season to Dubai in 2008 with a recurrence of his stress-related illness that originally occurred in 2006. The club are putting together a travel plan for Trescothick, which could include basing him and his family in the UAE and flying the batsman in for each match.

Somerset are still fighting for second place in the Championship - which is worth the handy sum of £225,000 - and could take the Pro40 title if Sussex slip up on the final day of the season and Somerset beat Durham, in what will be Langer's final game for the county.