SOMERSET captain Marcus Trescothick was full of praise for team-mate Craig Kieswetter after his fellow Ciderman scored his maiden century for England in Chittagong yesterday on only his third appearance for the team.

Trescothick, who is a veteran of 76 Test and 123 ODIs for England said: "I saw him get to his 50 and hoped he would go on which he did, which was brilliant for him.

"After getting a couple of low scores I imagine he was feeling a little bit under pressure and it's a tough place to play and get hundreds so it was great effort for him in just his third game for England. I think he is coming back home in the near future so I'm looking forward to catching up with him and hearing all the news."

With the new season looming, preparations are in full swing at Taunton ahead of another LV County Championship campaign and Trescothick is anxious that the player is handled correctly.

The Somerset captain said: "We will be looking to give him as much time off as he needs. We will talk to him when he gets back and see what he needs to make sure he can get his preparation right for the start of our domestic season."

Kieswetter's success on the sub-continent means he is almost certain to make the final selection for the England party to play in the ICC World Twenty20 which starts in the West Indies at the end of next month and Trescothick said: "We have been very aware of what could happen with Craig since the end of last season.

"He has progressed so well in both one-day and four-day cricket that we knew the opportunity was going to come along at some point and have been preparing accordingly.

"Jos Buttler has been working hard on his wicket-keeping and will be a straight replacement so if Craig is away with England Jos will take his place and that gives him a great opportunity."

Talking about Kieswetter's future prospects on the England front the new man in charge at Somerset said: "Craig has got that little bit extra about him to progress into the next level of the game and succeed and not get fazed about it.

"You have got to be able to take the rough with the smooth and when you are under pressure from the media, come out and score a hundred, which is exactly what he has done.

"I am not surprised in any way that he has progressed as quickly as he has done. I hope he continues and plays one-day cricket for England for a while now and then gets his chance at Test cricket at some point."

ZIMBABWE followed up their historic Twenty20 win on Sunday by beating West Indies by two runs in a tense first one-day international in Guyana.