We are pleased to say, after a Board Meeting and subsequent discussion, that James Hildreth has agreed to become a Somerset Cricket Museum Trustee.
James Hildreth joins the Trustee Board of the Museum.
A busy day in the Museum
21st March 2023 – What a busy day in the Museum! A Somerset County Cricket Club photoshoot launching the new 2023 County Championship shirt with Tom Abell, Craig Overton and James Rew and James Hildreth dropping in to donate a bat to the Museum. The silver cup that James is holding is the U17 player of the year awarded to James in 1991 (and now displayed in the Museum).
Somerset Wanderers Ladies Cricket Club – Club History
Article contributed by Nicky Tranter.
I started teaching Physical Education in Bath September 1966, and offered cricket as an optional extra sport.
Somerset had a Ladies County Team at that time, and I went to the County Trials in 1967 taking 3 girls from the school with me. However there were very few matches and the last straw was one weekend when I travelled to Weston-super-Mare from Bath – by public transport – only to find the ground deserted: no-one told me the match had been cancelled! The County Team folded in 1968 and I decided that if I wanted to play the only way forward was to form my own team.
Audio version of Article
Who’s Who Books
We are very grateful to Mr.Tony Elston for the donation of two books which will be placed in the upstairs Museum bookshelf for avid researchers to wend their way through.
Owzthat Game.
We are very grateful to Museum Volunteer, Mr. Paul Smith, for donating this game to the Museum and filling a gap in the Cricket Toy display drawer.
‘Out Ground’ pictures of Frome CC and a tribute picture to Harold Gimblett
We are very grateful to Nick Larder and the Frome CC for allowing us to have photographs of these lovely pictures (which have been returned to Frome). Photographs by Museum Trustee Alain Lockyer.
Somerset v Worcestershire July 1977 B.Close v B. D’Oliveira
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.
Continue reading “Somerset v Worcestershire July 1977 B.Close v B. D’Oliveira”Combe Down Cricket Club – Club History
Cricket has been played on Combe Down since the mid nineteenth century, various teams have played matches as Combe Down as far back as 1857, the first reported match against Box Cricket Club appeared in the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, possibly by workers from the stone quarries of both villages. The following year 1858 a match report appeared against Chippenham. Fixtures were listed at times during the 1880’s -1890’s but no official club was formed until the summer of 1897 when as part of the rugby club a cricket section was created.
Memories of Brian Close
Contributed by Mark Windsor
He made his England debut in 1949 at the age of 18 & played his last international game 27 years later at the age of 45 in 1976. He played 22 games during his international career which span over 4 different decades scoring 887 runs at the average of 25.34 with a top score of 70. In addition he has picked up 18 wickets at the average of 29.55.
Even though his international career didn’t have any significant no’s, in the county scenes he was a Yorkshire legend scoring 33000 plus first class runs in addition to 3458 list A runs. Further he has taken 1171 first class plus 65 list A wickets while captaining Yorkshire & playing for Somerset. His thought process as a captain was “I’ve always believed that the team is more important than the individual”.
He also captained the England side in a few occasions as well. It was during the 1963 West Indies tour of England which was the only time he got to play a 5 match series where went on to show his courageous & fighting attitude when he almost took England to a victory at Lord’s. That too against the fearsome West Indies bowling duo Hall & Griffith. During an era where no helmets & not much protective gear was available, he took the attack to the West Indies during the last day chasing a target of 234. With no other batsmen scoring more than 20, he made his career best of 70 & when the game was finally ended in a draw England were on 228/9 just 6 runs short of the target. During this innings he got hit several times which the image below shows well.
13 years later he faced the visitors & ended up with similar bruises after facing the likes of Michael Holding, Andy Roberts & Wayne Daniel. This time around he was 45 years old & he was called in to fill the already shorthanded England side. Well past his physical prime he answered the call in an heroic manner by facing the chin music from West Indies pacers spending almost close to three hours while scoring 20 runs before being dismissed. That’s a type of courage we hardly see anymore from an international cricketer.
Ultimately it was his last international game as well since he was dropped from the next game. On his 92nd birth anniversary here’s remembering former England all rounder late great Brian Close.
Walking Cricket and Walkers & Talkers
Over the the next few weeks and months we shall be hosting visits from the Walking Cricket groups from around the County and (on a monthly basis) the Walkers and Talkers Groups.
For more details on the Walking Cricket see
And for the Walking and Talking Groups click here.
There will be opportunities to visit the Museum with both groups.
Somerset v Kidmore End Autographs from July 1977
We are very grateful to Sarah Hawken for sending the autographs to the Museum. Another reminder of the long association of the Somerset and Kidmore End Cricket Clubs.
To look at the history of this long association click here.
Various Somerset Women’s / Girl’s Cricket Scorecards
Somerset U15 Vs Isle of Wight U15
Venue: Kingswood School, Bath
Date: 01-Jun-2002
The Somerset Team features both Steph Davies and Anya Shrubsole, both went on to be England players. Steph would have been aged 14, and Anya probably only aged 10.
Somerset Women Vs Middlesex Women
Venue: Queens
Date: 28-Jul-2002
Somerset Women Vs Hertfordshire Women
Venue: Gonville & Caius
Date: 29-Jul-2002
Somerset Women Vs Lancashire Women
Venue: Kimbolton
Date: 27-Jul-2002
Kent U15 Vs Somerset U15
Venue: Polo Farm, Canterbury
Date: 02-Aug-2003
Somerset U15 Vs Cornwall U15
Venue: Kings Bruton School, Bruton,
Date: 17-Jul-2004
Somerset U15 Vs Dorset U15
Venue: Brownsword Ground, Bath
Date: 18-Jun-2005
Gloucestershire U15 Vs Somerset U15
Venue: Stowell Park, Glos
Date: 25-Jun-2005
Somerset U15 Vs Wales U15
Venue: North Parade, Bath
Date: 03-Jul-2005
Somerset U15 Vs Essex U15
Venue: Lords Wandsworth Festival, Final
Date: 06-Aug-2004
Wales U17 Vs Somerset U17
Venue: Ewenny CC, Wales
Date: 18-Jul-2004
Some notes re the above: Anya Shrubsole didn’t play that often for the U15’s. She was playing boys cricket at the time, and she often played u17’s as it was more challenging.
Also included are a couple of 4-fers, but no 5-fers. One U17 game has been included. The U17’s were short of players, so four U15s were called-up.
In terms of opposition: Beth Langston played for Essex, she was probably quite young then. She went on to make the England squad. Alex MacDonald played for Glos. She was an England academy player, and still plays for Yorkshire based Regional team(s). Lauren Onojaife (Essex) was also England Academy.
Nicole Richards played for Cornwall. She also played for Somerset Women at a later stage, and still plays for Western Storm and Welsh Fire. She married and became Nicole Harvey. Emma Plush and Karen Baker, both Kent, also made the England Academy set-up.
Women’s and Girls Cricket Memorabilia
Former England and Somerset cricketer Jan Godman (pictured here with Museum Volunteer Patrick Draycott) recently called into the Somerset Cricket Museum at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton to donate a Cup and Photograph to add to the Women’s and Girls Cricket collection
Somerset Women’s and Girl’s Team Photographs
The photograph below was taken at the England players (Men & Women) cap presentation set up by Andrew Strauss, believed to be in 2017.The players below are 7 out of the 10 Bath/Somerset players who attended.
L-R Fran Wilson, Jackie Hawker, Kathryn Wilkins, Jan Godman, Hannah Knight, Katharine Winks and Anya Shrubsole. Sarah Collyer, Laura Harper, Steph Davies didn’t attend.
Taken in 2002 at the u15 County Championship semi-final against Kent. Jan Godman’s mother, Pat, is on the left. The others are. Back row, left to right; Jenny Withers, Bethan Smith, Annie Riccio (capt), Charlotte King, Katherine Feather, Hannah Williams, Lucy Allison (coach). Front row; Suzanne Powell, Anya Shrubsole, Liz Tilley, Laura Gladman, Kiri Purssy, Kayleigh Smart (12th).
Taken in 2004 a photo of the Somerset Girls U15 team, having won a trophy at a week long, residential County Development Tournament, in Hampshire.
It was a young side. Left of picture in maroon top is Lisa Pagett. Current Director of Western Storm. The then England player presenting the trophy, and in her England kit ( 4th from right) is Beth Morgan. Team manager/coach on the right is Lucy Allison. In the shadow somewhat next to Lisa is Frances Wilson (aged 12 or 13).
Taken c.2005, possibly 2006 the photo below features Tamara Gould ( back row, second from left) – she only played for these two seasons.
Back Row: Lucy Allison (manager & player), Tamara Gould (wk), Helen Davies, Laura Harper, Hannah Lloyd (c), Anya Shrubsole, Steph Davies, Richard Askew (coach)
Front Row: Jenny Withers, Coleen Ashbee, Jackie Hawker, Beth Howe, Liz Tilley
It is believed that these are the correct names (at that time, as some have subsequently married and changed names). Anya was the youngest, probably around aged 13, Beth was 16, Jenny 17, Liz, Steph & Tamara 18, Coleen 19.
In the two photos below Laura Gladman is bowling in the nets against the Australia women’s team, in 2005 during a County U15s tournament/festival at Christ’s Hospital School in Sussex. The Aussie team were in the UK preparing for the Ashes series that summer, and training at the school. Is the foreground is Aussie fast bowler Kathryn Fitzpatrick (still regarded as the fastest female bowler of all time).
In the second photo, Laura Gladman (in Somerset whites), is preparing for the same nets session against the Aussie women. Four bowlers were selected from the Counties playing at the Tournament. Two others in the picture, in blue tops and caps, were Devon players. The player in the centre is Heather Knight. The one missing from the photo was Daisy Gardner (Hampshire player, we think).
From 2007. An U19 Somerset girls team (though mostly younger and in one case much younger.) This team includes Frances Wilson. She would have been aged 15 at that time.
Anya Shrubsoles’ younger sister, Lauren, is featured. She must have been 13 or so then, and the youngest in this team. Both Frances and Lauren went on to play many times for Somerset Women.
Weather was a problem in 2007. They were supposed to play 4x 50 over matches, but only one was completed, against Essex. Frances scored a half century, and Laura Gladman’s bowling figures were 9 overs 2 for 20. They also played a T20 game against Cornwall.
Notice the kit differences: Typically, the girls teams did not wear sponsored kit. And Sophie is wearing their usual kit. However, in 2007 the women’s team were wearing the Marston sponsored kit. The Pegasus sponsored kit was in the process of taking precedent, maybe the men were wearing this kit?
Gillette Cup Semi-Final. Kent v Somerset. 14th August 1974. Canterbury.
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.
Continue reading “Gillette Cup Semi-Final. Kent v Somerset. 14th August 1974. Canterbury.”Ian, Viv and Joel
The end of an era at Somerset CCC – It is believed that this is the last occasion these three giants of the game turned out for the county, namely the Sunday League game against Derbyshire CCC in 1986 – all three made significant contributions to a three wicket victory.
And from a spectator “It was their last game – I was there, but with my Olympus Trip never managed a group shot of the trio. Botham was happy enough to join us for a post-match beer, and a couple of days later they turned out once more in a Garner Benefit Match on the same ground.”
And a further comment from Mike Bailey – I remember going to end of another Joel Garner benefit game after school. I remember Viv scored 140 odd and Botham plonked quite a few in the Tone on the way to a century. Garner was in at the end and smashed 14* of three balls (446 iirc). I got Michael Holding’s autograph and Joel Garner’s.
Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery – Stephen Newton
Stephen Cox Newton (21 April 1853 – 16 August 1916) was an English cricketer who represented, and captained, Somerset County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.
Newton assisted Somerset from 1876 until 1890. The county cricket club had only been formally set-up the previous year, and was seeking first-class status. The majority of matches played by Newton for the county between 1876 and 1878 are recorded by CricketArchive as being for the ‘Gentlemen of Somerset’, and are not categorised as first-class cricket, and although those from 1879 onwards are recorded as being for ‘Somerset’, they are generally regarded as remaining a ‘second-class’ of cricket.
Somerset gained first-class status in 1882, and retained it for four seasons. Newton was the club captain for the first three of these seasons, becoming the county’s first official captain.
He did not, however, appear in Somerset’s first three matches: as a schoolmaster in London, he only played for the county in late-July and August. In his first match as a first-class cricket captain, he top-scored in both innings, with 57 and 67, as Somerset lost to MCC by one wicket.
In his three years of first-class cricket for Somerset, he scored no centuries, five half-centuries, and averaged 24.56 with the bat, higher than he finished with any other first-class cricket side.
Newton returned to play three further matches for Somerset in 1887 and 1890, when they did not hold first-class status. He opened the innings for the county twice in 1887, passing 20 on three out of four occasions. During Somerset’s successful 1890 season, when they remained unbeaten against other county opposition, Newton batted at number four, scoring 3 and 0, his final recorded appearance for Somerset.
Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery – Tom Abell
Thomas Benjamin Abell (born 5 March 1994) is an English first-class cricketer who plays for Somerset County Cricket Club.
Primarily a right-handed batter, he also bowls right-arm medium pace. Abell enjoyed a prolific cricket record while at Taunton School, where in 2012 he accumulated seven centuries and passed 50 in every innings he played at an average of 193, and he was named 2013 Young Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year. He made his Somerset first-class debut against Warwickshire in August 2014, scoring 95 in his first innings. He was appointed Somerset’s County Championship skipper for the 2017 season and is now the longest serving captain in the history of the Club
Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery – Chris Rogers
Christopher John Llewellyn Rogers (born 31 August 1977) is a former Australian cricketer who played for the Australian national team. Rogers is a left-handed opening batsman. He spent ten years playing for Western Australia, before moving to play for Victoria in 2008. He played county cricket in England for ten years representing five first-class teams: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Middlesex and Somerset.
In 2010, after relinquishing the Derbyshire captaincy to Greg Smith, Rogers joined Middlesex for the 2011 season, and was appointed captain of the first-class County Championship side in 2014.
In 2016 he joined Somerset, being appointed captain of the Championship side on his arrival. Rogers retired from first-class cricket at the end of the 2016 season; in his final match for Somerset he made twin hundreds in their 325-run victory over Nottinghamshire.
Minehead Cricket Club – Club History
Founded in 1865, the article below has been taken from Minehead Cricket Club booklet celebrating 150 years of the Club’s existence.
Minehead Cricket Club (MCC) was formed in 1865 under the direction of a George Thrissell, host of the Plume of Feathers Hotel in the centre of Minehead. It is thought that the club first played on a ground in the Ponsford Road/Tregonwell Road area and some years later moved to the current Minehead Recreation Ground.
Pre 1914, it is believed the team travelled to away matches by horse and cart and a donkey was kept to help with ground preparations.
Women’s U15 Cricket Memorabilia
We were very pleased to welcome former Somerset player and now Coach at Bath Women’s Cricket Club, Jan Godman to the Museum earlier this month (January 2023). Jan has very kindly donated some U15 Age Group memorabilia to the Museum. (Pictured with Jan, is Museum Volunteer, Patrick Draycott).
Amongst the items that Jan has donated were a 2002 team sheet and photo of the Somerset U15 team, including an ‘U12’ Anya Shrubsole and the Cup won by the West of England Women’s team in 1998 – the competition having, of course, now been superseded so that we now hold the cup in perpetuity.
The following additional notes were received from Mr Mark Gladman.
“The picture and scorecard referenced was for the under 15 team. It was taken at the match against Kent. I was at the match, and my daughter played. It was the county championship semi-final, played at King Edwards School in Bath. Somerset were without their best player, Steph Davies. I recall that she had an England training commitment. Somerset lost.
Whist Anya was identified as under 12, she was probably 10. My daughter was the next youngest, and was 11.
This was in the first year of the Somerset Girls teams. The U17s started the following season.
The Girls U15 2002 County Championship season results were as follows;
Vs Isle of Wight @ Kingswood School, Bath: Somerset 156/3, IOW 33/10
Vs Devon @ Shobrooke Park, Devon: Devon 50/10, Somerset 51/7
Vs Hampshire @ Brownsword Ground, Bath: Hants 99/8, Somerset 100/6
Vs Essex @ The Peter May Sports Centre, Essex: Somerset 121/8, Essex 76/10
Vs Kent (semi-final) @ King Edwards School, Bath: Somerset 82/7, Kent 83/3
(Games were 30 overs)
Jan’s mother (Pat Sidefin) was the team manager.”
Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery – Marcus Trescothick
Marcus Edward Trescothick MBE (born 25 December 1975) is an English former cricketer who played for Somerset and represented England in 76 Test matches and 123 One Day Internationals. He was Somerset captain from 2010-16 and temporary England captain for several Tests and ODIs. Since retirement he has commentated and coached at both county and international level.
For a full description of Marcus Trescothick’s career click on this line
Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery – Justin Langer
Justin Lee Langer (21 November 1970) is an Australian cricket coach and former cricketer. He is the former coach of the Australia men’s national team, having been appointed to the role in May 2018 and leaving in February 2022. A left-handed batsman, Langer is best known for his partnership with Matthew Hayden as Australia’s test opening batsmen during the early and mid-2000s, considered one of the most successful ever. Representing Western Australia domestically, Langer played English county cricket for Middlesex and also Somerset.
Despite his retirement from international cricket, Langer opted to continue to play first-class cricket, with Somerset announcing on the same day that he had agreed to return in 2007 as captain. Langer had said during his retirement announcement that he was relishing returning to Somerset: “There’s an amazing challenge at Somerset. They’re at the bottom of everything, and I’ve got a great regard for the coach over there and I’m looking forward to that challenge.”
On 20 July 2006, he made his highest first-class score of 342 playing for Somerset in a County Championship match against Surrey at the Woodbridge Road ground in Guildford. This was also the highest score ever by a Somerset batsman, breaking the record of Sir Viv Richards who made 322 against Warwickshire at Taunton in 1985, and is the 10th highest score in a first-class match in England. During his six-week spell at the club, Langer also enjoyed particular success in the Twenty20 competition, topping the batting charts along with fellow Australian Cameron White.
On 20 April 2007 he became the first Somerset player to score two triple centuries in the County Championship when he hit 315 against Middlesex in a match noted for its batting. Responding to a Middlesex first innings of 600, Somerset set a new ground record at the County Ground, Taunton with 850–7 declared. On 19 September 2007 it was announced that Langer would stay with Somerset (as captain) for the 2008 season. In 15 first-class matches for the county in 2007, Langer scored 1215 runs at 57.85 and a further 764 in one-day competitions.
Somerset Cricket Club – Players Gallery – Ian Blackwell
Ian Blackwell, was born in Chesterfield and started off his playing career at Derbyshire, before moving to Somerset in 2000 following a dispute with Derbyshire captain Dominic Cork. He was appointed captain of Somerset for the last part of the 2005 season after the departure of Graeme Smith. Having been appointed official captain for 2006, he had shoulder surgery and missed almost all of the season.
After the 2008 season, Ian Blackwell left Somerset and joined Durham. Blackwell’s struggles with fitness and disagreements with the captain, Justin Langer, were also factors in his departure from Somerset.
Ian Blackwell made his Umpiring debut in First-class cricket in April 2015 in a match between Somerset and Durham MCC University at Taunton. He umpired his first match in the County Championship in April 2016.
Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery – Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith played county cricket for Somerset in the 2005 English cricket season, captaining the club for part of the 2005 season, and he scored a century in a tour match against the Australians in preparation for the 2005 Ashes series. Against Leicestershire at Taunton he scored his maiden first-class triple hundred (311 off 255 balls). He also hit 105 in the Twenty20 Cup match against Northamptonshire, which is currently the 15th highest score in the domestic Twenty20 Cup competition. Smith also captained the team to victory on finals day to secure the Twenty20 Cup trophy, making 64 not out from 47 balls in the final.
Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery – Mike Burns
Michael Burns (born 6 February 1969) is an English first-class list cricket umpire and former first-class cricketer who played county cricket for Warwickshire and Somerset in a first-class career which spanned from 1992 until 2005. He also played Minor Counties cricket for Cumberland and Cornwall. An adaptable cricketer, he appeared for Cumberland and Warwickshire as a wicket-keeper, but when he moved to Somerset he developed into an aggressive batsman who bowled at medium-pace when needed.
For Somerset, Burns passed 1,000 first-class runs in a season twice, and was part of the team which won the 2001 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy.
Mike provided Somerset with a batting all-rounder, particularly in one-day cricket in which he averaged 27 with the bat and 30 with the ball for the county. He took over as Somerset captain in 2003, primarily due to the lack of other suitable candidates. He continued in the role in the following year, though he was criticised throughout due to poor results, which at one stage resulted in a number of Somerset’s players being threatened with being sacked. He was replaced as captain in 2005 by Graeme Smith, and retired from first-class cricket at the end of that year.
Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery – Jamie Cox
Jamie Cox (born 15 October 1969) was an Australian cricketer and former opening batsman for Tasmania in Australia’s domestic competitions.
He then played county cricket in England where he captained Somerset. In 2001, and was playing county cricket for Somerset when the Australian tourists played.
At the end of the 2004 season with Somerset, Jamie Cox was dropped from the county team. Approaching retirement, as Tasmania failed to select him, after playing the occasional game in the next season, he announced his retirement from first-class cricket in March 2006.
Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery – Peter Bowler
Peter Duncan Bowler (born 30 July 1963) is a former English-born Australian cricketer who played for Leicestershire in 1986, Tasmania in 1986/87, Derbyshire from 1988 to 1994 and for Somerset from 1995 to 2004.
His top score in first-class cricket was 241 not out. Even in 1992, when he possessed his highest season average, of nearly 66 runs, he failed to get a call-up by the England selectors, particularly at a time when Derbyshire’s wickets were more suspect to being felled by clever seam bowlers.
However, come 1994, he had a very poor season, playing for Somerset, soon following this up with a 1997 and 1998 season where his problems were only exacerbated. He made something of a comeback in Derbyshire’s second placing of 2001, before they were relegated the following season. He spent two years in Division Two before retiring from the game.
Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery – Andy Hayhurst
During a twelve-year first-class career, Andy Hayhurst played for Lancashire, Somerset and Derbyshire. An effective all-rounder, he was unable to provide the necessary push to put him up for possible international candidacy. Highlights included helping Lancashire to win the 1988 Refuge Assurance Cup, taking 4-46 in the final, and helping Lancashire to win the 1989 Refuge Assurance League. With an average nearing 58 in 1990, in his first season for Somerset, he did not make such figures for the team until 1994, when he became captain of the team for the following three years.
Hayhurst left Somerset in 1996, and in the same year he was to become the assistant coach of Derbyshire.
Somerset Cricket Club Players Gallery – Chris Tavare
Chris Tavaré moved to Somerset as captain in 1989, following a successful benefit in 1988. Tavaré put himself back in the selectors’ thoughts with an impressive televised unbeaten century, for which he was again made man of the match in a losing cause, in a Benson & Hedges Cup semi-final against Essex. Eventually he was recalled for one Test Match, the Third Test against Australia at Birmingham in the 1989 Ashes series. At this time Terry Alderman was enjoying rampant success against English batsman. Tavaré was unable to repeat his earlier success at frustrating Australian bowlers and was dismissed for two in what proved to be his final test innings.
Harptree Villages Cricket Club – Club History
Village cricket is part of the quintessential British summer scene.
There has been a club in the Harptrees since at least 1871. The 1897 fixture card shows that, like many villages, the club officers and captains were the elite of the village. The president was the squire, Mr Kettlewell whose son, H W Kettlewell had turned out for Somerset in 1899: in his only match, he made seven runs and bowled 40 balls for 30 runs and no wickets,
Queen Camel Cricket Club – Club History
Queen Camel CC – Established in 1871
A few years ago, we were able to find this article in the April 14th, 1871 edition of the Western Gazette showing the committee meeting that launched Queen Camel Cricket Club. The first match was played on Monday 10th April. We also were able to find several match reports and scorecards printed in same newspaper for games played that season against West Camel, Rimpton and South Barrow.!!
A 1949 Northern League film – including a clip of Bill Alley
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 !”
Obituary – Vince Lindo. Contributed by Richard Walsh
Vince Lindo who played one game for Somerset in 1963 sadly passed away on January 6th 2022 at the age of 86.
Cleveland Vincent Lindo was a fast bowler and hard hitting batsman who was born in St Elizabeth Jamaica on 6th June 1936. He arrived in England in 1959 with his sights set on becoming a first-class cricketer.
Within a short while of arriving Vince responded to an advert in the newspaper saying that Nottinghamshire were looking for a fast bowler. He duly made his way to Trent Bridge where after appearing in a few friendlies he played in the two day game against Pakistani Eaglets.
Obituary – Michael Hill. Contributed by Richard Walsh.
Both Somerset County Cricket Club and the Somerset Cricket Museum are mourning the sad loss of Michael Hill who had a long association with both the club and museum and who passed away on December 27th 2022 surrounded by his family aged 88.
Michael was born at Stockland Lovell, near Bridgwater in 1934 and had his first experience of cricket when his mother Jacky would take him to watch his father Froude playing cricket for the local Fiddington team.
Somerset Cricket Quiz – Answers 142 – 200
PETER WIGHT
142 222 against Kent at Taunton in 1959.
143 Harold Gimblett with 2134 runs in 1952.
144 Only one season. He was overtaken by Bill Alley in 1961.
145 Georgetown, British Guiana.
146 Both men appeared on the first-class umpires list.
THE SEVENTIES
147 Philip Slocombe.
148 Roy Virgin.
149 David Gurr.
150 Viv Richards and Peter Roebuck.
151 Tom Cartwright of all people!
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS
152 Lancashire.
153 Counties had the option by agreement of playing “late hours”, that is from 1.30 p.m. to 8.15 p.m.
154 20.
155 32.
156 In 1979 when they lost for the first time in the last game of the season against Sussex at Hove.
TESTERS
157 Martin Crowe and T. C. Lowry in the 1920s.
158 Sunil Gavaskar and Abbas Ali Baig.
159 Colin McCool, Greg Chappell, Steve Waugh, Kerry O’Keeffe.
160 H. W. Stephenson.
161 Yes. A one-day international against Sri Lanka at Taunton in 1983.
ENEMY DEEDS
162 Buckinghamshire.
163 Mike Gating who scored 258 in 1984 and 196 in 1987.
164 Bill Edrich and Denis Compton.
165 Richard Hadlee for Nottinghamshire against Somerset at Trent Bridge, August 1987.
166 424 by A. C. McLaren of Lancashire in 1895.
HAROLD GIMBLETT
167 Dorset.
168 The Lawrence Trophy awarded for the fastest century of the season.
169 The Old Trafford Test of 1950 against West Indies. He was never selected for England again.
170 He was attached to the National Fire Service.
171 Millfield,
HOME AND-AWAY
172 Both captains, Ian Botham and Viv Richards together with both umpires, Bill Alley and Ken Palmer, had Somerset connections.
173 Greg Chappell in the fifth Test of 1973 at the Oval.
174 Sunil Gavaskar.
175 The Bradford League.
176 C. W. Grove.
177 Middlesex.
178 Wicket-keeper Leslie Compton bowled and kept wicket alternately for the first eight overs of the second innings.
179 A. Fairbairn with 108 in the second innings.
180 L. B. Fishlock.
181 Eric Bedser who scored 154,
MISCELLANEOUS
182 In the course of it he had a partnership of 144 with A, E.s. Rippon thought to be the only time that twins have shared in a century partnership in first-class cricket.
183 Six.
184 J. C.P. Madden-Gaskell.
185 A. E. Newton.
186 Jack Redman.
187 Frank Ashley Phillips.
188 SirS. Ponsonby-Fane.
189 At Beckenham.
190 Tom Richardson.
MISCELLANEOUS
191 Graham Stevenson who hit him for seven sixes, Crowe’s final analysis being 6-0-70-0.
192 H. N. E. “Granny” Alston at The Oval in 1933.
193 Bobby Abel.
194 811.
195 At Hastings, playing for a Commonwealth XI against an England XI.
196 Richard Ollis.
197 Hockey.
198 Rugby Union football.
199 For greyhound racing.
200 N. S. Mitchell-Innes at Killermont, Glasgow, in 1931.
Somerset Women (& Girls) Cricket Quiz 2022 -Answers
Q1. a) 2002
Q2. d) Three [Steph Davies, Anya Shrubsole, Frances Wilson]
Q3. c) between 75 ands 125
Q4. d) Sophie Luff
Q5. d) Lorraine Szczepanski
Q6. c) Fourth [3 times; in 2006, 2007 & 2009]
Q7. b) 312-2 [vs Devon, in 2015]
Q8. d) Anya Shrubsole
Q9. a) Berkshire [18x]
Q10. b) Niamh Holland
Q11. d) the Netherlands
Q12. b) 2016
Q13. d) 2017 & 2019 [also runners-up in 2016]
Q14. c) Four [Janet Godman 1993, Caroline Atkins 2009, Anya Shrubsole
2009 & 2017, Frances Wilson 2017]
Q15. c) South Africa [250-3, in a 121 run victory]
Q16. c) Anya Shrubsole
Q17. c) 2015
Q18. d) South Africa
Q19. d) Sri Lanka
Q20. b) Alice Davidson-Richards
Our thanks to Mark Gladman for contributing this quiz – hope you all enjoyed it.
Somerset Women Cricketers Players Gallery – Sophie Luff
It was obvious from a very young age that a very determined Sophie would become an excellent cricketer. Sophie’s cricket journey started-out at her local Somerset village team, and at school.
She represented Somerset Girls squads, and rapidly progressed into the Somerset 1st team. She is a prolific to-order batter, and has amassed the most runs ever scored by a Somerset Player: She has scored five centuries, with a top score of 138 not-out against Wales in 2015.
Not unsurprisingly Sophie’s performances caught the eye of the England selectors, and she was picked for the National Development squads as early as 2008, and has represented the England Academy and A teams on numerous occasions, including tours to South Africa, Dubai and Sri Lanka.
Sophie became Somerset Captain in 2016. In that same year she was selected to be part of the Western Storm squad in the inaugural season of the Women’s [KIA] Super League: She has winners medals from the successful 2017 and 2019 campaigns.
Sophie has also developed her coaching skills, and in 2018 became the Head Coach for the Women’s and Girls squads at Somerset.
In 2020 Sophie became captain of Western Storm, eventually turning professional. And in 2021 was named as captain of the Welsh Fire team in the inaugural season of the Hundred Competition.
Sophie continues to represent Somerset.
Somerset Playing Statistics
| Playing Period: | 2009-present | Batting: | RHB |
| Appearances: | >130 | Bowling: | RA-M |
| Runs: | >4000 | ||
| Wickets: | <10 | ||
| Somerset Captain: | 2016-present |
| Other Teams: England Academy and A Team’s, Western Storm, Welsh Fire, London Spirit, New South Wales. |
Career Statistics
| Competition | WLA | WT20 |
| Matches | 100 | 137 |
| Runs scored | 3,415 | 2,410 |
| Batting average | 46.14 | 28.69 |
| 100s/50s | 7/20 | 0/10 |
| Top score | 157* | 78 |
| Balls bowled | 296 | 197 |
| Wickets | 2 | 8 |
| Bowling average | 130.50 | 29.75 |
| 5 wickets in innings | 0 | 0 |
| 10 wickets in match | 0 | 0 |
| Best bowling | 1/27 | 2/12 |
| Catches/stumpings | 32/– | 42/– |
Somerset Women Cricketers Players Gallery – Tamara Gould
Tamara was born in Timaru, Canterbury in New Zealand (south of Christchurch).
Tamara played for Canterbury Women, and as a schoolgirl was opening the batting for Canterbury alongside then England International Claire Taylor. Tamara came to the UK in 2005 as part of her cricket development. She played for Bath Cricket Club in the Women’s National League, and Somerset during this period.
During here spell with Somerset, Tamara was an enthusiastic and industrious wicketkeeper, and top-order batter.
After returning to New Zealand she played for Northern Districts, and New Zealand Women’s A Team. Tamara played for NZ A Team against an England Touring Team during 2008 that featured a Somerset team-mate Steph Davies. The NZ side that day included Rachel Priest and Holly Huddlestone.
Tamara returned to England for a few seasons to coach and play club Cricket at Weston-s-Mare.
Somerset Playing Statistics
| Playing Period: | 2005-06 | Batting: | RHB |
| Appearances: | 12 | Bowling: | RA-LB (occasional) |
| Runs: | <200 | ||
| Wickets: | N/a |
| Other Clubs: New Zealand A, Northern Districts, Canterbury |
Somerset Women Cricketers Players Gallery – Elwyn Campbell
Elwyn was born in Perth, Western Australia.
She played 70 games for Western Australia, and was selected for the Australian U23 side in 1998, and again in 2000, before moving to the UK
During her time the UK, Elwyn was a consistent and reliable top-order/opening batter. She played for Bath Cricket Club in the Women’s National League, and for Somerset where she was regularly in the runs.
Her top score for Somerset was 125 [against Surrey, in 2011], and she achieved a respectable batting average in the mid 30’s.
Somerset Playing Statistics
| Playing Period: | 2007-2013 | Batting: | RHB |
| Appearances: | >45 | Bowling: | N/a |
| Runs: | >1,450 | ||
| Wickets: | N/a |
| Other Teams: Australia Academy & U23, Western Australia, |
Somerset Cricket Quiz – Questions 142 – 200
| PETER WIGHT | |
| 142 What was Peter Wight’s highest career score? | |
| 143 Peter Wight set up a new record aggregate of 2316 runs the season of 1960. Who had previously held it? | |
| 144 How long did Peter Wight’s record last? | |
| 145 Where was Peter Wight’s birthplace? | |
| 146 What did he have in common with Bill Alley after retiral? | |
| THE SEVENTIES | |
| 147 Who was the first Somerset player to score 1000 runs for the county in the year of his first-class debut? | |
| 148 Which Somerset cricketer was one of Wisden’s Five Players of the Year in 1971? | |
| 149 Who was the Somerset bowler who returned Gillette Cup figures of 12-4-15-1 against Northumberland in 1977? | |
| 150 Who were the two batsmen who put on 251 against Surrey at Weston in 1977 for the fourth wicket? | |
| 151 Who went for 74 in eight overs (taking one wicket) against Kent in the John Player League in 1970 at Weston (Devonshire Road)? | |
| COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS | |
| 152 Which county has beaten Somerset on four occasions within a day in County championship matches? | |
| 153 What was unusual about the playing hours for county championship matches in the 1968 season? | |
| 154 What is the minimum number of championship matches scheduled in a season for Somerset since 1946? | |
| 155 And the maximum? | |
| 156 In which season did Somerset go through the championship unbeaten until the last match? | |
| TESTERS | |
| 157 Name two New Zealand Test players who have played for Somerset. | |
| 158 And two Indian Test players. | |
| 159 Four Australian Test players who have done likewise. | |
| 160 One of the Somerset players: N. S. Mitchell-Innes, M. Tremlett, H. W. Stephenson, K. Palmer is not a Test cricketer. Which one? | |
| 161 Has Somerset ever staged an international match? | |
| ENEMY DEEDS | |
| 162 Which Minor County did Somerset lose to in the Nat. West competition of 19877 | |
| 163 Who was the player who tell four runs short of making a double century in consecutive visits to Bath? | |
| 164 Who were the two Middlesex batsmen who had a stand of 424 against Somerset at Lord’s in 1948? | |
| 165 In season 1987 a player scored a century and took twelve wickets in the same match against Somerset. Who was he? | |
| 166 What is the highest individual score recorded against Somerset? | |
| HAROLD GIMBLETT | |
| 167 For which Minor County did Harold Gimblett play? | |
| 168 Which trophy was he awarded for his century against Essey at Frome in 1935? | |
| 169 From which Test did he withdraw because of a carbuncle on his neck? | |
| 170 How did he spend his war service? | |
| 171 With which public school was he associated as coach and groundsman? | |
| HOME AND AWAY | |
| 172 What was unusual about the fifth Test against the West Indies at Headingley in 1980 from the Somerset point of view? | |
| 173 Who was the Somerset player who became part of the first instance of brothers hitting a century in the same innings of a Test match? | |
| 174 Which player who was later to have a Somerset connection scored three centuries in three successive Tests in Australia in 1977-78? | |
| 175 Miles Coope and Johnny Lawrence both came from the same cricketing background. What was it? | |
| 176 Who was the Warwickshire bowler who did the hat-trick against Somerset at Taunton in May 1947? | |
| 177 The Somerset side of 1947 did the double against the champions. Who were the 1947 champions? | |
| 178 What was odd about the second innings bowling of Middlesex in the Taunton match that year? | |
| 179 In this match a Middlesex amateur got a century on his debut. Name? | |
| 180 Who scored a double century for Surrey at the Oval in July 1949? Two clues: an opener and left-handed. | |
| 181 What other Surrey player got a century in their 501 for three declared? | |
| MISCELLANEOUS | |
| 182 What was noteworthy about A. D. E. Rippon’s 119 against Essex at Leyton, 1919? | |
| 183 How many centuries did A. E. S. Rippon make for Somerset? | |
| 184 Who was the army officer who played very occasionally for Somerset but made 42 and 63 against Larwood at Taunton in 1928? | |
| 185 Who was the wicket-keeper who continued in club cricket until he was 80 and who had 416 victims for Somerset? | |
| 186 Who was the Somerset bowler who against Derbyshire at Frome in 1951 took seven for 23? | |
| 187 Name the Boer War soldier, later an Assistant District Commissioner in Southern Nigeria, who scored 122 out of 630 against Yorkshire at Leeds in 1901? | |
| 188 Who played for Middlesex and Surrey and later became Treasurer of the M.C.C, and President of Somerset? | |
| 189 On which Kent ground did J. R. Mason score 126 against Somerset and take 10 for 180 in 1904? | |
| 190 Who was the Test bowler who played chiefly for Surrey and London County but came to Somerset for a brief spell at the end of his illustrious career? | |
| 191 Who was the Yorkshire Player who took Martin Crowe apart during a Sunday League match at Middlesbrough in 1984? | |
| 192 Who dismissed Jack Hobbs in the only match he himself played for Somerset? | |
| 193 Name the Surrey batsman, known as “The Guv’nor”) who scored 357* against Somerset at The Oval in 1899? | |
| 194 What was the Surrey total in that match? | |
| 195 On which ground did Bill Alley score his 3000th run in September 1961? | |
| 196 Name the Keynsham batsman of the 1980s whose highest score for Somerset was 99*? | |
| 197 For what other sport is Clarence Park used? | |
| 198 And Bath? | |
| 199 For what other sport has the county ground at Taunton been used? | |
| 200 Can you name the Somerset skipper who was capped by Scotland in a Boys’ International golf match? |
Somerset Cricket Quiz – Answers 121 – 141
| THE UMPIRES LIST OF 1987 | |
| 121 Name the two umpires on the 1987 list who played for Somerset when under 17 years of age? | 121 J. H. Harris and Alan Whitehead. |
| 122 Which umpire was educated at Taunton School but never played for Somerset? | 122 John Jameson of Warwickshie. |
| 123 Who is the umpire who played for Somerset and whose nickname is “Buckets”? | 123 A. A. Jones (possible uncomplimentary reference to his fielding!). |
| 124 Which umpire has a one in four chance of standing in a match where one of his former teams is involved? | 124 A. A. Jones who played with Sussex, Somerset, Middlesex and Glamorgan. |
| 125 Which umpire attended Backwell Secondary Modern School in Nailsea? | 125 Mervyn Kitchen, formerly with Somerset. |
| 126 Can you name the two brothers on the umpires list in 1987? | 126 Ken and Roy Palmer. |
| 127 Did they have anything else in common | 127 Both played for Somerset. |
| 128 Which of them was born within the county? | 128 Neither of them. Ken was born at Winchester and his younger brother Roy at Devizes |
| 129 In what country did Ken Palmer play his only Test match? | 129 In South Africa in the tour of 1965. |
| 130 Who is the senior umpire on the panel? | 130 Peter Wight (Somerset). |
| 131When was he first appointed? | 131 In 1966. |
| 132 How many brothers did he have and how many were Test cricketers? | 132 He had three brothers of whom G. L. Wight played for West Indies while H. A. Wight and N. Wight both played for British Guiana. |
| THE YEAR 1966 | |
| 133 What was unusual about the championship matches of 1966? | 133 Some of them had an experimental first-innings limitation of 65 overs. |
| 134 In this season Somerset first played competitive Sunday cricket. Where and against whom? | 134 At Ilford against Essex on May 15. |
| 135 Who was the bowler who returned figures against Notts. at Trent Bridge 17.2-14-10-7? | 135 Peter Robinson. |
| 136 What significance did the match against Glamorgan at Cardiff on August 13, 1966, have? | 136 It was the last county championship match to be played at Cardiff Arms Park. |
| 137 What record did Roy Virgin set during the season? | 137 He took 42 catches, constituting a county record. |
| 138 Who was the amateur who in his first season and at the age of 19 took 76 wickets but could never play regularly because he became a tea-planter in Ceylon? | 138 W. T. Greswell who in a span of twenty years appeared regularly in only three seasons. |
| 139 Who was the Somerset batsman who was picked for England, never got an innings and was never selected again for a Test? | 139 J. C. W. MacBryan – against South Africa in 1924 at Old Trafford |
| 140 Which Somerset cricketer spent much of World War One as an interned prisoner of war in Holland? | 140 J. C. W. MacBryan. |
| 141 If Arthur Wellard had played for his native county which badge would have been on his cap? | 141 The Invicta of Kent. |
Somerset Cricket Quiz – Answers 101 – 120
| JACK WHITE | |
| 101What was White’s “Miracle of Brisbane’? | 101 In November 1928 in the Test match there he bowled six overs of which two were maidens and took four wickets for seven runs. |
| 102 On that tour in 1928 he was vice-captain. Who was the captain? | 102 A.P.F. Chapman. |
| 103 White took over in 1928 as captain for the last Test, a game, which set a record. Why? | 103 It was a timeless test and lasted for eight days, at that time the longest duration ever for a cricket match |
| 104 What was his performance in the Adelaide Test of that series? | 10413 wickets for 256 runs. |
| 105:What were his batting and bowling aggregates for Somerset? | 105 2361 wickets at 18.58 and 12,152 runs at 17.89 |
| NICKNAMES AND TERMS OF ABUSE | |
| In recent Somerset dressing-rooms who answers or answered tothe following terms of endearment? | |
| 106 Pacman? | 106 Paul Bail (from his initials P. A. C). |
| 107 Pooch? | 107 Mark Davis. |
| 108 Jo burg? | 108 Jeremy Lloyds. |
| 109 Ghostie? | 109 Neil Mallender. |
| 110 Pediar? | 110 Gary Palmer. |
| 111 Rosie? | 111 Not Brian but Graham Rose. |
| 112 Harry? | 112 That’s Brian Rose. |
| 113 Ziggy? | 113 Murray Turner. |
| 114 Earp? | 114 Julian Wyatt (for obvious reasons). |
| 115 Twiglets? | 115 Nigel Felton. |
| FOR AND AGAINST | |
| 116 Which Somerset player has a father who was both captain and president of Somerset? | 116 Jonathan Atkinson. |
| 117 Which Somerset batsman scored 174 for Cambridge in the Varsity match of 1986? | 117 Paul Bail. |
| 118 Which recently retired cricketer had his career-best bowling figures against Somerset at Bristol in 1986? | 118 Phil Bainbridge, with eight for 53. |
| 119 Who was the first Somerset player since Harold Gimblett to score a first-class century on his debut? | 119 R. J. Bartlett with 117* against Oxford University in 1986. |
| 120 At Headingly in 1985 “Mutley”scored a career-best 90 for Yorkshire against Somerset. What is “Mutley’s” real name? | 120 Richard Blakely. |
Bridgetown Cricket Club – Club History
In 1924 a recently qualified young man with a Cricket Blue from University was employed as Land Agent to the Milton’s Estate on Exmoor.
Roy Nesfield was a cricket fanatic who had played three times for Worcestershire and although playing for The Somerset Stragglers and Somerset 2nd X1 he wanted to raise his own Cricket Team in Bridgetown. Not an easy task as he had to find a fairly level field which is not easy on Exmoor and find players drawn from mostly rural farming folk who had probably never watched a cricket match let alone played.
The Somerset Cricket Quiz – Answers 81 – 100
| JOHN CORNISH WHITE | |
| 81 What was the combined playing span of J. C. White and Lionel Palairet? | 81 47 years, from 1891 to 1937. |
| 82 Against which county did J. C. White take ten for 16 in 1921 and 16 wickets in 1919? | 82 Against Worcestershire in matches at Worcester and Bath. |
| 83 How often did J. C. White score 1000 runs in a season? | 83 Twice, in 1929 and 1930. |
| 84 Jack White holds the Somerset record for catches. How many? | 84 He took 391 catches altogether |
| OVERSEAS ALLEGIANCES | |
| The following Somerset players appeared with states, provinces or districts abroad. Identify their overseas sides. | |
| 85 D.J. S. Taylor in South Africa. | 85 Griqualand West. |
| 86 Vic Marks in Australia. | 86 Western Australia. |
| 87 Martin Crowe in New Zealand. | 87 Central District and Auckland. |
| 88 Viv Richards in the West Indies. | 88 The Leeward Islands. |
| R. C. ROBERTSON-GLASGOW | |
| 89 What did R. C. stand for? | 89 Raymond Charles. |
| 90 Which public school did he attend? | 90 Charterhouse. |
| 91 How many appearances did he make for Oxford in the Varsity match? | 91 Four. |
| 92 What was his career span with Somerset? | 92 From 1919 to 1937. |
| 93 What was his best bowling performance for them? | 93 Nine for 39 against Middlesex at Lord’s in 1924. |
| 94 Who nicknamed him Robinson Crusoe? | 94 The famous amateur cricketer C. P. McGahey of Essex. |
| 95 He shared in only two century partnerships, each time with the same batsman. Who was the other person? | 95 G. Young with whom he put on 160 against Essex at Knowle and 139 against Worcester at Taunton, both in 1928. |
| ARTHUR WELLARD | |
| 96 How long did Wellard play with Somerset? | 96 From 1927 to 1950. |
| 97 Twice he hit five sixes in an over. One of the bowlers to suffer was Armstrong of Derbyshire. Who was the other? | 97 Frank Woolley of Kent. |
| 98 What advice was he repeatedly given when he unsuccessfully asked his native county, Kent, for a trial? | 98 “Much better be a policeman” |
| 99 He was selected to go on the England tour which had to be cancelled because of the outbreak of war in 1939. Where would this tour have been going? | 99 To India. |
| 100 Who was the Australian bowler whom he hit onto the grandstand balcony during the Lord’s Test of 1938? | 100 Stan McCabe. |
The Somerset Cricket Quiz – Answers 61 – 80
| BILL ALLEY | |
| 61 When Bill Alley made 3019 runs in 1961 how many centuries did he make all told? | 61 Eleven. |
| 62 How many wickets did he take in that season? | 62 Sixty-two. |
| 63 What was his record in Australia as a professional boxer? | 63 He had 28 fights and won them all. |
| 64 What record did he set in the match against Surrey at Taunton in June 1961? | 64 He scored 183 not out followed by 134 not out. No Somerset player had ever compiled two not-out centuries in the same match. |
| 65 How many runs did he score that year in the match at Taunton against the touring Australian side? | 65 134 followed by 95 not out. |
| 66 How many centuries did he hit for Somerset in that season? | 66 Ten. The other was made for A. E. R. Gilligan’s XI v. the Australians. |
| 67 How many other first-class players have made ten centuries in a season at the age of 42? | 67 Only two: Jack Hobbs and Frank Woolley. |
| 68 What was his lowest match aggregate in that season? | 68 None. He recorded a pair against Glamorgan at Weston-super -Mare. |
| 69 Alley was one of two Somerset players picked to play against the Gentlemen that year. Who was the other? | 69 Graham Atkinson. |
| 70 How many balls did Bill Alley bowl against Essex at Yeovil in 1960 without conceding a run? | 70 93. |
| MORE NICKNAMES | |
| Which Somerset players answer or answered to the following nicknames? | |
| 71 Mandy? | 71N.S. Mitchell-Innes. |
| 72 Babe? | 72 Maurice Tremlett. |
| 73 Chimp? | 73 Geoff Clayton. |
| 74 Rupert? | 74 Peter Roebuck. |
| 75 Twitch? | 75 Dennis Breakwell. |
| VARSITY MATCHES | |
| 76 What was unusual about the match between Somerset and Cambridge University at Taunton in 1960. | 76 All four innings produced century opening partnerships, a feat unparalleled in first-class cricket. |
| 77 Name the Cambridge bat who scored a century in each innings | 77 R. M. Prideaux, later of Kent, Northants and Sussex. |
| 78 Name the Somerset cricketer who failed by one run to match this feat. | 78 Peter Wight who scored 105 in the first innings and 99 in the second |
| 79 Name the other two Somerset players who made centuries in this game. | 79 Graham Atkinson 103 and Roy Virgin 113. |
| 80 Name the TV commentator who had a first-innings century for Cambridge. | 80 A.R. “Tony” Lewis – later of Glamorgan. |
Somerset Women (& Girls) Cricket Quiz 2022
(SOMERSET, REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL – Multiple Choice)
Q1. In what year did the Somerset Girls U15’s start playing in the County Championship?
a. 2002
b. 2003
c. 2004
d. 2005
Q2. How many girls that have represented Somerset Girls age group teams have gone on to play for the England Women’s team?
a. None
b. One
c. Two
d. Three
Q3. How many players have represented Somerset Women in the modern era (since the year 2000)?
a. Less than 25
b. Between 25 and 75
c. Between 75 and 125
d. Greater than 125
Q4. Who is currently the only batter to score more than 3000 runs for Somerset Women?
a. Janet Godman
b. Frances Wilson
c. Hannah Knight (nee Lloyd)
d. Sophie Luff
Q5. What player has currently taken the most wickets for Somerset Women?
a. Jackie Hawker
b. Anya Shrubsole
c. Nicole Harvey (nee Richards)
d. Lorraine Szczepanski
Q6. What is the highest position that Somerset Women have finished in Division 1 of the County Championships?
a. First
b. Second
c. Third
d. Fourth
Q7. What is the highest score achieved by Somerset Women in a 50 over match?
a. 325-5
b. 312-2
c. 304-6
d. 275-3
Q8. What player returned the best figures for Somerset Women of 7 wickets for 28 runs, in a County Championship match against Surrey in 2007?
a. Jackie Hawker
b. Laura Harper
c. Isabelle Westbury
d. Anya Shrubsole
Q9. What team have Somerset Women played more than any other?
a. Berkshire
b. Surrey
c. Wales
d. Devon
Q10. What current Somerset Women’s player has been selected to play for the England Women’s U19 team in the World Cup in South Africa in Feb. 2023.
a. Daisy Jeanes
b. Niamh Holland
c. Joleigh Roberts
d. Jess Hazell
Q11. What Country did Isabelle Westbury represent in the 2005 European Championships?
a. England
b. Ireland
c. Scotland
d. Netherlands
Q12. In what year did the Women’s [KIA] Super League begin?
a. 2015
b. 2016
c. 2017
d. 2018
Q13. In which two years did Western Storm win the Women’s ([KIA] Super League title?
a. 2016 & 2017
b. 2017 & 2018
c. 2016 & 2018
d. 2017 & 2019
e. 2018 & 2019
f. 2016 & 2019
Q14. How many Somerset Women’s players have World Cup winners’ medals?
a. None
b. Two
c. Four
d. Six
Q15. England Women scored their highest ever T20 International score at Taunton in 2018, but, who where they playing?
a. India
b. New Zealand
c. South Africa
d. West Indies
Q16. Which Somerset Women’s player took 6 wickets in the 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup Final at Lords?
a. Sarah Collyer
b. Laura Harper
c. Anya Shrubsole
d. Frances Wilson
Q17. In what year did Lizelle Lee start playing for Somerset Women?
a. 2013
b. 2014
c. 2015
d. 2016
Q18. Which Country did Lizelle Lee go on to represent?
a. England
b. Australia
c. New Zealand
d. South Africa
Q19. In 1993 England Women won the World Cup by beating New Zealand in the Final, but what team from those listed did not feature in the tournament that year?
a. Denmark
b. Ireland
c. Netherlands
d. Sri Lanka
Q20. Who scored a century (107 runs) when making her Test Match debut for England at Taunton earlier this summer?
a. Natalie Sciver
b. Alice Davidson-Richards
c. Isabelle Wong
d. Lauren Bell
Somerset Women Cricketers Players Gallery – Fran Wilson
Fran was born in Surrey, but was living in Wiltshire when she first picked-up a cricket bat.
Fran excelled in the Somerset Youth teams, and hence earned her place in the Somerset Women’s County 1st team in 2006. Fran is a technically adept middle order bat, and an excellent fielder.
Following a fantastic season with the bat in the County Championships in 2010 for Somerset, she was selected for the England Squad in 2011. However a difficult start in International Cricket led to a period in the England Academy, before being selected again as a regular for the England team in 2015.
Fran left Somerset in 2015 to play for Middlesex in the County Championship Div 1, and then moved onto play for Kent in 2020
Fran was a member of the England World Cup (ODI) winning team in 2017, and was also a fixture in the Western Storm team that reached every final’s day during the KIA Super League period, and won the KSL title on two occasions. Fran was also part of the Oval Invincible’s team that won the inaugural Hundred trophy in 2021.
Fran retired from international cricket during 2021, and has since returned to professional domestic cricket to play for the Western Storm, and the Welsh Fire.
| Somerset Playing Data: | |||
| Playing Period: | 2006-2014 | Batting: | RHB |
| Appearances: | >75 | Bowling: | RA-Off Break |
| Runs: | >2,000 | ||
| Wickets: | <10 | ||
| England International: 2011-2021 |
Career Statistics
| Competition | WTest | WODI | WT20I | WLA |
| Matches | 1 | 33 | 30 | 166 |
| Runs scored | 13 | 468 | 356 | 3,965 |
| Batting average | 13.00 | 22.28 | 22.25 | 29.81 |
| 100s/50s | 0/0 | 0/2 | 0/0 | 2/24 |
| Top score | 13 | 85* | 43* | 110 |
| Balls bowled | – | – | – | 138 |
| Wickets | – | – | – | 4 |
| Bowling average | – | – | – | 38.25 |
| 5 wickets in innings | – | – | – | 0 |
| 10 wickets in match | – | – | – | 0 |
| Best bowling | – | – | – | 1/21 |
| Catches/stumpings | 0/– | 14/– | 7/– | 59/– |
| Other Teams: England Academy, Western Storm (2016-2019, 2022), Oval Invincibles (2021), Welsh Fire (2022), Middlesex CCC (2015-2020), Kent CCC (2020/21) |
Somerset’s Women Cricketers Players Gallery – Caroline Foster (née Atkins)
Born in Sussex. Caroline played most of her County Cricket for Sussex (1996-2012), and briefly joined Somerset in 2013.
In the longer forms of cricket Caroline was a solid and consistent opening bat, but often played a middle-order stabilising and finisher-role in T20s.
Caroline was a member of the England team to retain the Ashes in 2008. That same year she shared in a partnership of 268 with Sarah Taylor, which at that time was an ODI record; Caroline scored 145 in that partnership, her best international score. Caroline was also part of the England squad that did the double in 2009 when victorious in the Women’s ODI and T20i World Cups.
Caroline also played for South Australia in the period 2003-05
In 2013 she joined Somerset in a player/coach role. And in more recent years she has turned her hand solely to Coaching, and was the Coach of the Western Storm super league team in 2016.
| Somerset Playing Data: | |||
| Playing Period: | 2013 | Batting: | RHB |
| Appearances: | 1 | Bowling: | RA-Medium/Slow |
| Runs: | 55 | ||
| Wickets: | 0 | ||
| England International: 2001-2011 |
Career Statistics
| Competition | WTest | WODI | WT20I | WLA |
| Matches | 9 | 58 | 19 | 227 |
| Runs scored | 357 | 1,291 | 56 | 5,374 |
| Batting average | 21.00 | 30.02 | 5.60 | 33.17 |
| 100s/50s | 0/3 | 1/6 | 0/0 | 3/34 |
| Top score | 90 | 145 | 20* | 145 |
| Balls bowled | 90 | 6 | – | 2,286 |
| Wickets | 1 | 0 | – | 57 |
| Bowling average | 44.00 | – | – | 24.68 |
| 5 wickets in innings | 0 | – | – | 0 |
| 10 wickets in match | 0 | – | – | 0 |
| Best bowling | 1/9 | – | – | 4/19 |
| Catches/stumpings | 5/– | 14/– | 2/– | 83/– |
| Other Teams: Sussex CCC (1996-2012), South Australia 2003-5 |
Somerset’s Women Cricket Players Gallery – Anya Shrubsole.
Born in Bath, Somerset, Anya showed prodigious talent at youth level with bat and ball, although latterly has become best known for her swing bowling.
Anya was the first girl to join the Somerset Cricket Academy, at aged 13. She was called into the England Academy squad in 2007. She swiftly made her England International debut the following season, aged 16.
Anya was the first girl to join the Somerset Cricket Academy, at aged 13. She was called into the England Academy squad in 2007. She swiftly made her England International debut the following season, aged 16.
Anya was named Player of the Tournament in the 2014 T20i World Cup, and was also part of the successful England ODI World Cup winning sides of 2009 and 2017. And was on the cover of the 2018 Wisden, following her bowling success in the 2017 World Cup Final at Lords.
She became a constant in the England team, and became vice-captain for a period. Anya retired from international cricket in early 2022.
Anya is now a Player and Bowling Coach at the Southern Vipers and Southern Brave; and has captained the Southern Brave to two successive finals appearances.
Somerset Playing Statistics
| Playing Period: | 2005-2018 | Batting: | RHB |
| Appearances: | >75 | Bowling: | RA Medium (Fast) |
| Runs: | >1,500 | ||
| Wickets: | >90 | ||
| Somerset Captain: | 2012-2016 | ||
| England International: 2008-2022 |
Career Statistics
| Competition | WTest | WODI | WT20I | WLA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 8 | 86 | 79 | 189 |
| Runs scored | 118 | 285 | 104 | 2,175 |
| Batting average | 9.83 | 10.55 | 11.55 | 20.91 |
| 100s/50s | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1/7 |
| Top score | 47 | 32* | 29 | 105 |
| Balls bowled | 1,556 | 4,002 | 1,598 | 7,819 |
| Wickets | 19 | 106 | 102 | 217 |
| Bowling Average | 33.42 | 26.53 | 15.55 | 21.85 |
| 5 wickets in innings | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 10 wickets in match | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Best bowling | 4/51 | 6/46 | 5/11 | 7/28 |
| Catches/stumpings | 4/– | 23/– | 20/– | 57/– |
Other Teams – Western Storm (2016-2021), Southern Braves (2021-2022), Southern Vipers (2022), Berkshire CCC (2017 – 2021)
You must be logged in to post a comment.