Author: 'farmer white'

Bob Willis Trophy 2020 ~ Warwickshire v Somerset ~ Final day ~ “That was cruel”

'farmer white'

All Bob Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restrictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Warwickshire CCC’s live stream of the match without which it would not have been possible. The stream was watched throughout with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live; and to enable him to form his own view of the play.

A different type of take on a frustrating day:—

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Warwickshire v Somerset. 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th August 2020. Edgbaston.

Warwickshire. R.M.Yates, R.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, I.R. Bell, M.J. Lamb, M.G.K. Burgess (w), T.T. Bresnan, A.T. Thomson, H.J.H. Brookes, C.N. Miles, O.H. Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, T. Banton, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey.

Overnight. Warwickshire 121 and 104 for 6. Somerset 413 for 9 dec. Warwickshire trail by 188 runs with four second innings wickets standing.

Final day. 18th August – “That was cruel”

“That was cruel,” said the incoming text seconds after the match was abandoned. And it was, at least in cricketing terms. And long drawn out cruelty at that. So much potentially hung on the outcome of this match. The points position at the top of the three groups was so tight, winning or drawing might make the eventual difference between qualifying for the final and not.

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Bob Willis Trophy 2020 ~ Warwickshire v Somerset ~ Third day ~ The broadsword and the rapier

'farmer white'

All Bob Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restrictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Warwickshire CCC’s live stream of the match without which it would not have been possible. The stream was watched throughout with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live; and to enable him to form his own view of the play.

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Warwickshire v Somerset. 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th August 2020. Edgbaston.

Warwickshire. R.M.Yates, R.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, I.R. Bell, M.J. Lamb, M.G.K. Burgess (w), T.T. Bresnan, A.T. Thomson, H.J.H. Brookes, C.N. Miles, O.H. Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, T. Banton, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey.

Overnight. Warwickshire 121. Somerset 214 for 6. Somerset lead by 93 runs with four first innings wickets standing.

Third day. 17th August – The broadsword and the rapier

Batsmen not out overnight are always vulnerable first thing in the morning, either to a good ball or to a lapse in concentration. At least, anecdotally to my mind, it has seemed that way over the years. It was Hildreth on the second day here, Gregory on the third. In the second over, Bresnan bowled an innocuous-looking ball wide of off stump, Gregory essayed what had all the appearance of a speculative drive and the ball, from the direction in which the players looked across the screen, was caught at mid-off. Somerset 215 for 7. Van der Merwe joined Davies and drove a straight ball from Hannon-Dalby off the back foot through point for four. He attempted to steer the next ball to third man, the ball cut away off the pitch and the faint edge carried straight to Burgess behind the stumps. Somerset 226 for 8, a lead 105, and the previous evening’s hopes of a score of 300 were receding.

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Bob Willis Trophy 2020 ~ Warwickshire v Somerset ~ Day two ~ Glowering skies – Glorious cricket

'farmer white'

All Bob Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restrictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Warwickshire CCC’s live stream of the match without which it would not have been possible. The stream was watched throughout with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live; and to enable him to form his own view of the play.

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Warwickshire v Somerset. 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th August 2020. Edgbaston.

Warwickshire. R.M.Yates, R.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, I.R. Bell, M.J. Lamb, M.G.K. Burgess (w), T.T. Bresnan, A.T. Thomson, H.J.H. Brookes, C.N. Miles, O.H. Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, T. Banton, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey.

Overnight. Warwickshire 121. Somerset 80 for 2. Somerset trail by 41 runs with eight first innings wickets standing.

Second day. 16th August – Glowering skies – glorious cricket

A glowering sky presented itself when the live stream woke up on the second morning of this match. Then, the dreaded words presented themselves. “Start delayed. Wet outfield. Rain.” The wide-angle camera located in the Pavilion presented its view of the Birmingham skyline. A skyline that was doing battle with those clouds. Half-buildings with their heads in the clouds. I could almost feel the dank atmosphere. The sullen-looking outfield didn’t help. Neither did the Blackdowns, for they looked depressed and expectant of rain. Perhaps, like me, they knew of the importance of Somerset getting enough time on the field in this match to force a win. It is the halfway point of a five-match competition in which only two of the three group winners can progress to the final. Even five wins might not guarantee a place. Weather could be a crucial factor in determining the outcome, and the forecast for the final three days of this match is poor. The players will have had their own view, but the supporter dreamt of them only having to bat once, perhaps, dream of dreams, of reaching 300 and then letting slip the … Well, not exactly the dogs of war, but you get my drift after the Somerset bowling performance in the first Warwickshire innings.

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Bob Willis Trophy 2020 ~ Warwickshire v Somerset ~ First day ~ Oh, to be in Birmingham …

'farmer white'

All Bob Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restrictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Warwickshire CCC’s live stream of the match without which it would not have been possible. The stream was watched throughout with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live; and to enable him to form his own view of the play.

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Warwickshire v Somerset. 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th August 2020. Edgbaston.

Warwickshire. R.M.Yates, R.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, I.R. Bell, M.J. Lamb, M.G.K. Burgess (w), T.T. Bresnan, A.T. Thomson, H.J.H. Brookes, C.N. Miles, O.H. Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, T. Banton, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey.

Toss. Warwickshire. Elected to bat.

First day. 15th August – Oh, to be in Birmingham

The picture on the Somerset CCC website brought an immediate flood of memories. It was taken from the upper reaches of the five-storey Pavilion at Edgbaston. Beyond the far end of the ground can be seen the Birmingham skyline. If you know where to look you can pick out the iconic structure of the ultra-modern library. It is a view I have taken in from the packed members lounge on many an occasion on my annual visits to Edgbaston for Somerset’s Championship match there. I have had many an enjoyable chat in that lounge with Somerset and Warwickshire supporters both. Not today. Today, as the camera scans the empty stands it is another stark cricketing reminder of the times through which we are passing. The sun is shining, and the shadows of the players are clear on the pitch. It looks a perfect day for cricket. A perfect day to sit in my usual haunt at Edgbaston, square of the wicket in the Hollies Stand, where last year I and two or three other Somerset supporters formed an informal Somerset cricket symposium for the day. Not today. As it is, with the sun shining in Birmingham, I am ensconced in an armchair watching the Edgbaston live stream on an elderly laptop with a rain-filled sky obliterating my treasured view of the Blackdowns.

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Bob Willis Trophy 2020 ~ Northamptonshire v Somerset ~ Final day ~ Making a difference – Craig and Jamie Overton

'farmer white'

All Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restrictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Northamptonshire CCC’s live stream of the match. The stream was watched with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live.

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Northamptonshire v Somerset. 8th and 9th August 2020. Northampton.

Northamptonshire. E.N. Gay, B.J. Curran, R. Vasconcelos, R.I Keogh, C.O. Thurston, L.A Procter, A.M. Rossington (c) (w), G.K. Berg, Blessing Muzarabani, B.D. Glover, B.W. Sanderson.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, T. Banton, S.M. Davies (w), C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey, J.A. Brooks.

Overnight. Somerset 166 and 15 for 1. Northamptonshire 67. Somerset lead by 114 runs with nine second innings wickets standing.

Final day. 9th August – Making a difference – Craig and Jamie Overton

One of the things that is supposed to give most satisfaction in life is to make a difference. There is no doubt about who made the difference in this match. I am sure there would be only one answer from a bruised Northamptonshire. Somerset won by 167 runs. Together Craig and Jamie Overton scored a total of 148 runs over the two innings. Nineteen short to be sure. But perhaps the nine wickets and five catches they took between them might make up for that. Batting and bowling, it was an outstanding performance by all the Somerset bowlers, but the Overton brothers were, as they say, up front and central to it.

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Willis Tropy 2020. Northamptonshire v Somerset. First day. A madcap day at the cricket.

'farmer white'

All Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restrictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Northamptonshire CCC’s live stream of the match. The stream was watched with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live.

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Northamptonshire v Somerset. 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th August 2020. Northampton.

Northamptonshire. E.N. Gay, B.J. Curran, R. Vasconcelos, R.I Keogh, C.O. Thurston, L.A Procter, A.M. Rossington (c) (w), G.K. Berg, Blessing Muzarabani, B.D. Glover, B.W. Sanderson.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, T. Banton, S.M. Davies (w), C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey, J.A. Brooks.

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

First day. 8th August – A madcap day at the cricket

The journey to my armchair is somewhat shorter than the one from home or a hotel to the cricket used to be, but the anticipation builds up just the same as the early part of the morning wears on. There is nothing quite like the first morning of a first-class cricket match. I was once asked if I would be travelling to a particular match. “Yes,” I answered, “but I can only get the time to go to one day. I will probably gauge which day to go to from the score.” The questioner looked at me in horror. “First day!” he said, almost ordering me to comply. He had a point. By the start of the subsequent days the match is part shaped. On the first morning the anticipation is boundless. After that, it is bounded by what has gone before. The only time I have had a feeling quite like the one I have on the morning of a four-day Championship match was on the mornings of those great set-piece battles that were the acutely anticipated quarter and semi-finals of the Gillette Cup in its heyday. The prospect of glory or elimination, so near the prize, concentrated the mind wonderfully.

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Wonderful ~ Bob Willis Trophy ~ Somerset v Glamorgan ~ Final day

'farmer white'

All Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restrictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Somerset CCC’s live stream of the match. The stream was watched with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live. He would like to pay tribute to the excellence of the Somerset CCC’s multi-camera live stream without which the writing of this report would not have been possible.

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Somerset v Glamorgan. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th August 2020. Taunton.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, G.A. Bartlett/B.G.F. Green*, S.M. Davies (w), C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey, J.A. Brooks.

*B.G.F. Green played on the final two days as a concussion replacement for G.A. Bartlett.

Glamorgan. N. J. Selman, C.R. Hemphrey, W.T. Root, C.B. Cooke (c) (w), D.A. Douthwaite, G.G. Wagg, K.A. Bull, K.S. Carlson, M. de Lange, M.G. Hogan, R.A.J. Smith,

Final day. 4th August – Wonderful

Somerset finished this match off with a near-clinical performance in just over an hour. To the fore was Jamie Overton in a longer spell than he might normally bowl. He will leave Somerset at the end of this season, but no-one watching the live stream could question his commitment to Somerset’s cause in this match. He has celebrated as one with the team on the field, and when the ball was in his hands, bowled with focus, determination, and no little skill. The ball with which he removed Kieran Bull just before the end was one to place in the display cabinet of the memory bank. It was essentially the same ball with which he removed Nick Selman, lbw, with the third ball of the innings on the previous evening. On this occasion no pad intervened, and the off stump was spectacularly uprooted. Unforgettable.

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Cricket of the old sort ~ Willis Trophy 2020 ~ Somerset v Glamorgan – Third day

'farmer white'

All Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restrictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Somerset CCC’s live stream of the match. The stream was watched with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live. He would like to pay tribute to the excellence of the Somerset CCC multi-camera live stream without which the writing of this report would not have been possible.

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Somerset v Glamorgan. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th August 2020. Taunton.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, G.A. Bartlett/B.G.F. Green*, S.M. Davies (w), C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey, J.A. Brooks.

*B.G.F. Green played as a concussion replacement for G.A. Bartlett on the third and fourth days.

Glamorgan. N. J. Selman, C.R. Hemphrey, W.T. Root, C.B. Cooke (c) (w), D.A. Douthwaite, G.G. Wagg, K.A. Bull, K.S. Carlson, M. de Lange, M.G. Hogan, R.A.J. Smith,

Overnight. Somerset 296 and 131 for 2. Glamorgan 131. Somerset lead by 296 runs with eight second innings wickets standing.

Third day. 3rd August – Cricket of the old sort

Well, it didn’t take long. Three days into the season and I was late for the start. Only by about five minutes but it was enough for me to miss a wicket. I suspect I wasn’t the only one. James Hildreth had been caught behind off the first ball of the day from the bowling of Michael Hogan for 45. And by such occurrences is the ageless uncertainty of cricket perpetually renewed, for at the end of the second day I had hoped for another glorious hour of the Abell-Hildreth partnership that had taken Somerset’s advantage in this match beyond, the Somerset supporter hoped, Glamorgan’s reach.

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A stunning Somerset performance ~ Willis Trophy ~ Somerset v Glamorgam – Second day

'farmer white'

All Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restrictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Somerset CCC’s live stream of the match. The stream was watched with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live. He would like to pay tribute to the excellence of the Somerset CCC multi-camera live stream without which the writing of this report would not have been possible.

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Somerset v Glamorgan. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th August 2020. Taunton.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, G.A. Bartlett, S.M. Davies (w), C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey, J.A. Brooks.

Glamorgan. N. J. Selman, C.R. Hemphrey, W.T. Root, C.B. Cooke (c) (w), D.A. Douthwaite, G.G. Wagg, K.A. Bull, K.S. Carlson, M. de Lange, M.G. Hogan, R.A.J. Smith,

Overnight. Somerset 296. Glamorgan 8 for 0. Glamorgan trail by 288 runs with ten first innings wickets standing.

Second day. 2nd August – A stunning Somerset performance

At tea on the first day Somerset were 164 for 8 and the Glamorgan bowlers had dominated proceedings with some persistent, often late, movement. By the close of the second day Somerset were 296 runs ahead with eight second innings wickets and two days in hand. In the process Tom Abell and James Hildreth had added 93 second innings runs for Somerset’s third wicket at five runs an over against a ball that continued to move. The transformation in the match had begun on the first evening with those 147 Somerset runs scored for those final two wickets. But it had been driven home by a performance on the second morning from the Somerset bowlers, Craig Overton in particular, that put the Glamorgan bowling performance of the first day in the shade.

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Strange times ~ Willis Trophy ~ Somerset v Glamorgan ~ First day

'farmer white'

All Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Somerset CCC’s live stream of the match. The stream was watched with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live. He would like to pay tribute to the excellence of the Somerset CCC multi-camera live stream without which the writing of this report would not have been possible.

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Somerset v Glamorgan. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th August 2020. Taunton.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, G.A. Bartlett, S.M. Davies (w), C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey, J.A. Brooks.

Glamorgan. N. J. Selman, C.R. Hemphrey, W.T. Root, C.B. Cooke (c) (w), D.A. Douthwaite, G.G. Wagg, K.A. Bull, K.S. Carlson, M. de Lange, M.G. Hogan, R.A.J. Smith,

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

First day. 1st August – Strange times

When Tom Lammonby turned Ruaidhri Smith into the on side for a single in the second over of the day it was Somerset’s first run of the 2020 season. The calendar recorded the date as 1st August. We live in unprecedented times and cricket is trying to adapt. A drinks break after six overs would have been cause for raised spectator eyebrows in previous times. A sanitiser break every six overs does not come as a surprise in these times. Neither do the masks worn by those who bring the sanitiser onto the field. Coronavirus normality in cricket, at least for the 2020 season.

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Swifts, August 2014

'farmer white'

Occasionally, I write a poem about something other than cricket. This is one such. It was written, as the title suggests, one late summer day in 2014. I had gone into the garden, as I often do on a summer evening, to watch the swifts, only to find there were none to be seen. They had left, as suddenly as they had come three and a half months before, on their migration south at the end of the mating season. I saw my first swifts of 2020 in May and they took me back to this poem written in the pre-coronavirus world.

 

Swifts 2014

It is August and the swifts have gone.

The sky suddenly empty of their limitless, racing flight.

Although the gulls, starlings and others labour on

None matches the swift for sleight of flight or height.Read More »

My reluctant introduction to Somerset in T20 (Beckenham and Chelmsford)

'farmer white'

Somerset played Essex in a T20 match at Chelmsford in 2017. I didn’t travel to the match. Instead, by way of a preview, I posted a description of my reluctant introduction to T20 cricket, and Kieron Pollard, at Beckenham in 2010; and my recollections of Somerset T20 matches I had subsequently seen at Chelmsford during my eastern exile. During those matches I witnessed an overpowering innings from Marcus Trescothick, an astonishing one from Chris Gayle and, at Beckenham, perhaps the moment which led to Peter Trego batting in the top three in T20 for Somerset. There is a brief note on the 2017 match at Chelmsford. Read More »

A personal memory of Godfrey Evans

'farmer white'

A Personal Memory of Godfrey Evans

I once met Godfrey Evans, Kent and England wicketkeeper throughout the 1950s, and one of the greats of England cricket. Not a Somerset memory but a memory to be treasured nonetheless.

It was at a cricket event in London. I have long since forgotten which. It was not too long before Evans died. He was presented to the event and said a few words but his voice was weak and he looked very tired. I had taken my cricket-playing, barely teenage son to the event. I managed to corner Evans at the end of the event to introduce my son to him so that he could at least say he had met the great man. “This is my son, he is a leg-spinner,” I told Evans. Evans’ tired eyes lit up and he suddenly became animated. “Leg spinner! Leg spinner! Loved leg spinners. Lots of chances. Lots of chances, Stick with it young man.” And with that Evans went his way and we went ours, but with another jewel of a cricketing memory to bank.

Palairet 1895

'farmer white'

Lionel Charles Hamilton Palairet played for Somerset from 1890 to 1909. He scored over 15000 first-class runs at an average of 33.63 in an age when pitches were far from as reliable as they are today, and when they were left exposed to the elements in inclement weather. He made 27 first-class centuries. He has often been referred to as the archetypal classical batsman of cricket’s ‘Golden Age’. He played with immense grace off the front foot with an off drive second to none. The grace of his driving could be matched by its power and it was not uncommon for him to launch a drive into the River Tone or St James churchyard. In this poem I have tried to capture what it would be like to be transported back in time to watch Palairet – the nonpareil …

Palairet 1895

Come with me down to the County Ground

Where we’ll cast our sight to its past.

We’ll take a breath, then glaze our eyes

And make the moment last.Read More »

The County Championship goes east

'farmer white'

County Championship Division 1. Somerset v Essex. 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th September 2019. Taunton.

Overnight. No play on Day 3. Somerset 203. Essex 25 for 0. Essex trail Somerset by 178 runs.

Final day. 26th September – The County Championship goes east

The final day of this match left a montage of memories crashing around in the mind. Marcus Trescothick walking out to a tremendous ovation just before the end to field at slip for the last time is one to be treasured. The eerie emotion-pummelling silence every time a bowler left his mark during that, at last, sunlit hour when Somerset supporters hoped, and Essex ones feared, a Somerset miracle might happen. The tumultuous cheers of Somerset supporters and chants of “Somerset La La La” every time an Essex wicket fell or a batsman was beaten and the applause of Essex supporters and chants of “Essex, Essex” whenever a boundary was struck. The pulsating atmosphere surged, roared, throbbed, ebbed and flowed in every corner of the ground. It was as if it were some physical entity you could reach out and touch. You couldn’t of course, but you could feel it in every sinew in your body.Read More »

Championship hopes cloud over

'farmer white'

County Championship Division 1. Somerset v Essex. 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th September 2019. Taunton.

Overnight. Somerset 203. Essex 25 for 0. Essex trail Somerset by 178 runs.

Third day. 25th September. No Play. Rain and wet outfield.

Championship hopes cloud over

It was a day of checking weather Apps, low fast-moving grey cloud, pulses of rain, covers coming off and going back on, umpires inspecting, ground staff mopping up just in time for another blast of mizzle or spate of heavier rain and, in the end, waiting endlessly for wet ground to dry out. The sky dropped repeated visitations of the sort of mizzle against which an umbrella acts as a trap to hold it around your face, and heavier bursts of rain. The sky brought no hope at all to Somerset supporters, just a conveyor belt of low grey cloud. Seeing no immediate prospect of play I took a more leisurely stroll around the ground than is usually possible at the start of a day’s play. The conversations were as much about the weather as they were about the cricket, for the weather was taking an increasingly strong grip on the match and in so doing tightening Essex’s grip on the Championship.Read More »

“I want Roelof in the side”

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County Championship Division 1. Somerset v Essex. 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th September 2019. Taunton.

Overnight. Somerset 75 for 4.

Second day. 24th September – “I want Roelof in the side”

“I want Roelof in the side. He makes thing happen.” So said my cricket-watching companion before the teams had been announced on the first morning. My protestations that Somerset would not need three spinners, for only two can bowl at once, and that van der Merwe seemed to have ‘lost’ his red ball batting were swept aside. Well, Roelof was in the side, along with Bess and Leach, and on the second day he indeed did make things happen. In a glorious three-quarters of an hour in the afternoon sun he swept the all-conquering Harmer aside. Whether he did enough, and whether the weather will hold long enough, to give Somerset a chance of turning the top of the Championship table upside down remains to be seen. The odds against Somerset succeeding remain horribly long for Essex still hold all the cards, the time remaining in the game is desperately short and the weather stubbornly autumnal. But van der Merwe has kept the flame of Somerset’s hopes alight and, it seems, he does “make things happen”.Read More »

Five spinners and a deluge

'farmer white'

County Championship Division 1. Somerset v Essex. 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th September 2019. Taunton.

Essex travelled to Taunton for the last match of the season 12 points ahead of second-placed Somerset. To win the Championship Somerset would need to win the match. For Essex a draw would be sufficient. The forecast for all four days was poor as the remnants of the latest tropical storm swept in from the Atlantic.  

Somerset. M. Vijay, S.M. Davies (w), T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, T. Banton, G.A. Bartlett, L. Gregory, D.M Bess, C. Overton, R van Der Merwe, M.J. Leach. 

Essex. N.L.J Browne, Sir A.N. Cook, T. Westley, D.W. Lawrence, B.S. Bopara, T.N. ten Doeschate (c), A.J.A. Wheater (w), S.R. Harmer, A. Nijjar, J.A. Porter, S.J. Cook. 

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

First day. 23rd September – Five spinners and a deluge

As we left the house the high white cloud, blue sky and sun recalled the summer warmth of the days before the weekend just gone. The chill on the air hinted, but no more, of autumn. The forecast might have had Noah worried. And so, the final round of County Championship matches of 2019 began on the day of the Autumn Equinox. The Quantocks had cast off their bright summer colours and were dressed in drab winter dowds. The Atlantic storms, which end their days passing through these parts in autumn and winter have begun their annual pilgrimage. They shroud the Quantocks from the view of those of us in the valley as they push by.Read More »

The ‘thousand-mile stare’

'farmer white'

County Championship Division 1. Hampshire v Somerset. 16th, 17th and 18th September 2019. Southampton.

Overnight. Hampshire 196 and 176 for 8. Somerset 142 (K.J. Abbott 9 for 40). Hampshire lead by 230 runs with two second innings wickets standing.

Final day. 18th September – The ‘thousand-mile stare’

This was a crushing defeat in a match in which victory would have taken Somerset a long way towards their first County Championship. They succumbed to outstanding bowling in both innings by a bowler who bowled throughout as if ‘on a mission’, although 68 wickets thus far this season suggests he has been rather effective against other teams too. Abbott’s 17 wicket’s in the match, apparently the first time the feat has been achieved in the County Championship since before the Second World War, is a phenomenal achievement. At lunch on the final day nothing seemed less likely. Somerset, 62 for 0 in pursuit of 281, with Abbott having bowled an apparently innocuous opening spell, seemed to be in little trouble. Within an hour of the restart the innings was almost over and by the end the only surprise was that Abbott had only taken 17 wickets.Read More »

Abbott unleashed

'farmer white'

County Championship Division 1. Hampshire v Somerset. 16th, 17th and 18th September 2019. Southampton.

Overnight. Hampshire 196. Somerset 30 for 2. Somerset trail Hampshire by 166 runs with eight first innings wickets standing.

Overnight. Hampshire 196. Somerset 30 for 2. Somerset trail by 166 runs with eight first innings wickets standing. 

Second day. 17th September – Abbott unleashed

This is a match in which the balance has swung first one way and then the other but by the end of the second day the overall direction of travel was heavily in Hampshire’s favour. With Essex only eight points behind Somerset at the start of this round of matches and well ahead in their match against Surrey at Chelmsford, defeat in this match could end Somerset’s Championship challenge, for although Essex and Somerset meet in the final round of matches the forecast for the final week is poor.

There are no such issues with the forecast here. There will be a result in this match and if Somerset are to maintain their position in the Championship, they will have to win it. I do not recall seeing a cloud in the sky all day. The decision to end play for bad light can only have been related to shadows covering the pitch and the setting of the sun on a day that, along with the heavy defeats at Chelmsford and Headingley, may, if Somerset cannot safely negotiate the new ball in their second innings, cast a shadow over Somerset’s season. Read More »