County Championship 2023. Division 1. Somerset v Warwickshire. 6^th,7^th, 8^th and 9^th April. Taunton.

The author was unable to attend the final day of this match due to travelling to London for a non-cricket-related event which takes place only once every five years over the Easter weekend. The first two days on which play was possible were attended normally. The final day was followed online, through text messages from someone who was at the match and watched subsequently on replays from the Somerset CCC live stream.

Tom Abell had not fully recovered from a winter injury but played for the second team whilst this match was in progress.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.Kohler-Cadmore, G.A. Bartlett, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), C. Overton, J.H. Davey,  M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle.

Warwickshire. W.M.H. Rhodes (c), E.G. Barnard, M.G.K. Burgess (c), S.R. Hain, A.L. Davies, J.G. Bethell, D.R. Mousley, R.M. Yates, O.J. Hannon-Dalby, Hasan Ali, C. Rushworth.

Overnight. Somerset 284. Warwickshire 307 for 5. Warwickshire lead by 23 runs with five first innings wickets in hand.

Final day 9th April – A classic Somerset start to the season

It only happens every five years, and always in London over the Easter Weekend. A quinquennial concert which we have attended for a quarter of a century. It has a habit of clashing with Somerset’s first match of the season. This time I missed the final day. It was one of those rare days when I have to keep up with the Somerset score from wherever I happen to be. A hardened supporter cannot not know the score. In these days of smartphones, ubiquitous internet connections and the 4G network it is easy and can be addictive. County matches can, for the truly addicted be watched on the online livestream while on the move. Not very many years ago the absent supporter would be dependent on friends to text the occasional score and before that the sporting stop press of the evening paper. It was a different world.

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Somerset v Warwickshire. 6^th,7^th, 8^th and 9^th April. Taunton.

The author was unable to attend the final day of this match due to travelling to London for a non-cricket-related event which takes place only once every five years over the Easter weekend. The first two days on which play was possible (there was no play on the first day) were attended normally. The final day was followed online and watched subsequently on a replay of the Somerset CCC live stream.

Tom Abell had not fully recovered from a winter injury, but played for the second team whilst this match was in progress.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.Kohler-Cadmore, G.A. Bartlett, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), C. Overton, J.H. Davey,  M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle.

Warwickshire. W.M.H. Rhodes (c), E.G. Barnard, M.G.K. Burgess (c), S.R. Hain, A.L. Davies, J.G. Bethell, D.R. Mousley, R.M. Yates, O.J. Hannon-Dalby, Hasan Ali, C. Rushworth.

Overnight. Somerset 269 for 8.

Third day 7th April – Somerset out in the cold

This was a day in which Warwickshire’s moved ahead but perhaps lost their way a little at the end as the bitter April cold engulfed the day. But first, the unfinished business of Somerset’s first innings. As so often with a batter not out with a good score overnight, Gregory, main architect of the Somerset second-evening revival was on his way back to the Caddick Pavilion, caught at slip by Robert Yates off Chris Rushworth for 65. Peter Siddle briefly lit up Somerset’s morning with a cover and an on drive off Oliver Hannon-Dalby’s naggingly persistent pace but was soon struck on the pad and Somerset were all out for 284. Siddle 10. Jack Leach 27 not out. “Not necessarily a bad thing, those two wickets,” someone along from me in the top of the Trescothick Pavilion said, “It probably means the ball is moving.”

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Somerset v Warwickshire. 6^th,7^th, 8^th and 9^th April. Taunton.

The author was unable to attend the final day of this match due to travelling to London for a non-cricket-related event which takes place once every five years over the Easter weekend. The first two days on which play was possible were attended normally. The final day was followed online as the day unfolded and with subsequent access to the Somerset CCC live stream.

Tom Abell had not fully recovered from a winter injury but played for the second team as part of his recovery whilst this match was in progress.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.Kohler-Cadmore, G.A. Bartlett, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), C. Overton, J.H. Davey,  M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle.

Warwickshire. W.M.H. Rhodes (c), E.G. Barnard, M.G.K. Burgess (c), S.R. Hain, A.L. Davies, J.G. Bethell, D.R. Mousley, R.M. Yates, O.J. Hannon-Dalby, Hasan Ali, C. Rushworth.

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

Second day 6^th April – Carpe Diem – Gregory and Davey seize the day

Easter was early this year, and the cricket season began before the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, if only just. At least it did in most of the country. At Taunton, it was delayed a day, until Good Friday. The outfield had had more than its fill of rain and the areas in front of the Trescothick and Colin Atkinson Pavilions were too wet to accommodate the scurrying feet of cricketers. There had been work on the outfield in the winter, March rainfall was more than one and a half times its normal allocation and it had taken its toll. Black sheeting covered the area in front of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion and the boundary rope had been brought in 15 metres or so to accommodate it. Sand too had been distributed over much of the outfield, was clearly visible in front of the Trescothick Pavilion and in many parts of the ground erupted in explosive puffs when a ball hit through the air touched ground. Just enough space and dryness remained to squeeze in a first-class cricket match and a pair of can-do umpires called a start with only eight overs lost from the second day.

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County Championship 2022. Division 1. Somerset v Warwickshire. 28^th, 29^th and 30^th April 2022. Taunton.

Sonny Baker and Peter Siddle were unavailable for selection by Somerset due to being injured.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, M.T. Renshaw, T.B. Abell (c), T. Banton, J.C. Hildreth, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, J. Leach, J.A. Brooks.

Warwickshire. R.M. Yates, D.M. Sibley, W.M.H. Rhodes (c), A.L. Davies, S.R. Hain, M.J. Lamb, M.G.K. Burgess (w), N.J. McAndrew. C.N. Miles, D.R. Briggs, O.J. Hannon-Dalby,

Overnight. Somerset 351 for 4.

Second day 29^th April – Somerset take control

Seen in isolation the cricket played on the second day suggested an even contest between the two sides. Somerset scored 107 for the loss of their last six wickets. Warwickshire 197 for 9. But by dint of their near faultless performance with the bat on the first day, Somerset will enter the third day in complete control of this match. Warwickshire fought back hard with the ball on the second morning, but in the final two sessions Somerset’s bowlers drove home the advantage fashioned by the batters on the first day.

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County Championship 2022. Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 12^th, 13^th, 14^th and 15^th September 2022. Edgbaston.

Jack Leach was unavailable for selection by Somerset due to being on international duty and Craig Overton had not fully recovered from his injury.

Warwickshire. D.P. Sibley, A.L. Davies, R.M. Yates, W.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, Y. Yadav, M.G.K. Burgess (w), D.R. Briggs, H.J.H. Brookes, M. Siraj, O.J. Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, Iman-ul-Haq, T.B. Abell (c), G.A. Bartlett, L. P. Goldsworthy, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, K.L. Aldridge, J.H. Davey, Sajid Khan, J.A. Brooks.

Overnight. Somerset 219 and 277 for 4. Warwickshire 196. Somerset led by 300 runs with six second innings wickets standing.

Final day 15^th September – Cheers of relief

Over three days of hard-fought cricket, Somerset had finally gained the ascendancy on the second half of the third day. As the players walked out on the fourth morning in bright sunshine and under large clumps of white cloud, the only question at issue was: when would Somerset’s declaration come? With good weather in prospect and the pitch showing little by way of demons, most expectations were of a draw. That would send Somerset into the penultimate round of matches eight points ahead of Warwickshire with, crucially, one win more. “Take the 12 points,” had been the general consensus among Somerset supporters on the third afternoon as conditions eased and Somerset built their advantage, although it had been difficult to suppress that whiff of anticipation.

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County Championship 2022. Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 12^th, 13^th, 14^th and 15^th September 2022. Edgbaston.

Jack Leach was unavailable for selection by Somerset due to being on international duty and Craig Overton had not fully recovered from his injury.

Warwickshire. D.P. Sibley, A.L. Davies, R.M. Yates, W.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, Y. Yadav, M.G.K. Burgess (w), D.R. Briggs, H.J.H. Brookes, M. Siraj, O.J. Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, Iman-ul-Haq, T.B. Abell (c), G.A. Bartlett, L. P. Goldsworthy, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, K.L. Aldridge, J.H. Davey, Sajid Khan, J.A. Brooks.

Overnight. Somerset 219 and 13 for 2. Warwickshire 196. Somerset led by 36 runs with eight second innings wickets standing.

Third day 14^th September – A whiff of anticipation

This was another day of two and a half runs an over cricket, slower than that at the start, quicker as the afternoon wore on. And yet, the cricket was totally absorbing. In cricket, Championship cricket in particular, context is all, and this match was played in the context of both teams being at serious risk of relegation to the Second Division. Neither could afford a defeat, and a victory would considerably ease the pressures on the winner. As the players took the field for the third day, a positive result, one way or the other seemed inevitable if the weather held, and that is precisely what the forecast promised.

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County Championship 2022. Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 12^th, 13^th, 14^th and 15^th September 2022. Edgbaston.

Jack Leach was unavailable for selection by Somerset due to being on international duty and Craig Overton had not fully recovered from injury.

Warwickshire. D.P. Sibley, A.L. Davies, R.M. Yates, W.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, Y. Yadav, M.G.K. Burgess (w), D.R. Briggs, H.J.H. Brookes, M. Siraj, O.J. Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, Imam-ul-Haq, T.B. Abell (c), G.A. Bartlett, L. P. Goldsworthy, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, K.L. Aldridge, J.H. Davey, Sajid Khan, J.A. Brooks.

Overnight. Somerset 182 for 8.

Second day 13^th September – On the edge of a knife

The second day of this match ended with the two teams balanced precariously on the edge of a knife. Twenty-two wickets fell in the less than the five sessions of play which the weather permitted on the first two days. Six sessions remain, with the weather forecasters promising no further interruptions apart from those overs at the end of the day which are often the victims of bad light at this time of year. The weather interruptions to date have probably benefitted Warwickshire as they tended to return their pace bowlers fresh to the attack after enforced breaks. Set against that, the forecasters promise the best overhead batting conditions of the match for the third day during which Somerset will have to construct a lead sufficient for their bowlers to test the resilience of the Warwickshire batters on the final day.

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County Championship 2022. Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 12^th, 13^th, 14^th and 15^th September 2022. Edgbaston.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died on 8th September. Before the start of the first day a one minute silence was held in her honour.

Jack Leach was unavailable for selection by Somerset due to being on international duty and Craig Overton had not fully recovered from his injury.

Warwickshire. D.P. Sibley, A.L. Davies, R.M. Yates, W.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, Y. Yadav, M.G.K. Burgess (w), D.R. Briggs, H.J.H. Brookes, M. Siraj, O.J. Hannon-Dalby.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, Iman-ul-Haq, T.B. Abell (c), G.A. Bartlett, L. P. Goldsworthy, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, K.L. Aldridge, J.H. Davey, Sajid Khan, J.A. Brooks.

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

First day 12^th September – Gregory and Khan raise the spirits

The day began with the players, coaches and officials lined up facing the Pavilion. The two or three hundred people in the crowd, there were no more to my eye, joining them as respects were paid to the late Queen Elizabeth II. A short statement was read before a perfectly observed minute’s silence was held. The silence, a passing lorry apart, was palpable. Every minute’s silence I have witnessed being observed by a Championship crowd, even ones more than ten times the size of this one, is the same. Not a person moves. Not a syllable is spoken. This morning, for that minute, peace and intensely quiet contemplation reigned.

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County Championship 2022. Division 1. Somerset v Warwickshire. 28^th, 29^th and 30^th April 2022. Taunton.

Sonny Baker and Peter Siddle were unavailable for selection by Somerset due to being injured.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, M.T. Renshaw, T.B. Abell (c), T. Banton, J.C. Hildreth, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, J. Leach, J.A. Brooks.

Warwickshire. R.M. Yates, D.M. Sibley, W.M.H. Rhodes (c), A.L. Davies, S.R. Hain, M.J. Lamb, M.G.K. Burgess (w), N.J. McAndrew. C.N. Miles, D.R. Briggs, O.J. Hannon-Dalby,

Toss. Warwickshire. Elected to field.

First day 28^th April – A day to gladden the Somerset heart

This was a day to gladden the Somerset heart. After those seven successive defeats the Somerset batting raced ahead of Warwickshire and barely missed a step as they went. Only James Hildreth did not deliver full measure from his innings, and his contribution was not inconsequential. Matt Renshaw brought back memories of his astonishing first sojourn with Somerset four years before with a century of measured class, his fourth in six home matches for the County. Tom Lammonby, who has been battling to establish himself as an opener, posted his first fifty of the season and crucially, with Renshaw, saw Somerset through to lunch without the loss of a wicket. There was a typically robust half century from Tom Abell, and by the end of the day Somerset had registered four batting points, kept six wickets in hand for the morrow and left the Warwickshire attack, Oliver Hannon-Dalby apart, flailing in their wake.

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County Championship 2022. Division 1. Somerset v Warwickshire. 28^th, 29^th and 30^th April. Taunton.

Sonny Baker and Peter Siddle were unavailable for selection by Somerset due to being injured.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, M.T. Renshaw, T.B. Abell (c), T. Banton, J.C. Hildreth, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, J. Leach, J.A. Brooks.

Warwickshire. R.M. Yates, D.M. Sibley, W.M.H. Rhodes (c), A.L. Davies, S.R. Hain, M.J. Lamb, M.G.K. Burgess (w), N.J. McAndrew. C.N. Miles, D.R. Briggs, O.J. Hannon-Dalby,

Overnight. Somerset 458. Warwickshire 197 for 9. Warwickshire trail by 261 runs with one second innings wicket standing.

Final day 29^th April – Pure theatre

There are moments in a cricket match which stick in the memory for years afterwards. Craig Kieswetter, on returning from his ultimately career-ending eye injury, depositing the first bouncer he received into the flats at Taunton. Ian Botham, with the scores level, blocking out the final over of the 1983 Nat West Cup semi-final at Lord’s to ensure Somerset won the match having lost eight wickets to Middlesex’s nine. Pure theatre. There was one such moment on the third day of this match. With a potential washout forecast for the scheduled final day, Warwickshire were approaching tea, still 134 runs behind Somerset’s first innings total, with their second innings sixth-wicket pair beginning to look a little too comfortable for comfort, at least from a worrisome Somerset supporter’s perspective.

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County Championship Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd and 24^th  September 2021. Edgbaston.

Warwickshire. R.M. Yates, D.P. Sibley, W.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, M.J. Lamb, M.G.K. Burgess (w), C.R. Woakes, T.T. Bresnan, D.R. Briggs, C.N. Miles, L.C. Norwell.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, B.G.F. Green, Azhar Ali, T.B Abell (c), L.P. Goldsworthy, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M. J. Leach, J. A. Brooks.  

Overnight. Warwickshire 367. Somerset 239 for 5. Somerset trail by 128 runs with five first innings wickets standing

Final day 24^th September – “You bears!”

After the two sides had fought each other to a standstill over the first eight sessions of this match, Warwickshire spectacularly grabbed the initiative on the third evening. A match that had been heavily contested at around three runs an over was suddenly racing along at six, with the Somerset fielders falling back towards the boundary in an attempt to contain a cascade of Warwickshire runs. On a pitch on which only 21 wickets had fallen on the first three days, Warwickshire’s ease of scoring suggested that bowling Somerset out in the fourth innings might be no easy task. It was a task that would stand between Warwickshire and the County Championship.

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County Championship Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd and 24^th September 2021. Edgbaston.

Warwickshire. R.M. Yates, D.P. Sibley, W.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, M.J. Lamb, M.G.K. Burgess (w), C.R. Woakes, T.T. Bresnan, D.R. Briggs, C.N. Miles, L.C. Norwell.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, B.G.F. Green, Azhar Ali, T.B Abell (c), L.P. Goldsworthy, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M. J. Leach, J. A. Brooks.  

Overnight. Warwickshire 367. Somerset 239 for 5. Somerset trail by 128 runs with five first inning wickets standing.

Third day 23^rd September – Championship cricket at its best

By the start of the third day, developments at Aigburth over the first two days had clarified Warwickshire’s task. To be certain of the Championship, they would need to take all three bowling points, for which they needed to take four more wickets in the first 33 overs of the day, and beat Somerset. If they failed to take all three bowling points but still won, they would need Lancashire to win at Aigburth to be champions. If they failed to take all three bowling points and Hampshire beat Lancashire, Hampshire would be champions. A draw at Aigburth could effectively be discounted, for with Hampshire already nearing the end of their second innings in a low-scoring game, no batting points were recorded by either side, a positive result was as certain as anything is in cricket. Somerset had only the prospect of reversing the run of dispiriting defeats that had been their lot in this divisional stage of the Championship.

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County Championship Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd and 24^th September 2021. Edgbaston.

Warwickshire. R.M. Yates, D.P. Sibley, W.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, M.J. Lamb, M.G.K. Burgess (w), C.R. Woakes, T.T. Bresnan, D.R. Briggs, C.N. Miles, L.C. Norwell.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, B.G.F. Green, Azhar Ali, T.B Abell (c), L.P. Goldsworthy, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M. J. Leach, J. A. Brooks.  

Somerset dropped James Hildreth for this match after a run of low scores. He was replaced by Lewis Gregory who was not fit to bowl.

Overnight. Warwickshire 283 for 4.

Second day 22^nd September – In the balance

The Somerset bowlers had toiled long and hard on the first day and might have met with more reward than the four wickets they eventually took. Warwickshire had batted with equal intent, and perhaps with some fortune, at least in the eyes of Somerset supporters. Their patience had resulted in a score from which they might hope to reach 350 in 110 overs and four batting points which, given the match situation at Aigburth between Lancashire and Hampshire, would keep the destination of the Championship in Warwickshire’s hands. They would though also have to win this match if, as seemed likely, either team won at Aigburth.

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County Championship Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd and 24^th September 2021. Edgbaston.

Warwickshire. R.M. Yates, D.P. Sibley, W.M.H. Rhodes (c), S.R. Hain, M.J. Lamb, M.G.K. Burgess (w), C.R. Woakes, T.T. Bresnan, D.R. Briggs, C.N. Miles, L.C. Norwell.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, B.G.F. Green, Azhar Ali, T.B Abell (c), L.P. Goldsworthy, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M. J. Leach, J. A. Brooks.  

Somerset dropped James Hildreth for this match after a run of low scores. He was replaced by Lewis Gregory who was not fit to bowl.

Toss. Somerset. Elected to field.

First day 21^st September – Hard grind

The day did not start well. A battle with the hotel Wi-Fi, or the lack of it, and a phone call to their helpline, was not the most auspicious of starts, and more time-consuming than you would think necessary in the age of artificial intelligence. Then the automatic till at the shop where I went to buy some lunch for the cricket refused to weigh two bananas. What it had against bananas I don’t know. Fortunately, it had no problem with the vegetable samosas or the Bakewell tart I had opted for. Then there was the bus, or the lack of it, or them. Two were promised within ten minutes, but the promise miraculously disappeared from the digital indicator board just before the buses were due. Neither arrived, although another was promised. At least I now know where Godot was waiting while Estragon and Vladimir were waiting for him.

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County Championship Division 1. Warwickshire v Somerset. 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st August 2019. Edgbaston.

Overnight. Warwickshire 419 and 146. Somerset 308 and 8 for 0. Somerset need another 250 runs to win with ten second innings wickets standing.

Final day – A Phoenix rises.

At the close of the second day of this match with Somerset 167 for 5, still 252 runs behind Warwickshire’s first innings 419 it was difficult to see how Somerset could save the game let alone win it. When, early on the third morning, van der Merwe launched an expansive drive at a ball from Rhodes and edged to Ambrose Somerset were 202 for 7, still 217 behind, the follow-on beckoned. From there the Somerset Phoenix, in the form of Bess and the Overton brothers, roused itself, and began the long rise which ended in Somerset closing the gap to Essex at the top of the table to two points with three matches still to play.Read More »