Somerset will have to do it the hard way if we are to go one better than last year and win this season's Friends Provident t20 competition at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, August 14.

We have been paired with Nottinghamshire in the semi-finals and that is the toughest draw we could have received because they are a team packed with talented individuals.

Stuart Broad may well be available to our opponents because finals day falls between the second and third Tests against Pakistan but, even if he isn't, Notts are a fine side and probably the favourites.

To win any tournament you have to beat the best at some stage and, with Kieron Pollard due back to bolster the side who beat Northants so comfortably in Tuesday night's quarter-final, I am confident Somerset can beat anyone if our minds are right on the day.

The heavy defeat by Kent in our final South Division game was a reminder of what can happen if you are not fully focussed for a t20 fixture.

But I'm pleased to say we put that setback firmly behind us in the quarter-final, which was probably our most convincing display of the competition so far.

A couple of run-outs at the start of the Northants innings, including that of dangerman Chaminda Vaas without facing a ball, gave us tremendous momentum after I had lost the toss.

Then the bowling of Murali Kartik and Arul Suppiah in tandem through the middle of their innings effectively shut the Steelbacks out of the game.

The pitch had only been used once before, but I can't recall a wicket turning so much in a one-day game at Taunton. It was very dry and from Kartik's first delivery it was clear the ball was going to grip and spin.

That led me to bring Arul on at the other end, something I admit I failed to do early enough in our drawn Championship game against Kent the previous week, and together the two left-arm spinners sent down eight overs for 29 runs, while each taking a wicket.

Arul's performance with the ball has really given us something to think about, not only for finals day, but for our remaining Championship matches, many of which could be played on surfaces assisting spinners. Some might say it would be stupid to even consider changing the team for the semi-final, but I can state here and now that I want Kieron Pollard out there against Notts.

He is such a three dimensional cricketer that he can win a 20-over game with an inspirational piece of fielding, a devastating innings, or a crucial bowling spell.

Kieron was back home in West Indies for his own domestic Twenty20 tournament while we were beating Northants, but some of the lads managed to contact him after the game so he was able to share in the excitement of getting through.

It was always the intention to bring him back for Finals Day and I am sure none of the other three teams involved will relish seeing our West Indian powerhouse arrive at the Rose Bowl. His presence may well mean one of the toughest selection decisions of my short time as captain. But, as always, I will consult with director of cricket Brian Rose and coach Andy Hurry before the team is announced.

First, we shall have to see who is fully fit after two tough Championship matches against Notts and Kent. Unfortunately, Mark Turner suffered an ankle injury while fielding in the quarter-final and the damage is still being assessed.

It was good to see Craig Kieswetter get some runs against Northants after a tough little spell in which he has had to work very hard to regain some rhythm and form with the bat.

Two shots our England one-day wicketkeeper played in his innings of 33 really caught my eye and suggested he is on the way back. Both were struck straight down the ground and that generally happens when you start watching the ball better and hitting it later.

It will be a great occasion at the Rose Bowl and, although Somerset have been allocated only 1,400 tickets, I am sure a far greater number of our supporters will make the trip.

The crowds for our home South Division games were simply magnificent at a time when attendances were dwindling around the country and it would be a tragedy if a lot of the fans who have backed us this far cannot be at Finals Day.

It's the equivalent of me watching my beloved Bristol City at Wembley and, if I were a Somerset follower, I would move heaven and earth to get there.

Today sees the start of a new Test series at Trent Bridge where England will face a Pakistan team buoyed by their victory over Australia.

I'm very happy with the team England have chosen. I thought Tim Bresnan was unlucky to be left out of the original squad, but then Ajmal Shahzad's ankle injury got him back into the 12 anyway.

Steve Finn is a Test bowler of the future in my view because of the extra bounce he gets so I hope we get a good look at him during the series.

I had no argument with leaving out Ravi Bopara, even though I think he is very close to a recall in one-day internationals. Along with Eoin Morgan, Ravi is probably our best one-day batsman at the moment, but the Test line-up is settled and proven.

The first Test may well be the most competitive because Pakistan go into it on a high. If we can prove their masters over the next five days, I think we can go on to win the series conclusively.