Author: 'farmer white'

Somerset survive to fight another day – Hampshire v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st April – Southampton

'farmer white'

County Championship 2025. Division 1. Hampshire v Somerset. 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st April. Southampton.

Hampshire. M.G. Stoneman, F.S. Middleton, N.R.T. Gubbins, T.J. Prest, T.E. Albert, B.C. Brown (c) (w), L.A, Dawson, B.R. Hampton, J.K. Fuller, K.J. Abbott, B.T.J. Wheal.

Somerset. A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (c) (w), K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, M. Pretorius, M.J. Leach, A.R.J. Ogborne.

Overnight. Somerset 184. Hampshire 194 for 3. Hampshire lead by ten runs with seven second innings wickets standing.

Third day – Somerset survive to fight another day

When Ben Brown pushed Tom Lammonby through midwicket for four, perhaps with a bit of help from a leading edge, and registered Hampshire’s 250 with only four wickets down, a Hampshire supporter behind me said to his friend, “We should get 400.” It was one of those hostages to fortune that cricket supporters often regret emitting the second after they have emitted them. Nick Gubbins had not long fallen leg before wicket to Lammonby for 82 after a partnership of 125 with Liam Dawson from a ball short of 40 overs. The partnership was 76 runs old at the start of play, and Gubbins and Dawson had pushed, turned, guided and struck the ball around the ground seemingly at will. Any thought of Somerset batting again at the start of the afternoon session would have seemed fanciful.

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Hampshire take charge – Hampshire v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st April – Southampton

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Hampshire v Somerset 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st April. Southampton.

Hampshire. M.G. Stoneman, F.S. Middleton, N.R.T. Gubbins, T.J. Prest, T.E. Albert, B.C. Brown (c) (w), L.A, Dawson, B.R. Hampton, J.K. Fuller, K.J. Abbott, B.T.J. Wheal.

Somerset. A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (c) (w), K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, M. Pretorius, M.J. Leach, A.R.J. Ogborne.

Overnight. Somerset 94 for 6.

Second day – Hampshire take charge

Three quarters of an hour into the afternoon session, the match was even. Somerset had spent the morning extending their overnight 94 for 6 to 184 all out, in part courtesy of an innings of 47 not out from Migael Pretorius and a last wicket partnership, also of 47, between Pretorius and Alfie Ogborne. With lunch taken, Hampshire began the afternoon confidently and looked intent on taking control of the match. But then, Fletcha Middleton was caught behind driving at Ogborne and, three balls later, Mark Stoneman was bowled, his middle stump laid flat by Pretorius. Hampshire were 38 for 2, still 146 behind and Somerset had an opening.

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Sussex stick to their plan – Sussex v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th April – Hove.

'farmer white'

County Championship 2025. Division 1. Sussex v Somerset 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th April. Hove.

Sussex. D.P. Hughes, T.J. Haines, T.G.R. Clark, T.P. Alsop, J.M. Coles, J.A. Simpson (c) (w), F.J. Hudson-Prentice, D.J. Lamb, J.J. Carson, J.N.T. Seales, S.F. Hunt.

Somerset. A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), K.L. Aldridge, M. Pretorius, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Overnight. Sussex 294 and 246 for 1. Somerset 201. Sussex lead by 339 runs with nine second innings wickets standing.

Third day – Sussex stick to their plan

If one of the purposes of offering everyone free entry on day three of this match was to encourage families and young people to watch Championship cricket, the day was a stunning success. The Sharks Stand and the large numbers of folding chairs on the grass at the Cromwell Road End saw families with young children and groups of twenty and thirty-somethings mingle in large numbers with the usual Championship supporters from a generation or so above. Children playing cricket on the outfield at tea or on the concourse behind the stands as I circumnavigated at lunch was a joy to behold. Some of those playing behind the stands knew how to hold a straight bat too, although one was beautifully yorked, the ball passing directly above the cone which had been borrowed to serve as stumps. Close enough though to have disturbed a real set of stumps. For the most part, the families and youth of the county seemed to be enjoying the cricket in the middle, perhaps helped by Sussex running away with the game. A couple of rows behind me, a young woman had brought her young son, a first time at the cricket for both. She could be heard asking a more seasoned watcher, probably seasoned by many decades of watching Sussex, about the workings of the game.

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“It looks so easy for them” – Sussex v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th April – Hove

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Sussex v Somerset 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th April. Hove.

Sussex. D.P. Hughes, T.J. Haines, T.G.R. Clark, T.P. Alsop, J.M. Coles, J.A. Simpson (c) (w), F.J. Hudson-Prentice, D.J. Lamb, J.J. Carson, J.N.T. Seales, S.F. Hunt.

Somerset. A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), K.L. Aldridge, M. Pretorius, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Overnight. Sussex 294. Somerset 62 for 5. Somerset trail by 232 runs with five first innings wickets standing.

Second day – “It looks so easy for them”

After tea, I sat in the second row of the Sharks Stand at the Sea End talking with someone from London who I occasionally share a few hours with at cricket matches when he visits Taunton or when we find one another at an away match. As we talked about family, old workdays, holidays, and about cricket too, the impression of the cricket going on in front of us was of balls being struck unerringly to the boundary, bowlers running and bowling to no effect and the Sussex score rising unchecked. I lost count of the number of times the ball was struck from the Sea End along the ground through the covers towards the Pavilion, sometimes for one, sometimes for two, and frequently it seemed, for four. There were two left-handers batting and our seats gave us a perfect view of their off side strokes.

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A harsh lesson – Sussex v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th April – Hove

'farmer white'

County Championship 2025. Division 1. Sussex v Somerset 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th April. Hove.

Will Smeed was unavailable for selection due to injury.

Sussex. D.P. Hughes, T.J. Haines, T.G.R. Clark, T.P. Alsop, J.M. Coles, J.A. Simpson (c) (w), F.J. Hudson-Prentice, D.J. Lamb, J.J. Carson, J.N.T. Seales, S.F. Hunt.

Somerset. A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), K.L. Aldridge, M. Pretorius, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Toss. Sussex. Elected to bat.

First day – A harsh lesson

This match was the start of a marathon for the Somerset players and travelling supporters. After the gruelling draw against Worcestershire in the first match of the season at Taunton, the match against Sussex at Hove was the first of three away matches in successive weeks with Hampshire at Southampton and Surrey at The Oval to follow. A 150-mile journey across country, with no direct route whether you travelled by car or train, was not the ideal way to begin such a marathon, especially after the draining experience of the Worcestershire match. Once this match was over I was due to travel direct to the Hampshire match, then home for two days before travelling to the Surrey one. Three away Championship matches in three successive weeks is one way to wake yourself up for the rest of the season.

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A pitch for the 1930s – Somerset v Worcestershire – County Championship 2025 – 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th April – Taunton – Third day

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Somerset v Worcestershire. 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th April. Taunton.

Will Smeed was unavailable for selection due to injury.

Somerset.  A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Worcestershire. G.H. Roderick (w), J.D. Libby, Kashif Ali, E.A. Brookes, A.J. Hose, B.L. D’Oliveira (c), M.J. Waite, T.A.I. Taylor, B.M.J. Allison, T.I. Hinley, A.W. Finch.

Overnight. Worcestershire 154. Somerset 637 for 6. Somerset lead by 483 runs with four first innings wickets standing.

Third day – A pitch for the 1930s

For a Somerset supporter sitting at the top of the Trescothick Pavilion with that aerial view of the playing area and watching Worcestershire bat through a long afternoon and evening felt like what the mind’s eye imagines watching cricket was like in the 1930s. Bowlers endlessly and smoothly running in, balls coming invitingly through off featherbed pitches, batters effortlessly pushing them into and through gaps to deep fielders lazily moving to intercept the ball as the batters amble for tacitly agreed singles. Perfectly struck boundaries punctuate the picture, surprisingly often struck in pairs with long stretches of calm in between. The vision is gilded with that ageless backdrop that is the Quantocks in all their sunlit spring colour and glory or, depending on where you were sit in the ground, that magnificent sandstone edifice that is St James church. The Quantocks and St James were there in the 1930s too of course, as were those now ancient doyens of Somerset cricket, Jack ‘Farmer’ White, Wally Luckes and Arthur Wellard as they plied their trade where in 2025 Jack Leach, James Rew and Craig Overton strutted their stuff. Sometimes times change but remain the same.

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Banton’s day – Somerset v Worcestershire – County Championship 2025 – 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th April – Taunton – Second day

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Somerset v Worcestershire. 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th April. Taunton.

Will Smeed was unavailable for selection due to injury.

Somerset.  A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Worcestershire. G.H. Roderick (w), J.D. Libby, Kashif Ali, E.A. Brookes, A.J. Hose, B.L. D’Oliveira (c), M.J. Waite, T.A.I. Taylor, B.M.J. Allison, T.I. Hinley, A.W. Finch.

Overnight. Worcestershire 154. Somerset 187 for 4. Somerset lead by 33 runs with six first innings wickets standing.

Second day – Banton’s day

Kashif Ali, the eighth bowler Worcestershire had used, bowled the final over of the day. Leg breaks from the River End. Tom Banton pushed the first ball of the over quietly to mid-on. A typical end-of-day shot. Silence from the crowd. A tense silence. Not the typical end to a day. Banton attempted to reverse sweep Kashif’s second ball. Not a typical end-of-day stroke. It ran fine to the boundary. It was not the first time in the day that Banton had reached the boundary with a reverse sweep. Except this time, he hadn’t. The umpire was signalling byes. “No!” someone shouted in protest. “Oh, come on!” someone else said shaking his head in disbelief. “I heard a noise,” someone added as if providing evidence in support of the other two. Silence again. The third ball left no doubt. Banton drove sharply through the on side to the Garner Gates. Four. Now there were cheers, until again the ground fell silent. The fourth ball, Banton swept. It ran towards fine leg, and the batters ran two. Leg byes the umpire signalled. “Oh, come on!” someone said, the protests becoming ever more exasperated. Silence again. Kashif bowled again. Banton pulled through midwicket again. The deep midwicket fielder reached for the ball, but it bounced past him and over the rope.

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The day darkens the mood – Essex v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th September – Chelmsford – Third day

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Essex v Somerset 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th September. Chelmsford.

Tom Abell was unavailable for selection under the ECB concussion regulations, Alfie Ogborne due to a back injury and J.T. Langridge due to a side injury. 

Somerset. A.M. Vaughan, J.F. Thomas, T.A. Lammonby, J.E.K. Rew (w), T. Kohler-Cadmore, L.P. Goldsworthy, K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, L. Gregory (c), M.J. Leach, J.T. Ball..

Essex. D. Elgar, P.I. Walter, T. Westley (c), C.W.J. Allison, M.J.J. Critchley, M.S. Pepper (w), N.R.M. Thain, S.R. Harmer, D.A.J. Bracewell, C.E. Bennett, J.A. Porter. 

Overnight. Somerset 433. Essex 295 for 2.

Third day – The day darkens the mood

Craig Overton led the Somerset bowlers as they took the last eight Essex first innings wickets for 138 runs to reduce them from their overnight 295 for 2 to 438 all out, just five runs more than Somerset’s 433. With only a day and a half remaining that seemed to leave little prospect of a result. But what followed in the remainder of the afternoon and an evening session shortened by some Stygian light which would have served perfectly as a backdrop for a scene in a Dracula film transformed the match. It was as dark a light as I have seen cricket played in, at least as viewed from the covered seating in the Felsted Stand. It soon developed an eerie quality which reflected Somerset’s progress in the match when the floodlights were switched on nine overs before tea.

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Overton shows fight as Essex dominate – Essex v Somerset – Championship 2025 – 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th September – Chelmsford – Second day

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Championship 2025. Division 1. Essex v Somerset 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th September. Chelmsford.

Tom Abell was unavailable for selection under the ECB concussion regulations, Alfie Ogborne due to a back injury and J.T. Langridge due to a side injury. 

Somerset. A.M. Vaughan, J.F. Thomas, T.A. Lammonby, J.E.K. Rew (w), T. Kohler-Cadmore, L.P. Goldsworthy, K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, L. Gregory (c), M.J. Leach, J.T. Ball.

Essex. D. Elgar, P.I. Walter, T. Westley (c), C.W,J. Allison, M.J.J. Critchley, M.S. Pepper (w), N.R.M. Thain, S.R. Harmer, D.A.J. Bracewell, C.E. Bennett, J.A. Porter. 

Overnight. Somerset 339 for 6.

Second day – Overton shows fight as Essex dominate

Craig Overton began and ended the day striking at Essex. In between, Essex held sway, and despite the second intervention from Overton, threatened to dominate the match. There was some early joy for Somerset. Lewis Goldsworthy reached his second first-class century three years after his first. The first came in the long drawn-out battle with Lancashire at Southport in 2022. The Chelmsford century took him 191 balls. The Southport one, 207. At Southport, he was instrumental in holding the middle of the innings together, At Chelmsford, his was the innings around which the middle and lower order played. As to Essex, Dean Elgar and Paul Walter quickly put Somerset’s performance into perspective, grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, and went a long way towards finally securing Essex’s First Division place, if indeed it had ever been in serious doubt.

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Even stevens – Essex v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th September – Chelmsford – first day

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Essex v Somerset ire 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th September. Chelmsford.

Tom Abell was unavailable for selection under the ECB concussion regulations, Alfie Ogborne due to a back injury and J.T. Langridge due to a side injury. 

Somerset. A.M. Vaughan, J.F. Thomas, T.A. Lammonby, J.E.K. Rew (w), T. Kohler-Cadmore, L.P. Goldsworthy, K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, L. Gregory (c), M.J. Leach, J.T. Ball..

Essex. D. Elgar, P.I. Walter, T. Westley (c), C.W,J. Allison, M.J.J. Critchley, M.S. Pepper (w), N.R.M. Thain, S.R. Harmer, D.A.J. Bracewell, C.E. Bennett, J.A. Porter. 

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

First day – Even stevens

“You are one down,” said the gate steward when he saw my Somerset hat. “Jamie Porter removed Archie Vaughan.” That was the bad news. But then there was better. “Thomas is going very well. You won the toss. We need a draw so this should be a good batting pitch. Good toss to win.” When, bag searched, I entered the ground, Josh Thomas was indeed going well. By the time I reached my seat in the Felsted Stand opposite the Pavilion and square of the crease at the Graham Gooch End, historically the Hayes Close End, Somerset were 47 for 1 at the end of the 12th over. Thomas 33 from 37 balls. Tom Lammonby, who had replaced Archie Vaughan, 6. Two more fours from Thomas quickly followed, driven through the covers in the 13th over off 19-year-old Charlie Bennett’s right-arm fast medium, Bennett bowling in his second first-class match. Vaughan had been out driving, caught knee-high, one-handed, to his left by Paul Walter fielding at the third slip of four with the score on 20. Vaughan 8.

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Somerset push to the end – Essex v Somerset -County Championship 2025 – 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th September – Chelmsford – Final day

'farmer white'

County Championship 2025. Division 1. Essex v Somerset 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th September. Chelmsford.

Tom Abell was unavailable for selection under the ECB concussion regulations, Alfie Ogborne due to a back injury and J.T. Langridge due to a side injury. 

Somerset. A.M. Vaughan, J.F. Thomas, T.A. Lammonby, J.E.K. Rew (w), T. Kohler-Cadmore, L.P. Goldsworthy, K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, L. Gregory (c), M.J. Leach, J.T. Ball..

Essex. D. Elgar, P.I. Walter, T. Westley (c), C.W,J. Allison, M.J.J. Critchley, M.S. Pepper (w), N.R.M. Thain, S.R. Harmer, D.A.J. Bracewell, C.E. Bennett, J.A. Porter. 

Overnight. Somerset 433 and 99. Essex 438. Essex need 95 runs to win.

Final day – Somerset push to the end

An Essex victory was not in doubt when the day began. Nor was the fact that the match would be over in good time for the teams and spectators to take an early lunch. Even so, a crowd of several hundred put in an appearance to cheer Essex over the line, and, hopeless cause or not, Somerset pushed to the end. The first ball of the second over, bowled from the Graham Gooch End by Lewis Gregory, struck Dean Elgar, one of Essex’s two first innings centurions, on the pad and sent him back to the Pavilion leg before wicket without scoring. It did nothing though to dent the expectation of an Essex victory. Even when Gregory and Overton repeatedly beat the bat despite the Essex batters advancing up the pitch to combat the lateral movement, the sense of inevitability about the outcome did not diminish.

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Of twirling arms and thrust forward pads and bats – Somerset v Hampshire – County Championship 2025 – 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th September – Taunton – Final day

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Somerset v Hampshire 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th September. Taunton.

J.F. Thomas replaced T.B. Abell under the ECB concussion regulations on the third day.

Somerset. T. Kohler-Cadmore, A.M. Vaughan, T.A. Lammonby, J.E.K. Rew (w), T.B. Abell/J.F. Thomas, L.P. Goldsworthy, K.L. Aldridge, B.G.F Green, C. Overton,  L. Gregory (c), M.J. Leach.

Hampshire. A.G.H. Orr, F.S. Middleton, N.R.T. Gubbins, T.E. Albert, B.C. Brown (c), (w), M.S. Washington Sundar, F.S. Organ, J.K. Fuller, K.J. Abbott, K.H.D. Barker, E.V. Jack.

Overnight. Somerset 454 for 8 dec. Hampshire 172 and 35 for 1. Hampshire trail by 247 runs with nine second innings wickets standing.

Final day – Of twirling arms and thrust forward pads and bats

In the fifth over of the day, Archie Vaughan angled a ball into Fletcha Middleton, pitched it on off stump, turned it some more, if slowly, and Middleton, playing across his pads, helped it on its way and into the hands of Kasey Aldridge at leg gully, one of four close fielders. Aldridge knocked the ball up a few inches and safely gripped it when it came back down. Hampshire, 37 for 2 in the 27th over of their innings, still 239 runs behind with 91 overs remaining, were at serious risk of being beaten. Middleton out for nine from 77 balls after his intense vigil of the night before. If Hampshire were beaten, it would plunge them into the relegation zone with just one game, against Surrey, still to be played.

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Wind stopped play – Somerset v Hampshire – County Championship 2025 – 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th September – Taunton – First day

'farmer white'

County Championship 2025. Division 1. Somerset v Hampshire 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th September. Taunton.

First day – No play. No. toss. Wind stopped play.

This was one of the more curious days that I have spent at the cricket. Wind stopped play. Or to take the official line, adverse weather conditions stopped play. By early afternoon the rain which had greeted the official start of play had virtually blown through. Literally, for every shower that came, and there were a few, scudded across the ground as if they had seen someone to whom they owed money. None lasted more than ten or 20 minutes and most less than that. The issue was the wind. It blew waves across the covers. Not waves of water, but of the covers themselves, rippling as the wind pushed though. ”Forty to fifty miles an hour gusts,” said one steward and my hat would have agreed with him, although it stuck loyally to my head throughout. But apparently, gusts of that strength can cause the large sheet covers to become unmanageable. And having thought about it, I concluded that I would prefer not to have to drag a 30-metre square yacht sail attached to nothing but my hand and a few others, 40 to 70 metres across an open field with the risk of a 50 miles per hour gust of wind taking it and my arm with it. Not to mention trying to fold it up. And then repeat five more times.

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The weather has its say – Somerset v Yorkshire – County Championship 2025 – 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th September – Taunton – Third day

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Somerset v Yorkshire 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th September Taunton.

Somerset. T. Kohler-Cadmore, A.M. Vaughan, T.A. Lammonby, J.E.K. Rew (w), T.B. Abell, L.P. Goldsworthy, L. Gregory (c), B.G.F Green,  K.L. Aldridge, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Yorkshire. A. Lyth, F.J. Bean, M.A. Agarwal, J.H. Wharton, J.M. Bairstow (c) (w), M.L. Revis, G.C.H. Hill, D.M. Bess, J.A. Thompson, D.T. Moriarty, C. White.

Overnight. Somerset 391 for 6.

Day 3 – The weather has its say

It was half-past ten, September had broken, the forecast was dire, the sky was overcast, the air was chill and only 150 or so spectators, mostly anoraked, had braved the open stands to watch the players and umpires walk out from the Caddick Pavilion. As Ben Green, yet to face a ball, took guard at the River End, the seats behind him looked deserted, only a few recalcitrant souls defying the threat of the sky and the forecast. Yorkshire seemed to have forgotten it was a new day, for they opened not with their opening bowlers but with Matthew Revis’s medium pace at the Trescothick Pavilion End and Dom Bess’s off spin at the River End. Green and Kasey Aldridge played out the remains of the final over of the previous day and Bess’s first over of the new day as if they were suspicious of what the ball might do.

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An idyll of Somerset batting – Nottinghamshire v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 29th, 30th, 31st July and 1st August – Trent Bridge – First day

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Nottinghamshire v Somerset. 29th, 30th, 31st July and 1st August. Trent Bridge.

Nottinghamshire. H. Hameed (c), B.T. Slater, F.W. McCann, J.M. Clarke (w), J.A. Haynes, L.W. James, L.A. Patterson-White, C.G. Harrison, B.A. Hutton, D.Y. Pennington, Mohammad Abbas.

Somerset. L. Gregory (c), J.H. Davey, T.A. Lammonby, J.E.K. Rew (w), T.B. Abell, T. Banton, A.M. Vaughan, C. Overton, M. Pretorius, M.J. Leach, J.T. Ball.

Toss. Nottinghamshire elected to field.

First day – An idyll of Somerset batting

The omens were not good for Somerset. The sky was overcast, the light indifferent, Nottinghamshire had a strong pace attack led by Mohammad Abbas and they had elected to bowl on winning the toss. Abbas’s second ball, from over the wicket and slightly angled in, cut in some more and kept low. Lewis Gregory shuffled across his stumps, raised his bat high to leave the ball and was struck on the pads. The appeal from in front of and behind the stumps was instant and convincing, more of a roar than a shout. The raising of the umpire’s finger was instantaneous, admitting of no doubt and Somerset were 0 for 1 with the sleep barely out of most spectator’s eyes. In Abbas’s next over, a ball, again slightly angled in, this time from around the wicket, perhaps straightened a trace. Tom Lammonby brought his bat forward to defend and edged the ball knee-high to Calvin Harrison at second slip. Somerset 0 for 2 and the cheer from the Nottinghamshire crowd of perhaps twelve hundred, perhaps a few more, reverberated around inside stunned Somerset heads.

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A match fading away – Warwickshire v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th June – Final day

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25thth June. Edgbaston.

This match, and all others in this round was played with the Kookaburra ball.

Lewis Gregory was unavailable for selection due to being on paternity leave. Craig Overton captained the side.

Warwickshire. A.L. Davies (c), R.M. Yates, T.W.M. Latham, S.R. Hain, J.G. Bethell, E.G. Barnard, K. Smith (w), E.R. Bamber, C.J. Rocchiccioli, C.B. Simmons, O.J. Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset.  A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Overnight. Somerset 498 and 116 for 3. Warwickshire 351. Somerset lead by 263 runs with seven second innings wickets standing.

Final day – A match fading away

That there were only about 250 seasoned Championship watchers in the ground as the players and umpires walked to the middle at eleven o’clock probably told the story of expectations for the day. Played on a pitch from which one of the defibrillators located around the ground would have obtained no response, the Kookaburra ball was perfectly at home. The first prediction of a draw had been made by a Somerset supporter at lunch on the first day. The impression created as the match went on was that a batter with any degree of obduracy in his play might safely use his innings as collateral for a mortgage so secure did he look at the crease. Should he launch an attack, the house might come tumbling down if the number of wickets which had fallen to attacking strokes was any indicator.

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Imperious Overton – Warwickshire v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 24thth June – Edgbaston – Third day

'farmer white'

County Championship 2025. Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 24thth June. Edgbaston.

Lewis Gregory was unavailable for selection due to being on paternity leave.

Warwickshire. A.L. Davies (c), R.M. Yates, T.W.M. Latham, S.R. Hain, J.G. Bethell, E.G. Barnard, K. Smith (w), E.R. Bamber, C.J. Rocchiccioli, C.B. Simmons, O.J.Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset.  A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Overnight. Somerset 498. Warwickshire 158 for 1. Warwickshire trail by 340 with nine first innings wickets standing.

Third day – Imperious Overton

Craig Overton bowled as well as he had thus far in 2025. To take four wickets for 61 runs in 27 overs with a Kookaburra ball on what appeared to be a featherbed of an Edgbaston pitch against risk-averse Warwickshire batters was a Herculean effort. That all four wickets came from Warwickshire’s top seven added to Overton’s achievement. His performance, together with the persistence of the other Somerset bowlers, and the rising pressure that built up wore Warwickshire down. Overton, and Somerset were pushing for victory. Although the pitch remained reluctant to give up its wickets, Overton ran in with all the power and imperious authority of old. His was the performance of the day on a day in which little had been expected of the bowlers.

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A match falling asleep – Warwickshire v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 24thth June – Edgbaston – Second day

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 24thth June. Edgbaston.

Lewis Gregory was unavailable for selection due to being on paternity leave.

Warwickshire. A.L. Davies (c), R.M. Yates, T.W.M. Latham, S.R. Hain, J.G. Bethell, E.G. Barnard, K. Smith (w), E.R. Bamber, C.J. Rocchiccioli, C.B. Simmons, O.J.Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset.  A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Overnight. Somerset 327 for 3.

Second day – A match falling asleep

Halfway through the morning session, Somerset were on top of the world, or at least they were on top of this match. They were 390 for 3 with Tom Lammonby and Tom Abell at the crease. The pair had added 63 runs in the 18 overs thus far bowled in the morning, one run short of three an over. It had been, for Somerset supporters, a measured display of classical batting without a hint of a chance. The match was at Somerset’s mercy, at least as far as any match is at any side’s mercy which uses the Kookaburra ball in English conditions on a pitch such as the one prepared for this match, seemingly fit to do service in perpetuity on the Elysian Fields. Indeed, Lammonby and Abell were playing with such measured control that it was not difficult for the imagination to see them batting through that Elysian eternity or at least opening up the route to a Somerset score in the region of 600. And then, suddenly, as if someone had punctured the dream and reminded them that a fifth bonus point was available if they could score 60 runs in the seven overs remaining before the end of the 110th over, the ball was suddenly being catapulted rather than coaxed off the bat.

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Of flamboyance and lyricism – Kohler-Cadmore and Lammonby rule the day – Warwickshire v Somerset – County Championship 2025 – 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 24thth June – Edgbaston – First day

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 24thth June. Edgbaston.

As part of an ECB experiment this round of County Championship matches was the first of four to be played with the Kookaburra ball.

Lewis Gregory was unavailable for selection due to being on paternity leave.

Warwickshire. A.L. Davies (c), R.M. Yates, T.W.M. Latham, S.R. Hain, J.G. Bethell, E.G. Barnard, K. Smith (w), E.R. Bamber, C.J. Rocchiccioli, C.B. Simmons, O.J.Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset.  A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat

First day – Of flamboyance and lyricism – Kohler-Cadmore and Lammonby rule the day  

In 2024, in one of Somerset’s many unsuccessful experiments with their opening partnership, Tom Kohler-Cadmore opened the second innings in the Championship match at Edgbaston by walking down the wicket holding his bat out in front of him. He was out to his second ball and had not opened the innings since. Somerset’s opening partnership tribulations though had continued into 2025. In May, against Sussex at Taunton, the latest experiment had involved opening with Lewis Gregory and Josh Davey the latter of whom had rarely batted above nine since joining Somerset in 2014, although he had previously opened the innings for Middlesex second eleven before joining Somerset. No great partnership had resulted, but the pair had usually steered Somerset past the early overs and deadened the newness of the ball. However, for this match, Gregory was unavailable, and another partner was needed for Davey. In the light of all that had gone before, and the experience of a year earlier, Kohler-Cadmore would not have been at the top of most Somerset supporters lists to walk out with Davey.

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Helter-skelter cricket – Somerset v Durham – County Championship 2025 – 22nd and 23rd July – Taunton – Final day

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County Championship 2025. Division 1. Somerset v Durham. 22nd and 23rd July. Taunton.

Somerset. T. Kohler-Cadmore, J.H. Davey, T.A. Lammonby, J.E.K. Rew (w), T.B. Abell, T. Banton, A.M. Vaughan, L. Gregory (c), C. Overton, M.J. Leach, J.T. Ball.

Durham. A.Z. Lees (c), E.N. Gay, C.N. Ackermann, D.G. Bedingham, O.G. Robinson (w), G. Clark, B.A. Raine, G.S. Drissell, M.J. Potts, N. Wagner, C.F. Parkinson.

Overnight. Durham 145 and 5 for 2. Somerset 250. Durham trail by 100 runs with eight second innings wickets standing.

Final day – Helter-skelter cricket

This was a day of high, white cloud, sunny weather and cricket played at the same helter-skelter pace as that played on the first day. Somerset held the upper hand at the outset, and the day began with the prospect of a two-day victory which might move Somerset closer to Nottinghamshire and Surrey at the top of the table. But, in front of a crowd of around 1,200, Durham soon made their presence felt with a pummelling assault on the Somerset bowling. In a match in which 400 runs had been scored and 22 wickets had fallen on the first day, Durham were soon demolishing Somerset’s 105-run first innings lead at over six runs an over. Leading the charge were two left-handers, Emilio Gay, the Durham opener who had survived the three overs of the Durham innings on the evening before when two wickets had fallen, and Neil Wagner, sent in as a second night watcher when the first, Callum Parkinson, was leg before wicket to Jack Leach.

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