Category: Articles

Article contributed by Paul Baker aka Farmer White.

James Hildreth has retired from professional cricket. His career will one day, no doubt, make a classic cricket book. But now, as Somerset supporters everywhere are remembering one of the last great single-team domestic careers here, as a special tribute, are one person’s personal memories of the greatest moment of his Somerset career. A personal appreciation of more of James Hildreth’s great innings for Somerset appears in the preceding post to this one. This is an extract from that article. There is a link to the full article below.

County Championship. Somerset v Worcestershire. 23rd, 25th and 26th July 1977. Taunton.  Contributed by Paul Baker.

When Marcus Trescothick opened the Championship batting for Somerset at the age of 43 in 2019 it brought back memories of two other emeritus England batsmen playing in a Championship match at Taunton. It was in a different age and the nature of Championship cricket was as different as the age. Matches were played over three days instead of four, there was no promotion or relegation and so no external pressure on most matches. Declarations to set targets where hard cricket could not force a result were part of the cricketing landscape. Fitness regimes were an undreamt-of thing of the future and players playing into their forties was not an uncommon occurrence.

Gillette Cup Semi-Final. Kent v Somerset. 14th August 1974. Canterbury, contributed by Paul Baker (aka Farmer White); Also see this article by Richard Walsh.

Toss. Kent. Elected to field.

The 1974 Gillette Cup semi-final at Canterbury is burned into my memory and vivid images abound there. I re-run them often. The impact it made perhaps reflects the importance of semi-finals, and for that matter quarter-finals, in the two one-day cups of the time. They were major set-piece events which bestrode the domestic cricketing landscape like Glastonbury Tor, Dunkery Beacon and the Wellington Monument bestride the landscape of Somerset.

Contributed by Trevor Incles

A video entitled Cricketers All ( 1949 ) which features, albeit briefly, Bill Alley, who played a prominent rôle for Somerset in the late fifties / early sixties, has been brought to our attention. This appears to be a cine film which was digitally enhanced and reformatted by Salford University and can be viewed free of charge on Vimeo and Youtube.

Cricketers All (1949) (Bill is seen in the opening introduction and approximately 11:30 mins into the film.

Trevor writes “The film gives a brief insight into post war cricket in the Lancashire League and the profusion of world class players who entertained the often vast crowds who attended those matches. More importantly, I feel, it is the social commentary which puts into context cricket as it was played in those pre multi media days ! Incidentally,  I find the narration extremely funny as it is given by a Lancastrian” trying to speak posh” and ends up talking like Captain Mainwaring !

I confess to self interest in that one of the opening batsman for Rawtenstall v Bacup was Tom Incles, my father.  Lancashire League cricket provided a springboard for factory and mill workers, such as my dad, to become local celebrities and improve their lot. Following the formation of the Northern League in 1951/52, my family moved to Blackpool where Dad used to open the innings with firstly  Hanif Mohammed, then Rohan Kanhai and ultimately Bill Alley. Tom and Bill established a number of batting records which stood for a long time. “

The Wikipedia link to Bill Alley’s playing career is to be seen here

 Apparently (and without verification), an obituary to Bill Alley stated that during his time as the professional at Blackpool CC he was the most highly paid cricketer in the world ! Not only did he have a generous basic salary, he also benefited from cash collections from the throngs of holidaying spectators, whenever a 50 was scored or 5 wickets taken (as the film demonstrates) – an all-rounder’s dream ! He was also granted a testimonial match during  the course of every season. Can any other player who has represented Somerset equal or indeed surpass that record.

Trevor continues “However, the point of this tale is that my father was offered a Sales Representative job with the firm of one of Bill’s uncles in Haslingden, where, incidentally,  my grandad took me to watch their new young pro play – a chap by the name of Clive Lloyd !

The upshot of all this is that my father established his own successful company on the south coast along similar lines to those of Bill’s uncle,  which he ran until his retirement. Were it not for the involvement of Bill Alley  in this story, it is most likely that our family would not have had the opportunities with which we were presented and which we grasped with both hands !  Thank you, Bill !”

Contributed by Richard Walsh (Journalist and Museum Trustee)

The Somerset Cricket Museum has recently linked up with South Somerset based Newsline which has enabled a whole new audience to access the contents.

Contributed by Chris Clapham

After careful planning, Sutton Cricket Club embarked on their first tour in England for 15 years with four matches in Somerset and Devon.

Somerset VI CC became the Blind Cricket England & Wales (BCEW) David Townley Memorial Twenty20 Cup Winners for the third time this year, thanks to two sensational performances during Finals Day on Saturday 17th September 2022 at Wolverhampton CC.

The distinction of leading the first Kidmore End cricket team on to a field here fell to Henry Hamilton Palairet Esquire, who then lived at Kidmore House and was a member of an old West of England family renowned for its sportsmen. Fortunately for the cricket public of the country, he extended his love of cricket untiringly to the tuition of his two sons, Lionel and Richard, as soon as they could hold a bat. Both became great cricketers and all round sportsmen. Both played for Somerset and, to this day, Lionel still holds (with H. T. Hewitt) the record opening wicket partnership for that county, 346 against Yorkshire at Taunton in 1892.

Article contributed by Paul Baker aka Farmer White

My father was a musician and a good one by the account of those who knew about such things. The consequence was that his entire sense of timing was applied to his music. He had none left for anything else. As a result we were late everywhere we went and for everything we did. Cricket was not spared. Not even Somerset cricket.

James Hildreth has been a permanent fixture near the top of the Somerset batting order for almost 20 years, but sadly he has played his last innings for the Cidermen.

Even though he wasn’t born in the county the fans have loved Hildy from the very first time he pulled on a Somerset shirt back in 2002 since when he has provided us with so many entertaining innings, but sadly there will be no more after he pulled up with a hamstring injury which has brought a premature end to his retirement season.

Twenty one years ago on September 1st 2001, it seemed like the whole of Somerset were making their ways  up the M5 and along the M4 to Lord’s Cricket Ground to watch the Cidermen take on Leicestershire in the final of the Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Trophy.

On Wednesday 10th April 2022, two Somerset players made remarkable centuries. One was scored for Somerset by Ben Green in the RLODC tie against Durham at Taunton, the other, the first ever in ‘The Hundred’, by Will Smeed for Birmingham Phoenix in a match against Southern Brave at Edgbaston.

Both performances were exceptional and both worthy of the outpouring of praise that has followed but, for me at least, it is the innings of Ben Green that will last longest in the memory. This is not simply because Green’s 157 was the higher score, nor was it because, after a relatively slow start, his last hundred runs were made considerably quicker than Smeed’s total score of 100 not out. And neither is it down to the fact that I am somehow biased against Smeed because his runs were scored in a tournament that has already undermined county cricket and threatens to be part of changes that will bring about its’ complete demise.

First published in the Somerset County Gazette June 2022

LORD Archer of Weston-super-Mare has followed the fortunes of Somerset for over 75 years during which he has enjoyed the high spots and enduring the not such good times.

by Steve Tancock with thanks to Stephen Hill and Barry Phillips, authors of “Somerset Cricketers ….“ and Mike Tarr for permitting the use his beautiful portrait of Somerset’s legendary post-war groundsman (first published on Somerset North Blog May 2022).

by Harry Everett (Journalist and Broadcaster)

I had the privilege to commentate on Sonny Baker’s first ball and first over in professional cricket, v Derbyshire in July 2021 and I cannot remember being more impressed by an 18-year-old on debut. I had already heard lots about this young man from Devon Dumplings teammates who played with him at Kings College and how he ripped through school cricket with in-swinging yorkers. Of course, many had seen the clip that went viral of him doing just that. But there is more to his game than that super strength. It is a travesty injury ceased him from showcasing his skills on the World Stage at the U19 World Cup alongside James Rew and George Thomas. But that 3-46 on debut is one I have watched back on the Somerset YouTube Channel multiple times since-time very well spent. Ned Leonard and Kasey Aldridge will both get further chances in the 2022 season, having been mostly used in the Royal London Cup (RLC) last summer.

By Martin Chandler first published August 2021

Somerset County Cricket Club was formed in 1875, and first competed in the County Championship in 1891, the second summer of the formally organised competition. There have been a number of histories of the club, the first being Ron Roberts’ Sixty Years of Somerset Cricket, a comprehensive look back at the county’s years in the Championship, published in 1952.

On the 26 September 2019 I stood bereft on a damp outfield watching Marcus Trescothick, cap in hand, leaving the field for the very last time.  An emotional crowd aware that a departing wave saw the end of a 26 year playing career that had embedded itself in the very fabric of the Somerset stands. Not only was there no fairy tale end but Somerset had to once again watch as the trophy, fingertip width from their grasp, was presented to a jubilant Essex and to add insult to injury it looked likely that the quality of the pitch would be called into question. This, I thought, was as difficult a day to stomach as I was likely to have to face in my Somerset support.  

By Harry Everett (Journalist and Broadcaster)

In a two-part article I will review the great success of some key names who have come through the Somerset Academy into the first team to play county cricket.

First team regulars for a while now: Ben Green, Tom Lammonby, Lewis Goldsworthy, George Bartlett, Max Waller, Craig Overton, Lewis Gregory, Jack Leach.

More recently: Ned Leonard, Kasey Aldridge and even the much-maligned-by-injury Ollie Sale. And the three current England U19 lads get a mention later on and those who have moved on: Nathan Gilchrist, Eddie Byrom, Dom Bess, Jamie Overton

by Mike Tarr (Artist and Museum Trustee)

This is a story about Bill Andrews, the great Somerset bowler (all-rounder?) who was the manager of the Somerset 2nd XI when I played for the club.

I was very fond of Bill and regret that through no fault of his own, he comes out of this on the wrong side of events, which I am sure may have happened a few times in his working days for Somerset CCC.

By Anthony Gibson (Broadcaster, Writer and Museum Trustee)

When I look back on Somerset’s season from the commentary box of my mind, I see Tom Abell standing defiant, like the boy on the burning deck, amidst the wreckage of the top order batting; I see Craig Overton pounding in for over after relentless over; I see Ben Green leading out his young team in the One Day Cup; and I see all three of our captains explaining honestly, manfully and sometimes almost tearfully what, in the final analysis, went wrong.

Rosie Dyke: It would be impossible to pick just 1. My grandma bowling to me and my brother on the outfield, John Abrahams (Lancashire) asking me to look after his cricket jumper whilst he fielded on the boundary, sitting with my Mum as the new T20 format unfolded, years of tears and smiles and frustration and elation. Introducing the wonderful club and game to my little boy, the next generation. The 5th generation of our family to be a member.

Mike Unwin: We used to travel by train from Montacute and arrive at the County Ground just in time for play to start – Fare 1/0d Return

If I recollect the first match that I attended would have been in August 1956 v Northamptonshire.

by Richard Walsh (Journalist and Museum Trustee)

Whenever people talk about Somerset’s success in one day cricket most refer to the period in the club’s history known as the `Glory Years, when between 1979 and 1983 the team won five one day trophies- four of which came in finals at Lord’s.

Many folk overlook the fact that Somerset had played in two finals before they enjoyed success – in 1978 when they lost to Sussex in what was the precursor to their run of success, and in 1967 when they lost to Kent. The match against Kent in 1967 is often the forgotten final because it was only the fifth year of the  Gillette Cup and one day cricket was very much still in its infancy.

This summer marks the 55th anniversary of the match against Kent and recently I was lucky enough to be able to spend time in the company of Somerset stalwarts Ken Palmer and Peter Robinson who were members of the team on that long ago early autumn day.

By Chris Rew (Father of James Rew)

The 2022 Under 19 World Cup was eagerly anticipated after nearly two years of disruption to youth international cricket fixtures caused by the  pandemic. Luckily, the tournament, held in the West Indies in January / February 2022 was relatively unaffected by Covid, although several teams lost a few players to isolation and Canada had to leave the plate tournament early when nine of their squad tested positive. The ICC, however, did a magnificent job of organisation in testing circumstances.