Category: Articles

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.

Continue reading “A Tale of two Tons (and other memories) by Pete Aird.”

First published in the Somerset County Gazette June 2022

Continue reading “A look at 75 years of Somerset fandom with Lord Archer by Richard Walsh”

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).

Continue reading “Cecil Buttle – Groundsman Supreme, Mentor Par Excellence”

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.

Continue reading “The successes of the Somerset Academy (the last 5-6 years) – Part 2”

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.

Continue reading “Somerset in Print by Martin Chandler”

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.  

Continue reading “So good to be back – says Annie Chave”

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

Continue reading “The successes of the Somerset Academy (the last 5-6 years) – Part 1.”

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.

Continue reading “Bill Andrews (1908-1989)”

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.

Continue reading “The view from the commentary box 2021 (by A.Gibson)”

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.

Continue reading “The Forgotten Final – Somerset V Kent at Lord’s, September 1967”

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.

Continue reading “My reflections on the 2022 Under 19 World Cup”