County Championship 2026. Essex v Somerset. April 10^th, 11^th, 12^th and 13^th. Chelmsford.

Somerset captain Lewis Gregory was not available for selection due to a chest injury. Craig Overton replaced him as captain.

Somerset. J.F. Thomas, T. Kohler-Cadmore/W.C.F. Smeed*, T.A. Lammonby, J.E.K. Rew (w), T.B. Abell, L.P. Goldsworthy/A.M. Vaughan*, C. Overton (c), M.J. Leach, T. Shaw, M. Pretorius, J.T. Ball.

*Will Smeed replaced Tom Kohler-Cadmore as an injury replacement under the ECB’s 2026 replacement player trial regulations after 51 overs of the Essex first innings, and Archie Vaughan replaced Lewis Goldsworthy under the same regulations after 38 overs of the Essex second innings.

Essex. D. Elgar, P.I. Walter, P.W.A. Mulder, C.W.J. Allison, M.J.J. Critchley, L.M. Benkenstein, M.S. Pepper (w), S.R. Harmer, S. Snater, S.J. Cook (c), J.A. Porter.

Overnight. Essex 149 and 131 for 3. Somerset 348. Essex trail by 68 runs with seven second innings wickets standing.

Final day – A different team

There was something different about the Somerset team that turned out in this match. Different to the ones that have turned out for many seasons past. Different to last year’s team, although with two exceptions the personnel were unchanged. The thing that was different was the same thing that was different in the Nottinghamshire match at Taunton the week before. Somerset teams have always had the ability to overcome the opposition, often coming from behind with inspired victory charges which defeat the odds. Durham at Chester-le-Street in 2025 springs to mind as a classic match won in this way. The victory in this match was different. The demolition of Essex did not look inspired and, once the match was underway, it did not come against the odds. It did however look systematic, ruthless and unforgiving. In the face of the pressure which resulted, Essex wilted and succumbed. Systematic ruthlessness may not be the Somerset way, but it was mightily effective.

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