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Home , 2020 t20 Blast, 2021 T20 Blast, Adam Hose, Adam Wheater, Benny Howell, Ben Charlesworth

ALMANAC 2020-21

SCCC SCCC County

Cricket Club 2020-2021 2020-2021

The Cooper Associates County Ground, , Somerset TA1 1JT. Telephone: 01823 425301 Email: [email protected] Website: www.somersetcountycc.co.uk Somerset County Sports Shop: 01823 337597 Centre of Cricketing Excellence: 01823 352266 Somerset Museum: 01823 275893

Honorary Life Members Contents include: President’s & Chairman’s Reports PW Anderson • Sir Squad Profiles AR Caddick • J Davey Trophy Mrs M Elworthy-Coggan Vitality Blast DJL Gabbitass • J Garner • MF Hill Somerset Cricket Board RC Kerslake • Mrs L Kerslake • MJ Kitchen Including Somerset Age Group, JL Langer • VJ Marks • AT Moulding Youth & Local League Cricket RA O’Donnell • Sir Christopher Ondaatje Obituaries KE Palmer MBE • R Parsons • Sir 2021 Fixtures PJ Robinson • BC Rose • R Snelling CJ Twort • R Virgin • D Wood

Editor’s acknowledgements Despite it looking to the contrary for much of the summer in view of the Covid pandemic, cricket was played at all levels in 2020 and within the pages of this publication we have tried to cover as much of it as possible. In the absence of any Second XI cricket and the One Day Cup competition, the Bob Willis Trophy reports have been expanded to include a write up for each day’s play as well as the full scorecards. Sadly all fixtures were played behind closed doors so hopefully these extended reports will enable readers to get the feeling of actually being at the game! In addition, the Somerset Women’s team reports plus the Boys and Girls Pathway write ups are included in the first half of the book as they now come under the remit of Somerset CCC rather than the Somerset Cricket Board. As ever I am indebted to everyone who has contributed in anyway towards this publication. Everyone has given their help and support freely and without that this almanac would not have come together in the way that it has. Particular thanks must also go to Polly Rhodes the first team scorer who has supplied all of the match reports and averages, for both Somerset CCC and , and to Matt Counsell from the Somerset Cricket Board. Once again Peter Lane has given helpful advice throughout, provided the player profiles and career records, as well as helping with proof reading. Richard Walsh

Printed by MailaDoc Ltd, Somerset £10 Year Chief Executive Somerset Officials 1891-2020 1988-2005 P.W. Anderson 2005-2011 R. Gould Year President 2011-2017 G.W. Lavender 1891-1915 Hon. Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Fane, B.T. 2017-2018 L.A.Cooper 1916-1922 H.E. Murray Anderdon 2018-2019 A.J Cornish 1923 A.E Newton 2020- G.M. Hollins 1924 The Marquis of Bath, KG 1925 Lt-Col. Sir Dennis F. Boles, B.T. 1926 Col. H.M. Ridley Somerset CCC Captains 1882-2020 1927 Rev. Preb. A.P. Wickham 1928 Col. H.M. Ridley Year 1929 L.C.H. Palairet 1882-1884 S.C. Newton 1930 V.T. Hill 1885 E. Sainsbury 1931-1932 Major A.G. Barrett 1891-1893 H.T. Hewett 1933 Lt-Col. W.0. Gibbs 1894-1906 S.M.J. Woods 1934-1935 Lt-Col. Sir Dennis Boles, B.T. 1907 L.C.H. Palairet 1936 The Duke of Somerset 1908-1912 J. Daniell 1937-1946 R.C.N. Palairet 1913-1914 E.S.M. Poyntz 1946-1949 J. Daniell 1919-1926 J. Daniell 1950-1953 Major G.E. Longrigg 1927-1931 J.C. White 1954-1960 The Bishop of Bath & Wells 1932-1937 R.A. lngle 1961 J.C. White 1938-1946 E.F. Longrigg 1962-1965 W.T. Greswell 1947 R.J.O. Meyer 1966-1967 Lord Hylton 1948 N.S. Mitchell-Innes 1968-1971 E.F. Longrigg G.E.S. Woodhouse 1971-1976 R.V. Showering J.W. Seamer 1976-1991 C.R.M. Atkinson 1949 G.E.S. Woodhouse 1991-1996 J. Luff 1950-1952 S.S. Rogers 1996-2003 M.F. Hill 1953-1954 B.G. Brocklehurst 2004-2015 R. C. Kerslake 1955 G.G. Tordoff 2016-2019 R. Parsons 1956-1959 M.F. Tremlett 2019- B. C. Rose 1960-1964 H.W. Stephenson 1965-1967 C.R.M. Atkinson Year Chairman 1968 R.C. Kerslake 1952-1953 Major G.E. Longrigg 1969-1971 B.A. Langford 1954-1959 A.H. Southwood 1972-1977 D.B. Close 1960-1969 E.F. Longrigg 1978-1983 B.C. Rose 1969-1971 Lt-Col. G.C.G. Grey 1984-1985 LT. Botham 1972-1973 C.R.M. Atkinson 1986-1988 P.M. Roebuck 1974-1976 H.W. Hoskins Aug 88-89 V.J. Marks 1977-1978 L.G. Creed 1990-1993 C.J. Tavare 1979 R.C. Kerslake 1994-1996 A.N. Hayhurst 1979-1982 J.M. Jeffrey 1997-1998 P.D. Bowler 1983-1987 M.F. Hill 1999-2002 J. Cox 1987-1988 A.J. Gardner 2003-2004 M. Burns 1988-2002 R. Parsons 2005 G.C. Smith/I.D. Blackwell 2003-2007 C.G. Clarke 2006 I.D. Blackwell 2008-2017 A.J. Nash 2007-2009 J.L. Langer 2018- 2019 C.F.B.Clark. 2010-2015 M.E.Trescothick 2020- G. Baird 2016 C.J.L. Rogers Until 1952 the President of the club also acted as 2017- T.B. Abell Chairman

Year Secretary 1913-1919 R. Brooks-King 1920-1922 S.M.J. Woods 1923-1931 A.F. Davey 1932-1936 J. Daniell 1937-1949 Brig. E.H. Lancaster 1950 N.J.C. Daniell 1950-1955 Air Vice-Marshall M.L. Taylor 1955-1969 R. Robinson 1970-1975 A.K. James 1975-1979 R.G. Stevens .1979-1982 D.G. Seward 1982-1988 A.S. Brown

2 Somerset Club SCCC SCCC Somerset County

Cricket Club 2020 2020-2021

Bob Willis Trophy - Central Group Final Table

Teams M W L T D N/R Pts Somerset 5 4 0 0 1 0 97

Worcestershire 5 2 1 0 2 0 74

Warwickshire 5 0 1 0 4 0 53

Northamptonshire 5 1 2 0 2 0 49

Gloucestershire 5 1 2 0 2 0 45

Glamorgan 5 0 2 0 3 0 43

Vitality Blast - Central Group Final Table

Teams M W L T N/R Pts Gloucestershire 10 7 2 0 1 15

Northamptonshire 10 5 4 0 1 11

Warwickshire 10 5 4 0 1 11

Somerset 10 4 5 0 1 9

Glamorgan 10 4 5 0 1 9

Worcestershire 10 2 7 0 1 5

TheThe 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 3 3 President’s Report 2020 By Brian Rose

omerset County well led by Andy Hurry and , and Cricket Club has captained by . Under their guidance Scome through the squad are putting their abilities to great the 2020 season facing effect on the field and the future looks very the huge difficulties bright in view of the players’ ages. caused by the Covid 19 Towards the end of the season we saw Tom Pandemic, becoming Lammonby and Ed Byrom showcasing their stronger in mentality skills and this just highlights the ability of our and ability, which says system to put forward these young players who a huge amount about are quickly following in the footsteps of Craig the effort that has been Overton, , and Tom put in by all of the Banton. management and professional staff. The future is looking very bright for our teams Special credit must go to Gordon Hollins who and I certainly wish them well in 2021. took up his post as our new chief executive in early March and has helped to see us through However we need to remain vigilant and ensure what must be one of the most difficult times in that the development of our game is still through the history of Somerset. schools, clubs and Academies and into the county systems. Sadly under these difficult circumstances some of our staff have had to leave, and we thank them We must protect this great game of ours, face for all they have done for the club and wish them the problems with great heart, intelligence and well for the future. persistence to make sure that the game we all love survives and continues to give us all the joy Performances on the pitch, particularly towards in the world. the end of the season took me back, when crucial inputs came from locally bred players, developed through our Academy process taking in talented youngsters from the whole of the south west of - Devon, Dorset and . All credit to our coaching staff for continually nurturing contacts in our partner counties which enables boys and girls to progress from their areas into the first class game. I am very pleased to see that Steve Kirby has returned to Somerset as the new coach. His natural enthusiasm and dedication to the game will be hugely beneficial to all of the squads. I am delighted with all of the members and sponsors who have been particularly loyal and generous through these very difficult times. Whilst it is hard to predict what will happen in 2021 judging by the amazing loyalty and support that we have received from them we can remain very hopeful for the future. Somerset have got a very young playing squad, 4 Somerset County Cricket Club SCCC SCCC The Two Gordons 2020-2021

matchday hospitality business have effectively ceased. There has been huge pressure on our commercial partners and their businesses and that’s had a knock-on effect and of course we have had no crowds, so there have been no ticket sales. Fortunately, we have benefitted by receiving our anticipated ECB Funding, from the furlough scheme and from membership donations in 2020 and renewals in 2021, which has been a life saver and we do have some reserves so as things stand, we are weathering the storm. A huge amount now depends on how we are able to operate this year, particularly in relation to crowds coming into the Ground. ordon Baird, Somerset Chair and Chief Executive Gordon Hollins both took up their The second point is the community impact of not Gpositions just prior to the( first )lockdown. having cricket at the Cooper Associates County Ground last season was massive. Everyone has told me about In order to get an idea of some of the things they have how much they miss coming here to watch for so many had to contend with since being appointed they took reasons, and not just cricket. We hope this changes part in an interview together. the months to come. Before they started however each talked about the reason However, it’s important to say is that the resilience behind them taking on their roles at Somerset. shown throughout the club and the cricket community Gordon Baird - I have always been interested in cricket across the whole of the South West has been incredible. and have had business experience working in the sports Gordon Hollins- I agree with everything the Chair has sector. In addition, we are Somerset members and have said. A few months ago when we asked members to sons who have played cricket so I had more than a donate their 2020 membership fees we said that the passing interest in the club. hole Covid had left behind was estimated at that time When we first moved to Somerset, we were struck by at about £1million. That was based on the assumption the strong local relevance of the cricket club and what a that 2021 was going to be a ‘normal’ season and that we passionate community it was. would be able to generate some money over the winter, I also felt that it was an opportunity to give something but sadly that opportunity has been very limited. back in this voluntary post as we have had so much Whilst we are optimistic about 2021 we are of enjoyment from the sport over many years. the woods yet and haven’t generated much income Gordon Hollins - When I left the ECB I was open over the winter months so it will be worse than our initial minded about what I wanted to do, but what I did know prediction. Exactly how much worse is yet to be seen. was that I wanted to lead an executive team within a The pain has been pretty excruciating and the only sports club and this opportunity came up quite quickly. saving grace on this is that most counties are in a worse position. In my previous job I got to know about Somerset and the relevance of cricket within the county and across The number of people who have lost their sense of the South West as a whole. purpose and their sense of routine as a result of Covid is much more than many people realize. My job this Somerset is the only county in the country where cricket year is to reignite a sense of self worth and importance is the biggest sport, and it plays a hugely relevant part amongst the staff here as they are critical to our success within the community. going forward. It was the potential of Somerset that appealed more Has Covid slowed down any plans you had for the club? than anything else, as well as living in this beautiful part of the world. Gordon Hollins - Covid has slowed down virtually every business in the UKs plans. For us it means that What has the impact of Covid 19 been on Somerset CCC? the amount of money we have to invest in growing the Gordon Baird - The short answer is huge and across club and cricket in the South-West is less than it would all aspects of the Club’s operations. From a financial have been without COVID. We are being very selective perspective the bulk of our revenue streams have been about the things we do invest in but new seating in the severely impacted - our conferencing and events and Somerset stand and the Long Room Balcony are priority The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 5 projects and will be done over the next 18 months. commercial opportunities that supports all of our cricket We are being very selective because we don’t have the efforts. money to invest at the moment. However we will have When we get back to normal, whatever that will look a look again once we come through this crisis and can like, we can go back to where Gordon and I came in see the light at the end of the tunnel we can then start to build up our plans again. earlier in 2020. Gordon Baird - One of the things that was on the table Gordon Hollins - The Chair has summarized things when both Gordon and I arrived was that the team had really well. The only thing that I would add is the need to already started some excellent work on a longer-range accelerate the commercial operation recovery and get it strategic plan for the club. Obviously, further progress firing again quickly so that the revenue that is generated on this has been put on hold because the short term priority has been simply to survive the impacts of the from that can underpin our core purpose which of pandemic. course is cricket. The commercial operation has taken a Our main responsibility is to make sure that there is a big hit in the last six to nine months so a big priority is to club here for people to enjoy and support for many ensure that operation fires as quickly as possible. years to come. What will the Governance proposals look like and will Throughout, one of our main priorities, alongside SCCC still be a Members club? protecting the health and wellbeing of the community, in managing the situation has been to try not to let it Gordon Baird- Governance as a topic is being looked impact too heavily on our ability to compete on the field, at across all sports and is in different stages of being and to ensure that our player development pathway addressed by just about every club and sporting remains strong. organization in the UK. The biggest challenge has been the uncertainty, It is important to clarify that Somerset County Cricket sometimes the landscape has changed almost on a daily basis. Club will remain a Members club and none of the ideas What are we likely to see happening at Somerset in 2021? or developments that are being looked at will change that. Gordon Hollins - Crowds being in the ground would be a huge boost to everyone. We are currently developing Further, we must ensure that the governance plans based on various scenarios to ensure we are structure we have in place reflects our community. ready to welcome people back as soon as we are Our membership is increasingly diverse and many live permitted to. outside of Somerset and the South West. The first thing that we want for people coming to the Cooper Associates County Ground in 2021 is a very safe In looking forward the governance structure should environment. We also want the experience of mixing provide the appropriate level of support and challenge with people and being here for a social purpose to be to the Executive team. It should also bring expertise and enjoyable so they want to return again and again. experience to support the Chief Executive and his team It’s incredibly important that we remain competitive on in driving some of the opportunities we have talked the field and we are doing that, like every other club about earlier. within a reduced budget and to this end we are working closely with Andy Hurry on a carefully thought through We have set up a working group to review all aspects player recruitment and retention strategy. The recent of governance. Once there is agreement on the way announcements on 8 of our players committing their forward and a proposal is one that we believe members futures to the club is evidence of that. should support, in the interest of the club, we will place The fixtures will start with a Conference based it before the whole membership to seek their approval. Championship, the will take place in June and July, with the Royal One Day Cup being played Finally, what is it that both the Chair(man) and the Chief at the same time as in July/August, Executive are looking forward to most in 2021. then finishing with the Championship at the end of the Gordon Hollins - I want to see a full house at the season Cooper Associates County Ground! Gordon Baird - Our number one priority is to get players back on the field in front of our members and spectators Gordon Baird - I want to see a full house at the Cooper and back to winning matches and developing the Associates County Ground and Somerset winning! 6 Somerset County Cricket Club SCCC SCCC 2020-2021 The 2020 Squad Front Row- Tom Abell (captain) Missing from pic - , Lewis Gregory and Jack Leach. Jack and Gregory Lewis Azam, pic - Babar Missing from (captain) Abell Tom Row- Front Second row from back- left to right , , Eddie Byrom, and Sam Young. and Sam Overton Craig Byrom, Eddie Overton, Jamie Dom Bess, right to back- left from row Second Back row- left to right , Tom Lammonby, , , Ollie Sale, Kasey Aldridge and George Bartlett. and George Aldridge Kasey Ollie Sale, Brooks, Jack Ben Green, Lammonby, Tom Davey, Josh right to left Back row- Third row from back- , Lewis Goldsworthy and Steve Davies, Fourth row from back- and der van and Roelof Hildreth James back- from row Davies, Fourth and Steve Goldsworthy Lewis Waller, back- Max from row Third

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 7 Somerset CCC in 2020 By Andy Hurry, Director of Cricket

t has been a very different significantly affected and Lewis Gregory not being year but reflecting on available for the early part of the season . I2020 there has been Having said that once again our pace bowling unit huge progress and success proved itself to be highly successful, in fact we took our in red ball cricket. I am at a lower average than any other county in the overwhelmed in the way Bob Willis Trophy. that we have approached it and the progress we have Over the years we have seen the development and seen the team make. progress of players who have come through the system- players like Lewis Gregory and Craig Overton. There have also been This has been supplemented by some effective some impressive individual recruitment with Josh Davey, who has really worked performances and not just hard to develop his skills and the acquisition of Jack from the senior players, but Brooks a couple of seasons ago, and the role he played also the young guns coming through, which has been last season. They all complement each other as a unit hugely exciting and is a great reflection of the system really well. within Somerset and the South West and I am hugely motivated looking forward. All of the pace bowling unit have control of their skills and hit challenging areas relentlessly and make it very In the T20 we didn’t fare as well as we aspire to. difficult for the opposition batsmen. They are patient and However the competition provided us, and individual build pressure, consistently forcing errors. players, the opportunity to learn where players were with their development and game. It enabled us to They work together very well, the standards they set better understand strengths and areas to develop. So drive each other on. the competition has been really insightful for us and One of the secrets to the success at this club has been provided us with direction to focus development on this the healthy competition that there is for places, which winter. is driving performances and makes our young players The overriding feeling within the club is that we have want to get better so they can force their way into the made real progress since 2019 and a reflection of that is team. the way that we dominated the Bob Willis Trophy final at It is important for our young pace bowlers like Kasey Lord’s against Essex. We didn’t get the result we wanted Aldridge and Ned Leonard that they can see the but we put down a really clear marker to everybody else standard they are aiming for and see it every day so they of the progress we are making. know exactly what they are trying to achieve. There is no doubt that the team value each other’s This season there have been a number of young players company and want to support each other. They all who have been presented with opportunity who have believe in what each other is doing. Having gone into grabbed hold of them and exceeded expectations and lockdown for several months before we could start Tom Lammonby is one. playing cricket made the players value each others We were very clear what his potential was and company even more. sometimes you have to be brave and select a young An attribute that the players and staff have at this club, player because there is the risk that they will be which is not common in all clubs, is that they enjoy inconsistent, which is alright. other’s success and this is reflected in the way they However there wasn’t so much of a risk because of respond out on the field to each other’s performances. the evidence of how Tom has performed in pressure There is a real togetherness about the whole unit and situations in the past, and how he transitioned from there is a genuine family feel around the group and domestic age group cricket into winning the Man of everyone understands where they fit into it. the Series Award in the Under 19 series against a very We had some success in red ball cricket and some strong India side. challenges in white ball cricket, but overall we In Second XI cricket Tom demonstrated some great had a significant amount of more good days than performances in a short space of time and showed disappointing ones. that he could step up again and then when he got his It was an unprecedented season, with England’s chance to play First XI cricket he took it. expanded squad needs, where opportunities for Jack To get three First Class hundreds in three matches is Leach and Dom Bess in the Bob Willis Trophy were a phenomenal effort, but it’s not just the stats that are 8 Somerset County Cricket Club SCCC SCCC 2020-2021 impressive but the way that he went about it, particularly against Worcestershire. His future is really bright but he has got his feet on the ground and works hard. Tom has got aspirations to go all the way and has a very good chance of achieving that. In the past a lot of young players have been given their chance to showcase their skills in Second XI cricket, but last year this wasn’t possible. In spite of this the younger players looked upon the situation as an opportunity and they have maximized that chance to keep on developing themselves, even though they haven’t had as many opportunities from a competitive perspective in 2020. Two of our younger players, Lewis Goldsworthy and Will Smeed, both got some First XI opportunities and stepped up into a high pressure environment where they were under a lot of scrutiny and gave impressive performances. Both Smeed, who batted with huge confidence during his innings against Gloucestershire and Goldsworthy, who stepped up with both bat and ball on his debut at Glamorgan where he shared a great with Babar Azam, will have learnt a great deal from their experiences upon which they can build upon to kick on again. Looking towards 2021 I don’t think we will be moving too far away from what we have been trying to do over the last few years. In red ball cricket we will be looking to do the foundation work to make sure that we are fully prepared. We need to be able to attack, defend and score runs effectively with the bat. We are dynamic in the field which reflects how we are as a club with that drive to be as good as we can be. With the ball we need to hit relentless areas ball after ball and continue to develop with that skill level that puts batsmen under consistent pressure. In white ball cricket there is a real opportunity after what we have learnt from last year, which is fuelling the players aspirations to be better this winter and produce next summer. I think that it’s really exciting what we will be able to achieve in 2021 in white ball cricket. It was very different, particularly in white ball cricket to play without a crowd, but what drove the players on was the passionate following and interest that there is within Somerset and across the South West region as well as nationally and internationally. However what we want is people back inside the ground, we want that connection with our supporters that will fuel us onto another level which is something that we are all very much looking forward to in 2021. The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 9 Player Profiles The Somerset Squad: Pictures, Profiles & Career Records... Thomas Benjamin ABELL BABAR AZAM Mohammad Born Taunton 5th March,1994 Born Lahore, Pakistan 15th October, Right-handed batsman, right-arm 1994. medium bowler. Right-handed batsman, Off break Captain Championship & List ‘A’ 2017- to bowler. date Somerset squad number 56 Cap 2018 Babar made his Somerset T20 Somerset squad number 28. debut in 2019 scoring 578 runs Tom played through the Somerset Age Groups at an average of 52.55. He also played in one before graduating from the Somerset Academy. Championship match versus Warwickshire. Somerset 2nd XI debut 2010. Named 2nd XI Player of He returned in 2020 after the Pakistan series against the Year in 2013 after scoring 1234 runs at an average England playing in seven T20 matches and scoring of 40.13. 218 runs with one . He made his First Class debut v Warwickshire in Babar has represented Pakistan in 29 Tests, 77 ODIs August 2014, scoring 95 and failing by 5 runs to and 44 IT20s.He has recently been appointed Captain become the first Somerset born player to score a of his country in all three formats. century on debut since Harold Gimblett in 1935. Somerset Career Record Tom became the first Academy player to be appointed Captain and he led Somerset to their first AND FIELDING AVERAGES trophy since 2005 when they won the Royal London Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct First Class 1 2 0 40 40 20.00 0 0 0 Cup in May 2019. T20 20 20 3 796 114* 46.82 2 4 11 In early 2020 Tom represented the England Lions and he has played for Rangpur Rangers in the Thomas BANTON Bangladesh T20. Born Chiltern, Buckinghamshire 11th Somerset Career Record November, 1998. Right-handed batsman, Wicketkeeper. BATTING AVERAGES Squad Number 18 Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct First Class 79 143 14 4197 135 32.53 7 24 53 Tom joined the Somerset Academy List ‘A’ 25 21 1 636 106 31.80 1 1 7 in 2015. T20 42 37 9 886 101* 31.64 1 0 29 Somerset 2nd XI debut 2016. Somerset T20 debut 2017. Somerset List ‘A’ and Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave Championship debuts 2018. First Class 276 64 984 38 4-39 25.89 Tom represented England U19s in 2018. List ‘A’ 6 0 26 2 2-19 13.00 He enjoyed a prolific 2019 season which culminated T20 3.2 0 37 0 0-7 - in him winning Somerset’s White Ball Player of the Kasey Luke ALDRIDGE Year, the PCA Young Cricketer of the Year and the Born 24th December, 2000 coveted Cricket Writers Club Young Cricketer of the Right-handed batsman, right-arm Year Award. medium bowler. IT20 debut v New Zealand November 2019. IT20s to Somerset squad number 5. date 9. Kasey played through the Somerset ODI debut v Februaty 2020. ODIs to date Age Groups and after spending 6. two years on the Potential Player Tom also plays in the IPL T20 tournament. Programme he joined the Somerset Somerset Career Record Academy in 2019. He made his 2nd XI debut in that year. Kasey has also represented England U19s. BATTING AVERAGES Awaiting his 1st XI debut. Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St First Class 14 24 0 603 79 25.13 0 5 6 - List ‘A’ 18 17 0 524 112 30.82 2 3 14 1 T20 17 16 1 591 100 39.40 1 4 6 3

10 Somerset County Cricket Club PLAYER

George Anthony BARTLETT Edward (Eddie) James BYROM Born Frimley, 14th May, 1998. Born , Zimbabwe 17th June, Right-handed batsman, Off break 1997 bowler. Left-handed batsman, Off break Somerset Squad Number 14 bowler. George graduated through the Squad Number 97 Academy, making his 2nd XI debut in Eddie graduated from the 2015 . Represented England U19s in Somerset Academy in 2016 and 2016/ 2017. 1st XI Championship debut 2017. List ‘A’ he made his Championship debut the following PROFILES debut 2019. T20 debut 2020. season. George scored over 700 Championship runs in his In the 2017/18 winter Eddie played First Class first full season in 2019. Last season he suffered cricket in Zimbabwe, scoring his maiden first concussion in the first Bob Willis Trophy Match versus class century. Glamorgan but he returned to score an unbeaten Eddie scored his maiden First Class century for century in the comprehensive victory against Somerset against MCCU in the opening Gloucestershire. match of the 2019 season. Somerset Career Record He made his T20 debut later that season with considerable success. BATTING AVERAGES Eddie had a moderate 2020 season until the Bob Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct First Class 29 51 3 1338 137 27.88 4 3 8 Willis Trophy Final when he scored a fine century in List ‘A’ 9 9 3 207 57* 34.50 0 1 4 the Final against Essex at Lord’s. T20 3 3 0 41 24 13.67 0 0 2 Somerset Career Record BOWLING AVERAGE BATTING AVERAGES Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct First Class 3.2 0 27 0 0-27 - First Class 24 43 2 1154 117 28.15 2 4 12 T20 14 13 1 226 54* 28.83 0 1 2 Jack Alexander BROOKS BOWLING AVERAGE Born Oxford, Oxfordshire 4th June, 1984 Right-handed batsman, right-arm fast Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave medium bowler. First Class 11 1 43 0 0-4 - Squad Number 70 Joshua Henry DAVEY Jack joined Somerset on a three year Born Aberdeen, Scotland 3rd contract in 2019, having previously August,1990. represented Northamptonshire and Yorkshire. In his two seasons he has Right-handed batsman, Right-arm taken 41 First Class wickets and scored 218 runs medium fast bowler with a highest score of 72 against Glamorgan in the Somerset Squad Number 38 opening Bob Willis Trophy Match, sharing a last Josh made his Sometset 2nd XI debut partnership of 107 with Steve Davies in 2013 having previously represented Jack has not represented Somerset in either List ‘A’ or from 2010. Somerset First Class and List ‘A’ T20 cricket. debuts in 2015 and debut the following season. Somerset Career Record Josh enjoyed his best Championship season in 2018 BATTING AVERAGES when he took 34 wickets in 11 matches. Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct First Class 14 20 9 218 72 19.82 0 1 3 He was an ever present in the team that won the Royal London One Day Cup in 2019. BOWLING AVERAGE Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave 5w Josh made his ODI debut for Scotland in 2010. ODIs First Class 318 74 1016 41 5-33 24.78 1 to date 31. IT20 debut in 2012. IT20s to date 21. Somerset Career Record

BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct First Class 29 46 11 511 47 14.60 0 0 6 List ‘A’ 22 9 5 76 23* 19.00 0 0 7 T20 14 8 5 66 27* 22.00 0 0 3

BOWLING AVERAGES Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave 5w 4w First Class 717.5 193 2007 90 5-21 22.30 2 List ‘A’ 160.3 10 823 29 4-36 28.38 1 T20 37 0 350 23 4-41 15.22 1

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 11 Steven Michael DAVIES Somerset T20 debut 2020. Awaiting 1st Class and Born Bromsgrove, Worcestershire List’A’ debuts. 17th June, 1986 Somerset Career Record

Left-handed batsman, wicketkeeper. BATTING AVERAGES Cap 2017 Somerset Squad Number Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct 11. T20 3 1 1 38 38* - 0 0 1 Steve joined Somerset in 2017 and he BOWLING AVERAGE ended up his new county’s leading Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave first class scorer in his first season for the Club. In T20 11 0 86 5 2-21 17.20 the process he made his maiden Somerset century Benjamin George Frederick GREEN against his former county, Surrey. Steve has been Born Exeter, Devon 28th September, an ever present in the Championship and Bob Willis 1997. Trophy team since joining the Club. Right-handed batsman, Right- arm fast Steve represented MCC in 2006/7 and 2011 and medium bowler. was a member of Team to tour Australia Somerset Squad Number 54 2010/11. Ben progressed through the Devon Between 2009 and 2011 Steve represented England Age Group system and made his in 8 ODIs and 5 IT20s. Somerset 2nd XI debut in 2014. Somerset Career Record England U19s 2014/5 to 2017.

BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES Ben made his Somerset T20 debut in 2016 and his Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St 1st XI Championship and List’A’ debuts in 2018. In First Class 49 85 7 2539 142 32.55 4 9 142 13 2020 he replaced George Bartlett (concussion) in List ‘A’ 14 14 0 186 56 13.29 0 1 16 1 the second iñnings of the Bob Willis Trophy match T20 35 34 0 609 62 17.91 0 3 14 5 against Glamorgan and he scored his maiden First Class half century. Born Tzaneen, Transvaal South Africa He also took his best T20 bowling figures in the home 13th October, 1990. fixture against the same opponents. Right-handed batsman, Right-arm fast Somerset Career Record bowler. BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES Somerset Squad Number 90 Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Marchant has joined Somerset from First Class 5 9 0 170 54 18.89 0 0 3 Glamorgan as an Overseas Player List ‘A’ 3 3 2 35 26* 35.00 0 0 0 T20 4 3 1 36 14 18.00 0 0 2 for 2021 and 2022. He has played for , , and Free State in his native BOWLING AVERAGES Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave 5w 4w South Africa. He has also represented Kolkarta Knight First Class 7 3 17 1 1-8 17 0 0 Riders and in the IPL as well as List ‘A’ 11 0 70 1 1-52 70 0 0 Guyana Amazon and Barbados Tridents in T20 9 0 89 4 4-26 22.25 0 1 the T20. Lewis GREGORY Marchant made his Test debut in 2011 for South Africa Born Plymouth, Devon 24th May, 1992. and took 7/81 in the first innings of his debut Test Right-handed batsman, Right-arm fast versus Sri Lanka. He represented his country in 2 medium bowler. Tests, 4 ODIs and 6 IT20 matches between 2011 and Cap 2015 2016. Somerset Squad Number 24 Lewis Peter GOLDSWORTHY Lewis played for Devon 2008/10 Born Cornwall 8th January, 2001 and was awarded a Somerset Right-handed batsman, Left-arm spin contract after graduating through the bowler. Academy in 2010. Somerset Squad Number 44 England U19s 2009 and Captain of their tour to Sri Lewis joined the Somerset Academy Lanka in 2011. in the winter of 2016. He has Somerset List’A’ debut versus Pakistan in 2010 taking represented Cornwall at every level 4/49. Somerset First Class and T20 debuts in 2011. including the 1st XI. Appointed T20 Captain in 2018. He made his Somerset 2nd XI debut in 2017 and was Lewis represented MCC in both 2012 and 2017. He named player of the Tournament during a T20 day was called up into the England ODI squad in 2015 against Devon and Cornwall in 2019. and into the Test squad in 2019, both against Ireland, Represented England U19s and selected for the but he didn’t play on either occasion. squad for the 2020 U19 World Cup. IT20 debut 2019. IT20s to date 8.

12 Somerset County Cricket Club PLAYER

Lewis captained the England Lions in early 2020 and Thomas Alexander LAMMONBY was in England’s ODI squad for the winter 2020 series Born Exeter, Devon 2nd June, 2000 in South Africa. Left-handed batsman, Left-arm Somerset Career Record medium fast bowler. Somerset Squad Number 15 BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Tom played through the Devon First Class 84 124 12 2440 137 21.79 2 9 47 Age Groups and he joined the List ‘A’ 65 47 5 1052 105* 25.05 1 7 22 Somerset Academy in 2015. He T20 88 64 18 1065 62 23.15 0 4 35 also made his Somerset 2nd XI debut in that PROFILES BOWLING AVERAGES season. Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave 10w 5w 4w Tom represented Devon between 2016 and First Class 2047.3 445 6674 269 6-32 24.81 2 13 List ‘A’ 405.1 10 2538 80 4-23 31.73 6 2018. T20 256.1 1 2297 89 4-15 25.81 3 England U19s 2017/2019. Named player of the James Charles HILDRETH series versus India and selected for the U19 Born Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire World Cup in New Zealand in 2018 but he had 9th September, 1984 to withdraw through injury. Right-handed batsman, Right-arm Somerset T20 debut 2019. Tom made his medium bowler. First Class debut in the opening Bob Willis Cap 2007 Trophy match versus Glamorgan and he enjoyed a Somerset Squad Number 25 memorable season taking both his maiden First Class Testimonial 2017 wicket and scoring his maiden First Class century Somerset 2nd XI debut 2002. against Gloucestershire on the same day. Somerset First Class debut 2003. James represented He followed it up by becoming the youngest England U19s in 2003/04 including the World Cup in Somerset player to carry his bat (107no) against Bangladesh. He also scored a brilliant 210 in the 2nd Worcestershire. Tom’s season finished with a third Test versus Bangladesh at Taunton. century in the Bob Willis Trophy Final against Essex In 2007/08 James was included in the England at Lords. Performance Programme XI and later the England Tom was named in the Greene King Team of the Year Lions in India. England Lions Tour to the West Indies and also received the Somerset Young Player of the 2010/11. Year Award. James has scored 26000 runs for the county in all Somerset Career Record three formats and he is the third highest century BATTING AVERAGES maker for Somerset behind and Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Harold Gimblett. First Class 6 11 2 459 116 51.00 3 0 4 Somerset Career Record T20 18 14 5 209 43* 23.22 0 0 5

BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES BOWLING AVERAGE Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave First Class 258 426 29 16525 303* 41.62 44 74 221 First Class 12 3 38 2 1-4 19.00 List ‘A’ 212 201 36 5781 159 35.04 7 27 79 T20 25 0 263 8 2-32 29.22 T20 196 183 32 3694 107* 24.46 1 16 72 Matthew Jack LEACH BOWLING AVERAGES Born Taunton 22nd June, 1991 Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave Left-handed batsman, Slow left-arm First Class 95 6 489 6 2-39 81.50 bowler. List ‘A’ 19 0 141 5 2-26 28.20 Cap 2017 T20 24.1 0 247 10 3-24 24.70 Somerset Squad Number 17

Jack graduated from the Somerset

Academy in 2010 and he appeared

regularly for Somerset 2nd XI and

Dorset 2011. He then played for Cardiff MCCU

2011/12. He made his Somerset First Class and List ‘A’ debuts in 2012 and played for the MCC in 2017. A successful 2017 season saw Jack spend the following winter with the England Lions and in February 2018 he recorded the best (8/110) by a Lions player against West Indies ‘A’. Jack made his Test debut the following month versus New Zealand. He will always be remembered for his last wicket partnership with in the famous The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 13 Headingley Test victory in the . He Somerset Career Record also hit his highest score to date (92) when opening BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES the batting as a night watchman in the Test against Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Ireland at Lord’s in 2019. Tests to date 10 First Class 87 126 16 2444 138 22.22 1 11 64 Somerset Career Record List ‘A’ 46 35 12 560 66* 24.35 0 1 21 T20 39 21 9 232 35* 19.33 0 0 17 BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES BOWLING AVERAGES Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct First Class 69 90 22 792 66 11.65 0 2 28 Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave 5w 4w List ‘A’ 15 4 1 21 18 7.00 0 0 9 First Class 2365.1 549 7314 194 6-24 24.88 9 List’A’ 360.5 20 1948 72 5-18 27.06 1 BOWLING AVERAGES T20 127 0 1183 38 3-17 31.13 1 Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave 5w 10w First Class 2090.4 548 5354 225 8-85 23.80 16 3 Oliver Richard Trethowan SALE List ‘A’ 131 2 634 18 3-52 35.22 0 0 Born Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 30th September, 1996 Ned LEONARD Right-handed batsman, Right-arm fast Born White City, London 15th August, medium bowler. 2002. Somerset Squad Number 82 Right-handed batsman, Right-arm fast Ollie played through the Devon Age bowler. Groups before graduating from the Somerset squad Number 19 Somerset Academy in 2014. He made Ned joined the Somerset Academy his Somerset 2nd XI debut 2014 and his Somerset in the autumn of 2017 after moving to T20 debut 2016. the West Country having represented the London/ Ollie played in every T20 match in 2020 and he was South East region in the U15 Bunbury Festival earlier the highest wicket taker with 13. Awaiting both First that summer. Class and List’A’ debuts. Ned has represented both Somerset 2nd XI and Somerset Career Record Devon CCC on a number of occasions. England U19 debut 2020. BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Ned signed his first professional contract in T20 10 5 3 20 14* 10.00 0 0 2 September 2020, committing to Somerset for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. BOWLING AVERAGES Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave He is yet to make his first team debut. T20 32.4 0 341 13 3-32 26.23 Craig OVERTON William Conrad Francis SMEED Born Barnstaple, Devon 10th April1994 Born Cambridge, Cambridgeshire 26th Right-handed batsman, Right -arm October, 2001 medium fast bowler. Right-handed batsman, Right-arm Off Cap 2016 break bowler. Somerset Squad Number 7 Somerset Squad Number 23 Craig progressed through the Devon Will attended Kings College Taunton. Age Groups before graduating from He represented Somerset U17s the Somerset Academy. He played for Devon 2010/11 in 2018 and made telling contributions, including and England U19s 2011/12. a brutal century in the Best of Bunbury match. He made his Somerset First Class and List’A’ debuts Somerset 2nd XI debut v Middlesex in 2018 and he in 2012. England Lions Tour to Australia 2012/13 scored a century against a strong Sussex attack at Somerset T20 debut 2014. Taunton Vale. Called into the England ODI series in 2015 but didn’t Will missed much of the 2019 season through an play. 2015/16 Craig was involved with the ECB injury sustained while on England U19 duty but he Performance Programme. returned to score 243 for Somerset U17s against He made his Test debut versus Australia at Adelaide Gloucestershire. He followed this up with an innings 2017/18. Tests to date 4. Craig played his only ODI to of 185 against Warwickshire. date against Australia in 2018. Somerset T20 debut 2020, scoring 82 in his second Craig enjoyed a stellar 2020 Bob Willis Trophy season match against Gloucestershire at Taunton. Awaiting ending up as the second highest wicket taker (30) in First Class and List ‘A’ debuts. the competition. He was awarded the Somerset First Somerset Career Record Class Player of the Year Award. BATTING AVERAGES Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct T20 5 5 0 94 82 18.80 0 1 2

14 Somerset County Cricket Club PLAYER

Roelof Erasmus van der MERWE BOWLING AVERAGES Born , South Africa 31st Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave 4w December, 1984 First Class 140 25 493 10 3-33 49.30 0 Right-handed batsman, Slow left-arm List ‘A’ 300.1 7 1696 45 3-37 37.69 T20 384.2 1 2910 123 4-16 23.66 4 bowler Cap 2018 Somerset Squad Number 52 Samuel Jack YOUNG Roelof first represented Somerset Born Plymouth, Devon 30th July, in the 2010 T20 season, scoring 89no in his second 2000 PROFILES match versus Kent at Tunbridge Wells. He rejoined Right-handed batsman Off- the Club in 2016 and has enjoyed success in all three break bowler. formats. Somerset Squad Number 77 Roelof has also played in the IPL, the Australian Big Sam played through the Bash and the Caribbean Premier League as well as Somerset Age Groups before for Domestic teams in his native South Africa. joining the Somerset Academy in the winter of Roelof is a dual International having represented 2016/17. He made his Somerset 2nd XI debut South Africa in 13 ODIs and 13 IT20s between 2018. and signed his first professional contract 2009/2011. In 2015 he obtained a Dutch Passport and, ahead of the 2020 season .Awaiting 1st XI debut. to date, he has represented the Netherlands in 2 ODIs and 30 IT20s. Somerset Career Record

BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct First Class 19 28 2 402 102* 16.08 1 1 16 List ‘A’ 36 30 8 805 165* 36.59 1 3 29 T20 76 56 24 1007 89* 31.47 0 4 38

BOWLING AVERAGES Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave 4w First Class 396.1 93 1131 49 4-22 23.08 List ‘A’ 240.3 4 1391 42 3-21 33.12 T20 256.3 0 2012 61 5-32 32.98 1 Maximillian Thomas Charles WALLER Born Salisbury, Wiltshire 5th March, 1988 Right-handed batsman, Right-arm leg break bowler. Somerset Squad Number 10 Max played through the Somerset Age Groups and he made his Somerset 2nd XI debut in 2007. Somerset 1st XI debuts in all three formats in 2009. ECB Performance Programme 2009/10. Somerset 2nd XI Player of the Year 2011. Max now plays only One Day cricket and he is Somerset’s second leading wicket taker in T20 cricket. He is also renowned for his athleticism in the field and he brings off some amazing catches. In February 2019 Max was signed by team as cover for Sunil Narine. Somerset Career Record

BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct First Class 9 10 1 91 28 10.11 0 0 5 List ‘A’ 58 22 15 109 25* 15.57 0 0 32 T20 124 31 19 96 17 7.38 0 0 79

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 15 SOMERSET CCC VALETES Jamie OVERTON Born Barnstaple, Devon 10th April, 1994 Right-handed batsman, Right-arm fast Dominic (Dom) Mark BESS bowler. Born Exeter, Devon 22nd July, 1997 Jamie progressed through the Devon Right-handed batsman, Right-arm Off Age Group teams and the Somerset break bowler. Academy and in 2012 he was a Dom joined the Somerset Academy member of the U19 World Cup Squad after playing through the Devon Age in Australia. Groups. He made his 2nd XI debut in He made both his List’A’ and First Class debuts in 2013 and his 1st XI debut in 2016. Dom 2012. He went on loan to Northamptonshire in 2019. scored his only century so far playing for MCC V Essex at Bridgetown in 2018. Jamie scored his maiden First Class century versus Warwickshire at Edgbaston in 2020 before going on Test debut v Pakistan at Lords in 2018. Tests to date loan to Surrey ahead of joining them on a three year 10. contract from 2021. Dom went on loan to Yorkshire in 2019 and he has Somerset Career Record joined them on a four year contract from 2021. Somerset Career Record BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct BATTING AVERAGES First Class 64 92 21 1406 120 19.80 1 7 31 Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct List ‘A’ 32 23 6 303 40 17.82 0 0 13 First Class 26 43 8 757 92 21.63 0 4 6 T20 42 20 7 142 31 10.92 0 0 15 List ‘A’ 3 2 0 19 14 9.50 0 0 0 T20 1 1 0 1 1 1.00 0 0 0 BOWLING AVERAGES Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave 5w 4w BOWLING AVERAGE First Class 1372.4 243 4878 167 6-95 29.21 4 Overs M Runs Wkts BBI Ave 10w 5w List ‘A’ 203.5 5 1342 45 4-42 29.82 0 2 First Class 734.2 182 2156 79 7-117 27.29 1 6 T20 136.1 0 1352 45 5-47 30.04 0 3 List ‘A’ 8 0 66 0 0-32 - - - T20 4 0 31 1 1-31 31.00 0 0 Nathan Nicholas GILCHRIST Born Harare, Zimbabwe 11th June, 2000. Right-handed batsman, Right-arm fast bowler. Nathan represented Somerset in both the U17s and the 2nd XI in 2016. He signed a professional contract in 2018 but didn’t feature for the 1st XI. Nathan joined Kent initially on loan in August 2020 and he subsequenty signed a three year contract from 2021.

16 Somerset County Cricket Club Tom Lammonby enjoyed a hugely successful maiden First Class season.The 20 year old was Somerset’s leading run scorer in the Bob Willis Trophy, topped their batting averages and scored three centuries, including one at Lord’s

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 17 BBC radio commentator Anthony Gibson, who was the only journalist to have covered every single Somerset game in 2020, reflects on what was a very different season.

hat a very strange season that not sure quite how they got away with that, was, for commentators, as well but we weren’t complaining. Was for players, and coaches There was excitement and relief in the and everyone else. But at least we got air as the clock ticked round to 11 on that a season, albeit a truncated one, and for first morning. The long wait for cricket was that the oft-maligned ECB deserves great nearly over. The two umpires, credit. They, the players, the county clubs and Russell Warren, marched out from and their staff, everyone involved in fact, the Andy Caddick Pavilion as usual. But made the very best of a bad job. here’s a thing: the Glamorgan fielders are Ben Warren’s advice to those few media emerging from the Ondaatje Pavilion, while folk accredited to attend Somerset’s the two Somerset opening batsmen – the opening game against Glamorgan on unlikely pairing, as it seemed pre-season, the morning of August 1st was to get of Ben Green and Tom Lammonby – are there early, in view of all the checks that making their way down the steps from might need to be made. In the event, the where the home dressing room used to be procedure was straightforward enough. in the Colin Atkinson Pavilion! All, of course, The nice lady on car parking duty took in the name of social distancing, and me through her covid checklist, took my arrangements were similar at every other temperature (36.2 – spot on) and issued me ground we visited. Just as well, I reflected, with a pass – but a pass only for the Marcus that our Cooper Associates County Ground Trescothick Pavilion, as the Somerset boasts more pavilions than any other on Pavilion is now known, and its immediate the circuit! environs. When I tried to wander across the The absence of a crowd was the strangest car-park for some exercise at lunchtime, I aspect of proceedings. The residents of was politely reprimanded by a steward, and the retirement apartments and their friends told to get back in my zone. did generate some atmosphere, especially We couldn’t use the usual commentary when it came to the Vitality Blast home box, which is too small for social distancing. games, but otherwise, the only sounds Instead, we were set up in the Weston- being picked up by our effects microphone super-Mare hospitality suite on the first – noise of bat on ball apart, of course – floor. Bill Andrews, Brian Rose and Pete were the shouts of mutual encouragement Trego would have felt very much at home among the players, Tom Abell’s stentorian there, and it was, in fact, just about the exhortations echoing around the empty ideal commentary position, offering a view stands. Somerset were, by some margin, not dissimilar to that provided by the dear the most vocal of the counties we saw. departed ‘potting shed’ on the roof of the Unlike the international squads, county Old Pavilion. cricketers were not kept in bubbles, cut We had to bring our own coffee and off entirely from the wider world. But packed lunches. The only ground at which Somerset were more careful than most the media were fed and watered was when it came to keeping players away from Northamptonshire’s Wantage Road, where us media as much as possible. Post-match we were served the same three course interviews at Taunton were conducted by lunch and cakes for tea as the players. I’m Zoom call, which was a bit odd. Elsewhere, 18 Somerset County Cricket Club SCCC SCCC 2020-2021

we stood two metres apart on the outfield, pictures were appreciated. although there was one occasion when Taken in the round, it was I suppose a Steve Davies and I were forced to take bittersweet season, with much to savour shelter in a spectator access tunnel as the but disappointment at the last in both the rain came lashing down at Edgbaston. Blast and the Bob Willis Trophy. And it was As for the cricket, despite the absence also most certainly a memorable season, of spectators, it never lacked in intensity, albeit one that I profoundly hope will never especially on Somerset’s part. In the Bob need to be repeated. Willis Trophy especially, no team fought harder, bowled better, fielded more athletically or so unerringly. The seam attack, inspiringly led by a revitalised Craig Overton, were quite superb. They batted pretty well, too, turning round the first three BWT games. But perhaps the greatest joy was to see the young batsmen seize the opportunity provided by this strange season to show what they could do. George Bartlett looked as if he was batting on a different pitch to everyone else in his first innings century against Gloucestershire, Eddie Byrom finally fulfilled his promise in the final at Lord’s, Will Smeed showed great potential in taking his team to within touching distance of an unlikely win against the Glosters in the Blast, Ben Green got better as the season went on, while, as for Tom Lammonby, what a revelation! His century on a tricky pitch at New Road, against a relentlessly accurate and probing Worcester attack, at first defending as if his life depended on it and then, as the bowlers tired, unfurling his full range of glorious attacking shots was for me the highlight of the season. It was a huge privilege to have been able to commentate on all of Somerset’s matches. Thanks to live streaming – Ben Warren showing the rest of the country the way, as always – our audiences sometimes ran into the hundreds of thousands and I know from (Anthony Gibson OBE is the BBC’s senior commentator on social media how much the words and Somerset cricket.) The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 19 Craig Overton believes Somerset will boast the best pace bowling attack by far in red ball cricket next season Richard Latham talks to the leading wicket taker

And the 26-year-old England all-rounder is longer formats of the game require me to bowl a ready to lead the way again after reaping the lot of overs and it is hard to maintain intensity. Abenefits of adding an extra yard of pace to his “I did a lot of work with Jason Kerr and we talked skills during 2020. about me bowling shorter spells, so my run-up Of the 109 wickets claimed by Somerset in reaching speed didn’t diminish. There were also some the final of the Bob Willis Trophy, no fewer than 100 technical issues to address. were shared by the senior seam quintet of Craig “When I approach the crease, my right arm comes and Jamie Overton, Josh Davey, Lewis Gregory and up to my right shoulder before going back down Jack Brooks. again to start the upwards motion that leads to Craig led the way with 30 and, while admitting the releasing the ball. departure of brother Jamie to Surrey is a blow, he “If I make the initial move too early it makes the insists the signing of South African Test bowler whole process slower, so I tried delaying what we Marchant de Lange from Glamorgan will again call the load until the last possible moment, which ensure fiercer competition for places than at any meant my arm rotated faster. other county. “The lockdown which delayed the start of last “Even though Jamie has left, I wouldn’t swap our season gave me more time to work on the changes pace attack with any of our rivals,” he said. “When and I was comfortable with them by the time the it comes to strength in depth, I think it’s the best in Bob Willis Trophy came around. county cricket by a long way. “I am still not quite at Jamie’s pace, but I am a lot “Marchant de Lange is a great signing. He is a bit closer. When everything clicks, I am bowling at quicker than me and has bowled really well for 85mph, rather than in the low eighties. Glamorgan against us. “There is a bit more to work on this winter, so “We all have different attributes and that helped hopefully there is even more improvement to make us so effective last season. I was able to bowl come.” shorter spells, knowing that whoever replaced me Here are Craig’s thoughts on the other members in the attack would do an equally good job.” of Somerset’s pace attack, who combined so Craig attributes his increase in pace in the Bob effectively last season. Willis Trophy to a chat with the head of England JOSH DAVEY: “Josh has become a massive part selectors Ed Smith at the end of the 2019 season. of our team. We all try to bowl with control, but “He told me that I would stand more chance of he never seems to go for many runs and has an being picked regularly if I bowled that bit sharper uncanny knack of picking up wickets when the ball without losing my accuracy and I set to work to is doing even a little bit off the pitch. make it happen. “If there is any help in the surface, he will exploit it. “One simple way was to run in quicker. I know I bowl He nags away on off stump, making the batsmen my best when I am really running in hard, but the

20 Somerset County Cricket Club SCCC SCCC 2020-2021

play as many deliveries as possible and if one “Like Lewis, he can have magic spells, taking a hangs around Josh will have a ball with his name on wicket from nowhere to get us going. In pressure at some stage. situations, his know-how really comes to the fore LEWIS GREGORY: “Lewis only played three games and he is great at talking to the rest of us, usually in the Bob Willis Trophy, but still picked up 18 from mid-off.” wickets. He has always had the ability to get Overall, Craig believes Somerset have the depth of batsmen out with a magic ball, but has improved resources to cope with injuries and take sufficient his control massively in recent years. wickets to make that dream of a first Championship “Whereas Josh and I try and build pressure to get title become reality. batsmen out, Lewis is searching for wickets with almost every ball. That used to make him more “We also have a top class spinner in Jack Leach, expensive than us, but now he is more focussed capable of making a huge contribution,” he said. on hitting the top of off stump and is reaping the “There were signs last season that a number of our rewards. young batsmen were developing quickly and. if that “He used to be more of a swing bowler, but these continues, we will be a match for anyone.” days he relies more on seam movement, nipping the ball one way or the other to get lbws and catches behind the wicket.” JAMIE OVERTON: “It was great to see Jamie fit and firing on all cylinders last season. He bowled quickly and still got the ball to swing. “If he continues that way, although hopefully not against us, he will be pressing hard for England selection. “We all wish him well in continuing his career at Surrey. But I don’t see it that we have lost a very good bowler. I feel we have gained one in Marchant de Lange.” JACK BROOKS: “The wily veteran of our attack plays a massive part with his experience. He actually knows what it is like to play in a County Richard Latham reports on Somerset for local Championship winning team, which as yet none of newspapers throughout the South West and is the other bowlers do. managing director of Bristol and West News Agency

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 21 Tom Lammonby scored three first class hundreds in 2020 and Sam Dalling was there to watch

any will consign 2020 to the footnotes of this parish – bowling at the speed of light. of history. A year to forget, or perhaps Lammonby rode his luck early, nicking Mat best one not to remember. one only to see it shelled in the slips, but Not Tom Lammonby though. When the otherwise acquitted himself well. flowing, golden locks of Somerset’s new left- Wickets tumbled regularly and he stood firm handed opener have turned grey and wispy, for longer than many of his senior colleagues. he’ll look back on a unique summer with He made zip at and then fondness. 30-odd at Edgbaston. Promising again but When this publication last came to print, few nothing extraordinary. would had heard his name. It might have rung Then the old enemy rolled into town, and an a bell following a dozen or so T20 outings but unbroken 211-run second wicket stand with he was an Academy graduate to keep an eye Tom Abell in the second dig set up a huge on. No more, no less. victory over Gloucestershire. But so rapidly has the southpaw’s stock risen, He made a maiden First Class hundred. that in an alternate reality he would be off although there were a few critics of the with the Lions right now. skipper’s decision to bat on long enough to Then again, in that alternate reality, chances allow Lammonby to reach three figures. are he would still be waiting for his big break. No room for sentiment when there is a game It can be traced back to a belated pre-season to be won and showers in the air said some. net. Having watched Lammonby go about his Next up was the final group game at New business, Jason Kerr had a lightbulb moment: Road with a place in the Lord’s showdown on this boy can open. the line. Never mind that he had barely done so in For Somerset a draw was enough, but the club cricket, let alone the professional game. pitch screamed result and Worcestershire Sometimes coaches just get a hunch and roll had been the season’s surprise package until with it. that point. The Devonian had little time for nerves, with For a couple of days, the side’s traded blows. the news of his promotion broken on the eve Heading into Day 3 it was evenly poised, of the Bob Willis Trophy campaign. but when the Pears made early inroads When the Somerset openers strolled out the visitors found themselves 82-6 with a against Glamorgan, it took the socially- precarious 133-run lead. distanced press box a few moments to work Lammonby remained unflustered as the out who was making the walk. mayhem unfolded. He ducked, he wove, he A few minutes of digging and it was played straight and he left well. confirmed that Lammonby had opened up Through sheer determination he reached 45 once for Exeter CC last year, with teammate off 124 balls. The time had come to counter Ben Green preferred up top most of the time. punch. Seemingly effortlessly he upped the When on England U-19 and 2nd XI duty, tempo: 62 came from the next 96 balls. Lammonby was in the middle order. He showed disdain for the nervous 90s with a A patient, accomplished 41 later and it was pair of maximums off the leg-spinner to reach agreed that there were signs of promise. his hundred. The visitors had a fine pace attack that day, By the end he had become the youngest man including Marchant de Lange – now of course 22 Somerset County Cricket Club SCCC SCCC 2020-2021 to carry his bat in the club’s history, smashing must be given space to develop. Dudley Rippon’s long-standing 1914 record. Next year will be tougher. That is not to For context, after his 107 not out, the next say he cannot have the same impact, highest score was 21. It was a knock that but he will no longer be an unknown defied his years, perfectly timed in many quantity. Opponents will have done their ways. homework and formulated a plan. Both Kerr, and his opposite number Alex All signs point to him being up for the Gidman exclaimed, it was one of the better challenge, after all his old man was born in innings they had seen in domestic cricket. A and his uncle is former big shout from men of their experience but a Australia star Ryan Campbell. difficult one to argue with. (Sam Dalling is a Somerset fan who is a The Final was a re-run of last year’s decider freelancer who writes for The Cricketer, The against Essex. Lammonby was a spectator Cricket Paper and several other publications.) back then: this time he was at the forefront. It would be his sternest test yet. It started badly, Sam Cook trapping him LBW before he had troubled the scorers. Perhaps he was over eager to impress, or perhaps he just got a decent nut. It happens. Sir Alistair Cook, a left-hander at the other end of his career, played a sublime hand to give his side the all-important first-innings lead. It meant Somerset needed to attack and Lammonby answered the call with a third hundred (116) in successive matches. It was littered with wristy flicks, aided by his love of squash, and powerful drives. He even took on – few in England have done that in the past few years and lived to tell the tale. In summary: quite a season. And that is without mention of his white ball power- hitting or handy left-arm medium pace. The club hope that he will develop into a tidy bowling option. All that done with a smile on his face too. That is a quality that should not be forgotten. It has the makings of a special career but a word of caution. He was a teenager a few months ago and has a handful of 1st XI appearances to his name. Expectations will be high and it could be that the upward trajectory continues immediately. But it might also take a bit of time, and he The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 23 Tom Abell reflects on the Bob Willis Trophy 2020 By Tom Abell hen I think about last season’s Bob Willis with a maturity beyond their years. Trophy I am still very disappointed because we While I always like to acknowledge the team effort there Wdidn’t win and that is ultimately what we are were some exceptional individual performances as here to do. well- like Eddie Byrom in the final at Lord’s and George However if I look at it from a slightly different Bartlett’s innings against Gloucestershire, as well as perspective then the season filled me with a huge Jack Brooks’ partnerships when we were in trouble. amount of pride and excitement. The way that the It was pleasing that when we were under pressure this young lads stepped into the team, came of age and summer there has been somebody who has stood up really took responsibility was brilliant. and put their hand up which is a good sign for the team. Although we lost certain players I certainly don’t feel However we are here to win and certainly won’t rest on that we have regressed at all and we are better placed our laurels. now than we ever have been. Our home support is fantastic so it wasn’t the same to When you think about the 2020 season we won a lot of be playing without anybody to cheer us on but as a games, in fact we didn’t lose the final, but we didn’t get playing group we get to represent Somerset which is a the result that we wanted. very special thing for us. Going into the final at Lord’s both teams were aware of As disappointing as it was not to have crowds we didn’t the connotations of winning on first innings so we have want to use that as an excuse because as a team we are got no excuses. trying to build and trying to win silverware so our sole That outcome will continue to drive us because we purpose was on performing out on the pitch. can still be better and we are not the finished product, Although there was a different feel about the ground however the way that we are playing our cricket is close without any crowds here to watch us, once the game to where we are aspiring to be. started our focus was on the match. The skill levels are fantastic right throughout the team I think we focused pretty well but hopefully our own with keen competition for places within the squad that supporters will be back next summer to cheer us on our is brilliant. way, like they always do. It has taken a bit of time but we are starting to get there The mood in the Somerset camp is as good as I have and this certainly bodes well. However that doesn’t experienced during my time at the club. We have been guarantee us anything moving forwards and we are lucky enough to have been back in for winter training under no illusions. since the start of November and there has been a huge There are going to be tough times and there are going intensity about the way that everyone has gone about to be injuries and other things that we cant control but I things. think the way we are going about things it all looks really With hardly anybody overseas this winter we have good for the future. got a lot of people in training which has helped the Although we have played well this year we haven’t environment. brought home the rewards that we deserve. That comes As well as the players there is also a huge amount of back to ourselves so we just have to be better in those work that goes on behind the scenes by the coaching moments in those games. staff and the sports science and medical staff and they However we are not far away and I am pretty confident are all phenomenal and are key in helping us to do our that in the near future we will get what we are so jobs. desperate for. Of course there is that disappointment that we didn’t Cricket is a team game, but you need individuals to get over the line last summer, but the fire is burning perform within the team and players did that right as strongly as it ever has done. We feel that we are so throughout the season for us. close so it is only very small percentages that we need There is also so much work that goes in from so many to focus on to get there. people and there will be games, maybe low scoring We will continue to put the work in and continue to ones where guys maybe don’t always get the credit improve in those certain areas that as players we all they deserve, but equally you have to recognize know that we have. brilliance when it is there. There have been some brilliant performances this season from the likes of Craig Overton, Tom Lammonby and Steve Davies to mention a few names, but equally there are other guys who have come in and performed

24 Somerset County Cricket Club SCCC SCCC The view from Lord’s By Paul Edwards 2020-2021 omerset supporters have seen quite enough of justified their captain’s decision to bat second by Sir celebrating a triumph. While a reducing Somerset to 94 for four, only for Eddie Sdollop of glee might have been appropriate at the Byrom to grit out the 44 overs for an unbeaten 51. end of a successful Ashes series, Cook’s clenched fist On the second day Byrom completed his salute to the away dressing room after he had helped first hundred against county opposition and Essex secure the 2019 County Championship strained celebrated with much brandishing of his bat. Not for the tolerance of folk in Taunton, a town where the word the first or last time that season one missed the crowds; “runners-up” has become something of a profanity. it was easy to imagine the joy with which Byrom’s And then, bless my soul, a year and a day later, there hundred might have been greeted had it been scored he was again. On the Lord’s balcony this time, albeit at Taunton. One recalled Tom Abell’s first ton. outside the away dressing room, grinning cheesily away after another draw had been enough to deprive Nor, let us be fair, was it hard to visualise the scenes Somerset of the Bob Willis Trophy. at Chelmsford had Cook been batting in front of Essex supporters on Friday. Playing with a fluency That, at any rate, was one narrative of a scarred cricket and freedom that even the county’s beat reporters season that many folk thought would never start. had never seen, the opener took just under six-and- Tom Lammonby’s summer offers a different view of a-half hours to make his 172 runs. Lewis Gregory took things. When county cricket began on Lammas Day in four wickets, and was to grab a couple more the next front of empty stands, Lammonby made his first-class morning, but it was Cook one remembered from a day debut and accumulated 41 against Glamorgan before graced by a rich sun whose setting played its part in his falling lbw to Michael Hogan. Though a promising start, dismissal, caught at slip by Craig Overton late on. that innings hardly prepared the thousands watching Essex gained a first innings lead of 36 but Lammonby’s on Somerset’s live stream for what happened in late third hundred in 11 first-class innings ensured the August when the 20-year-old Devonian notched his maiden century against Gloucestershire and followed County Champions would have work to do on the final it in early September by carrying his bat for 107 at New day if they wished to add the Bob Willis Trophy to their Road. Lammonby thus went to Lord’s with journalists honours. curious to know how good he was and teenage girls Even in late November one still sees the perfectly timed simply curious. straight-drives. People called Lammonby’s batting a On the other hand, those of us who queued obediently “sign of things to come” but on the penultimate day in St John’s Wood Road on each of the five mornings of of the first-class season many others were content to the Bob Willis Trophy Final were merely keen to find out enjoy it for its freshman daring. whether we would be allowed into the ground. “Something about youth in the field appeals to cricket- For it was a summer when the extraordinary became goers above all else, wrote Ray Robinson over 60 years commonplace. ago in The Glad Season. “Regardless of race or clime, you notice the crowd’s interest quicken when a very Already we had filled in forms and supplied photographs for our lanyards. Now we had our young player appears, the encouraging response for his temperatures checked and were ordered to wear slightest success, the sympathetic murmur if he fails. All masks when outside our assigned hospitality boxes the young onlookers are his allies, and older men relive above the Tavern Stand. Nobody moaned. through his presence their own youthful ambitions.” The use of military metaphors seemed absurd when No, it was not enough to give Somerset a base from discussing something like Covid-19; you don’t fight which they could force a victory on the final day. Five of disease, you avoid it. But the quiet resolution of the Westley’s batsmen batted over a hundred minutes and wartime generations was a useful touchstone as one ’s defiance settled the issue. travelled around a sanitised and fearful country in the Essex departed Lord’s with the trophy but Somerset late summer of 2020. left with nothing of which they could be ashamed. And very soon there was cricket to take our attention The bowling of Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory had from any humdrum inconvenience. Essex and Somerset enriched the summer. Above all, though, there had had arrived at Lord’s as two of only three undefeated been the batting of Byrom and Lammonby: brave teams in the BWT and they boasted two of the finest young men bringing light in dark times. seam attacks in the land. (Paul Edwards writes about cricket in and on On a cloudy, rain-wrecked first day Westley’s bowlers Cricinfo)

Anthony Gibson OBE is the BBC’s senior commentator on Somerset cricket The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 25 Overview of 2020 By first team scorer Polly Rhodes

he term “unprecedented times” has now become a standard phrase in our vocabulary and, with Tan understanding now of what it means, it is applied rightly to the conditions under which cricket has operated in the latter part of the season this year. We thank all stakeholders for their support of our wonderful game, from those who have contributed to the return of International cricket at the highest levels, to those at the echelons of recreational sport. When cricket returned at the County level, it was decreed by the ECB that the formats would be changed. Firstly, there would be no return this year in England & Wales, of the 50-over, one-day SOUTH GROUP cricket, which would then leave room for a modified ESSEX structure of the multi-day county match, both in the HAMPSHIRE number of matches played and the way in which the matches would be played, and also for a truncated KENT T20 competition. Rather than having a County MIDDLESEX Championship it was decreed further that the counties SURREY would play for the Bob Willis Trophy, named after the SUSSEX popular ex-cricketer turned broadcaster, who had died in December 2019 of prostate cancer and this disease VITALITY BLAST T20 would be flagged throughout the matches and money The Vitality Blast T20 competition would have the would be raised to try to combat it. same groupings as the Bob Willis Trophy, but this time each team would play the others in its group both BOB WILLIS TROPHY home and away, thus giving ten matches, and the The county game saw the counties divided into best two teams in each group and the best two third three, split geographically, North, Central and South. placed teams would go into a knock-out quarter-final. Each of these groupings would consist of six first The winner of each of these quarter-finals to go into a class counties, and would thus play the five others semi-final and then there would be a final. A Finals Day in their group in a four-day game, with two home would be held at Edgbaston when the semis and final and three away matches, or vice versa, three home would be played. and two away matches. They would play under a modified form of the Championship regulations. The TROPHY county finishing top of its group would then have the The women would likewise have a rescheduled opportunity of qualifying for a five-day Final, to be programme of matches, and these would be played at Lord’s. Not all the three counties would be organised along the lines of the new franchised teams involved however, it would just be the two scoring the which were going to play the 100, however they highest number of points thus ensuring that counties would play 50 overs per side matches against every would strive for as many points as possible and the other team in their group, both home and away. The third team would miss out. Somerset, which logically teams with the most points from its group would play one would expect to be in the south region, found its counterpart in a final match. The trophy for which itself placed unceremoniously further north into the they would play was named the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Central group. Trophy, named after Baroness Heyhoe-Flint, the ex- cricketer who had done so much as a pioneer of the NORTH GROUP CENTRAL GROUP women’s game and who had died in January 2017. DERBYSHIRE GLAMORGAN DURHAM GLOUCESTERSHIRE NORTH GROUP SOUTH GROUP NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CENTRAL SPARKS SOUTH EAST STARS LEICESTERSHIRE SOMERSET LIGHTNING NOTTINGHAMSHIRE WARWICKSHIRE SUNRISERS YORKSHIRE WORCESTERSHIRE THUNDER WESTERN STORM

26 Somerset County Cricket Club BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS Match by Match The Bob Willis Trophy Reports Somerset v Glamorgan 1st-4th August 2020; Cooper Associates County Ground Somerset won the toss and batted Result: Somerset won by 289 runs. Somerset (21 points) & Glamorgan (3 points)

Northamptonshire v Somerset 8th-11th August 2020; Wantage Road, Northampton Somerset won the toss and batted Result: Somerset won by 167 runs. Somerset (19 points) & Northamptonshire (3 points)

Warwickshire v Somerset 15th-18th August 2020; Warwickshire won the toss and batted. Result: Match Drawn. Warwickshire (11 points) & Somerset (16 points).

Somerset v Gloucestershire OVERVIEW 22nd-25th August 2020; The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton Gloucestershire won the toss and fielded. Result: Somerset (20 points) beat Gloucestershire (3 points) by 314 runs.

Worcestershire v Somerset 6th-9th September 2020; New Road, Worcester Somerset won the toss and batted. Result: Somerset (21 points) beat Worcestershire (4 points) by 60 runs.

Somerset v Essex Bob Willis Trophy (5-day) Final Somerset v Essex – 23rd-27th September 2020; Lord’s Essex won the toss and fielded. Result: Match Drawn (Essex won the Trophy by scoring the greater number of runs than Somerset in the first innings.)

The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 27 Somerset v Glamorgan 1st-4th August 2020; Cooper Associates County Ground Somerset won the toss and batted Result: Somerset won by 289 runs. Somerset (21 points) & Glamorgan (3 points)

SOMERSET 1st Innings 2nd Innings EJ Byrom b GG Wagg 22 c Cooke b M de Lange 27 TA Lammonby lbw b MG Hogan 41 c Cooke b GG Wagg 8 * TB Abell* b M de Lange 3 c sub (CZ Taylor) b KA Bull 119 JC Hildreth c Carlson b DA Douthwaite 16 c Cooke b MG Hogan 45 GA Bartlett c Carlson b RAJ Smith 23 BGF Green c Wagg b DA Douthwaite 54 † SM Davies not out 81 b KA Bull 18 C Overton lbw b DA Douthwaite 2 not out 6 RE van der Merwe lbw b RAJ Smith 0 c Selman b KA Bull 2 J Overton c Hemphrey b RAJ Smith 3 c Hemphrey b DA Douthwaite 0 JH Davey c Douthwaite b M de Lange 20 JA Brooks c & b GG Wagg 72 (0b, 7lb, 0w, 6nb, 0p) 13 (4b, 1lb, 0w, 6nb, 0p) 11 Total (All Out, 81 Overs) 296 (8 Wickets, Declared, 80.1 Overs) 290 Fall 1-36, 2-41, 3-75, 4-95, 5-139, 6-142, 7-143, 8-149, 9-189, 10-296 1-26, 2-38, 3-131, 4-257, 5-278, 6-282, 7-282, 8-290

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb MG Hogan 17 9 37 1 0 0 MG Hogan 16 5 42 1 0 0 RAJ Smith 14 4 41 3 0 0 GG Wagg 15 4 36 1 0 0 M de Lange 17 3 37 2 0 0 DA Douthwaite 16 3 60 2 0 0 GG Wagg 14 2 59 2 0 0 M de Lange 14 2 35 1 0 1 KA Bull 7 0 36 0 0 0 KA Bull 19.1 0 112 3 0 2 DA Douthwaite 12 0 79 2 0 3 GLAMORGAN 1st Innings 2nd Innings NJ Selman lbw b JH Davey 9 lbw b C Overton 0 CR Hemphrey c Lammonby b C Overton 7 c & b b J Overton 20 KS Carlson c van der Merwe b C Overton 7 c J Overton b C Overton 4 *† CB Cooke c J Overton b C Overton 0 c Hildreth b J Overton 82 WT Root c J Overton b JH Davey 1 b RE van der Merwe 26 DA Douthwaite c van der Merwe b C Overton 2 lbw b J Overton 6 GG Wagg c Hildreth b C Overton 28 c Davies b J Overton 1 KA Bull lbw b JA Brooks 23 Bowled b J Overton 9 M de Lange c Davey b J Overton 8 c van der Merwe b JH Davey 3 RAJ Smith c Davies b J Overton 23 not out 8 MG Hogan not out 2 c J Overton b JA Brooks 0 (12b, 7lb, 0w, 2nb, 0p) 21 (0b, 5lb, 0w, 2nb, 0p) 7 Total (All Out, 46.1 Overs) 131 (All Out, 64.2 Overs) 166 Fall 1-15, 2-23, 3-33, 4-34, 5-34, 6-38, 7-91, 8-100, 9-107, 10-131 1-0, 2-10, 3-29, 4-95, 5-126, 6-140, 7-157, 8-158, 9-158, 10-166

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb C Overton 17 5 38 5 0 0 C Overton 17 4 31 2 0 0 JH Davey 12 7 34 2 0 0 JH Davey 12 5 26 1 0 0 JA Brooks 8 1 24 1 0 0 JA Brooks 10.2 6 41 1 0 1 J Overton 9.1 2 16 2 0 1 J Overton 17 3 48 5 0 0 RE van der Merwe 6 2 8 1 0 0 TB Abell 2 0 7 0 0 0

28 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club * Captain * Wicket Keeper BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS

Day 1: Day 2: With Somerset choosing to bat on an overcast day, The weather was no better, in fact there a new opening partnership of left-handers Eddie were now showers forecast. Overnight, it was Byrom and First-Class debutant, Tom Lammonby, decided that Bartlett should take no further came out to bat and managed to stay together for part in the match and Green came in as a about an hour until Byrom was bowled. Tom Abell concussion replacement. Craig Overton and then came to join Lammonby but was soon out, and Davey continued bowling from the previous James Hildreth replaced him. Somerset progressed evening and it only took eight deliveries for slowly, firstly to 50 and then to 75 when Hildreth the first wicket to go down. For Craig it was the succeeded in cutting the ball to point, where Kiran first of a spell which was to see him take three Carlson took a sharp catch. By lunch Somerset had more, giving him figures for the morning of, reached 92-3. 8-1-18-4, during which time Davey also bowled Soon after the resumption, Lammonby was pinned frugally, giving him the morning figures of 6-3- back LBW to a full ball. George Bartlett, who had 9-2. Brooks chipped in with 14 runs from three come in on the demise of Hildreth, was joined overs as well, so by the time that Craig was by . Shortly after his arrival, Bartlett taken and replaced by his brother, Glamorgan received a ball from Marchant de Lange, which rose had reached 56-6. There was then a short OVERVIEW viciously after pitching, and hit him on the helmet. hiatus caused by a twenty-minute rain break, Immediately the physios were called, to carry out but there was a further twenty minutes before the concussion protocols, and a delay of about ten lunch, during which time the score moved on minutes ensued, after which it was deemed safe to 71-6. for Bartlett to continue to bat. Davies and Bartlett After lunch, the twins bowled in tandem, continued together carefully for about an hour, collecting a wicket apiece and giving Craig a managing to accumulate 44 runs. Dan Douthwaite “five-fer”. Brooks was also to collect a wicket was brought onto bowl and Bartlett, who never and Jamie the last, thus closing the innings in looked really comfortable after his injury, was out to just over an hour after lunch, for 131 all out. On a catch by Carlson fielding at gully, when the score average there had been only one scoring shot per was 137-5. Unfortunately for Somerset, this seemed over, with a third of the overs being maidens. What to be the catalyst for further wickets to fall, another was noticeable though, was the way in which the three in the space of twenty-three deliveries; the wickets were taken. Of the first seven wickets to go victims being Craig Overton (2 – LBW), Roelof van down, only one was bowled, the rest were all taken der Merwe (0 – also LBW) and Jamie Overton (3 – by the slip cordon. caught by Charlie Hemphrey), with Davies playing Somerset started their second innings 165 runs obdurately in between. ahead. They started slowly, but soon gathered Josh Davey was out after tea for 20, giving a catch momentum, the first wicket going down on 26 when to Douthwaite at mid-on. All of the above was not Lammonby was out for 8. Eddie Byrom was out for a portent of what was to come, however. The last 27, but Abell and Hildreth together steadied things batsman, Jack Brooks, had other ideas and he and and, by the close of play, had taken the score on to Davies had a century partnership, but what was 131-2 and with it, a partnership of 93. more remarkable was the way in which Brooks Day 3: played. He managed 72 runs from only 58 deliveries The day started badly for Somerset when James including nine 4s and two towering 6s. When Hildreth was out to the first ball of the day, eventually he was out, Davies remained not out on meaning that the score was on 131-3. By lunch it 81, the final total being four shy of a third batting had advanced to 213-3 with Abell not out on 91 point. and Green not out on 34. At the beginning of the With Somerset’s innings finishing, Glamorgan had seventy-third over Abell changed gear suddenly, to start batting, needing to face 7 overs before hitting the first two balls for 4 to bring up his century the close of play. Nick Selman and Hemphrey from 163 deliveries. The next three balls he hit for 16, negotiated some hostile bowling from Craig but unfortunately, the last ball of the over was struck Overton and Davey. Bartlett did not take the field, so high to deep mid-wicket, where substitute Callum Ben Green substituted, Glamorgan finishing on 8-0 Taylor took the catch, Abell being out for a fine 119. by close of play.

The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 29 The wickets now started to escalate, with Davies stump. Michael Hogan was Glamorgan’s last man in (18), Green (54), Jamie Overton (0), and Van der and now Brooks was brought into the attack. With Merwe (2), all perishing in very quick time. With the Jack’s second Jamie took a spectacular fall of Van der Merwe the declaration was made at diving catch to close the innings, helping Somerset 290-8, meaning that Glamorgan needed a massive to a 289-run victory. 456 runs to win, or to bat out a day and a half to Summary: save the match. The declaration also meant that Somerset 296 all out (81 overs) S. M. Davies 81*, J. A. Glamorgan would come out for about an hour Brooks 72 & 290-8 declared (80.1 overs) T. B. Abell 119, B. before tea. G. F. Green 54. Things could not have started worse for Glamorgan, when Nick Selman was given out LBW to the third Glamorgan 131 all out (46.1 overs) C. Overton 17-5-38-5 ball of the innings from Craig Overton. Five overs & 161 all out (64.2 overs) C. B. Cooke 82, J. Overton 17-3- later the twins combined to take the wicket of Kiran 48-5. Carlson with Jamie catching the ball at second slip. With the score on 10-2, took his turn at the crease, and was lucky to survive a dropped chance off his fourth delivery allowing him to get off the mark. Carlson and Root were now batting very cautiously to try to get to tea without losing another wicket, Root not scoring another run for some 16 balls, however, with the score on 29, Hemphrey edged the ball back gently to bowler Jamie and, with coming out to bat, the score remained on 29-3 at tea. After the break Glamorgan started to turn things around, with both Root and Cooke batting determinedly and bringing up a 50 partnership for the fourth wicket. Abell then decided to try a change of pace, and in only his second over, van der Merwe induced a reverse sweep from Root, who only succeeded in missing the ball which then went on to hit the stumps. With the score on 95-4, Douthwaite came in and managed to stay with Root for some thirteen overs, although the scoring rate was slow. With Jamie coming back for another spell, the rate went down further and, before close of play he collected another wicket, trapping Douthwaite LBW. This end of the day was thus 126-5. Day 4: Jamie Overton started the day by bowling to the new batsman Graham Wagg to finish the over from the night before, and only half an hour later he had collected his third and fourth wickets – one caught by Davies and the other by Hildreth. It was now 153- 7 and with Jamie wanting a “five-fer” the end was in sight. Kieran Bull and Ruaidhri Smith started to block the ball scoring only 5 runs in 30 deliveries, but in vain. Davey who had replaced Craig, produced a delivery which Smith hit straight to Roelof at midwicket. Jamie then collected his fifth wicket (and fourth of the morning) when he uprooted Bull’s off

30 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS OVERVIEW

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 31 The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 31 Northamptonshire v Somerset 8th-11th August 2020; Wantage Road, Northampton Somerset won the toss and batted Result: Somerset won by 167 runs. Somerset (19 points) & Northamptonshire (3 points)

SOMERSET 1st Innings 2nd Innings EJ Byrom c Rossington b BD Glover 6 c Vasconcelos b BW Sanderson 20 TA Lammonby b BW Sanderson 1 lbw b BD Glover 0 * TB Abell c Rossington b BD Glover 0 c Rossington b BW Sanderson 12 JC Hildreth c Rossington b BW Sanderson 32 lbw b GK Berg 17 T Banton b GK Berg 18 c Rossington b GK Berg 2 † SM Davies b b BW Sanderson 13 Bwled b GK Berg 0 C Overton c Berg b BW Sanderson 16 c Curran b GK Berg 53 RE van der Merwe not out 20 c Vasconcelos b BD Glover 30 J Overton c Procter b BW Sanderson 11 c Rossington b BW Sanderson 68 JH Davey c Berg b LA Procter 1 c Muzarabani b BW Sanderson 5 JA Brooks c Rossington b B Muzarabani 36 not out 2 (1b, 6lb, 1w, 4nb, p0) 12 (`b, 12lb, 0w, 0nb, 0p) 13 Total (All Out, 47.2 Overs) 166 (All Out, 39.1 Overs) 222 Fall 1-7, 2-7, 3-7, 4-36, 5-74, 6-77, 7-96, 8-110, 9-114, 10-166 1-0, 2-15, 3-50, 4-50, 5-52, 6-53, 7-120, 8-151, 9-187, 10-222

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb BW Sanderson 15 7 28 5 0 0 BW Sanderson 13.1 3 61 4 0 0 BD Glover 16 3 49 2 0 1 BD Glover 9 2 45 2 0 0 B Muzarabani 7.2 1 37 1 0 1 GK Berg 10 0 64 4 0 0 GK Berg 7 0 36 1 0 0 B Muzarabani 5 0 26 0 0 0 LA Procter 2 0 9 1 1 0 LA Procter 2 1 13 0 0 0

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 1st Innings 2nd Innings BJ Curran c C Overton b JH Davey 35 c J Overton b JH Davey 10 EN Gay c Davies b C Overton 0 c Hildreth b J Overton 16 RS Vasconcelos run out (Brooks) 7 c J Overton b JH Davey 52 RI Keough lbw b JH Davey 2 c & bowled b JA Brooks 1 CO Thurston lbw b JA Brooks 1 c Davies b J Overton 34 LA Procter lbw b JH Davey 5 c C Overton b J Overton 26 *† AM Rossington c Davies b C Overton 9 lbw b J Overton 0 GK Berg c Hildreth b J Overton 0 c Hildreth b JA Brooks 0 BW Sanderson c & b C Overton 0 lbw b JA Brooks 0 B Muzarabani not out 0 not out 1 BD Glover b C Overton 0 c van der Merwe b JA Brooks 0 (2b, 0lb, 6w, 0nb, 0p) 8 (3b, 5lb, 0w, 6nb, 0p) 14 Total (All Out, 32 Overs) 67 (All Out, 42.6 Overs) 154 Fall 1-9, 2-46, 3-50, 4-53, 5-53, 6-65, 7-67, 8-67, 9-67, 10-67 1-21, 2-46, 3-51, 4-104, 5-148, 6-148, 7-153, 8-153, 9-153, 10-154

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb C Overton 11 6 12 4 0 0 C Overton 12 3 40 0 0 0 JH Davey 10 4 23 3 0 0 JH Davey 10 4 23 2 0 0 J Overton 5 2 14 1 0 2 J Overton 8 3 26 4 0 0 JA Brooks 6 1 16 1 0 0 JA Brooks 11 2 40 4 0 3 TB Abell 2 0 17 0 0 0

32 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club * Captain * Wicket Keeper BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS

Day 1: runs steadily, however the fielding was sharp, On a warm, sunny day Somerset had chosen to bat, and none more so than from Brooks when but within six overs were in desperate trouble on 7-3 Vasconcelos, standing at the non-striker’s end, as opening bowlers, and Brandon decided to take a sharp run as Curran pushed Glover piled on the pressure. Glover, induced a the ball onto the onside. Unfortunately for him, false stroke from Byrom and wicket-keeper, Adam Curran declined the invitation and, with Brooks Rossington effected the catch. One over later, swooping on the ball and throwing down the Sanderson produced a ball for Tom Lammonby stumps, Vasconcelos was left high and dry as which he left, and the ball went on to demolish the he dived unsuccessfully to regain his ground. stumps. The third wicket was that of Tom Abell, who That wicket was to start a major collapse. What flashed at a ball and was strangled down the leg had been 46-1 became 67 all out. In an hour side, as Rossington took his second catch. and a half, nine wickets fell for just 21 runs, James Hildreth and managed to calm Craig and Davey finishing with seven wickets things down, albeit scoring slowly. With the score on between them. 36, however, Banton managed to chop the ball onto Little did Somerset think when they went out to his stumps. Then, on the stroke of lunch, Sanderson bat in the morning, that their openers would be bowled Davies, with the score on 74-5. coming out to bat for a second time on the first OVERVIEW After the interval Craig Overton came out to join day! So it was, as Byrom and Lammonby took Hildreth, and Sanderson continued to bowl a tight their places in the middle and, as in the first line. With Rossington standing up to the stumps, innings, Sanderson opening the bowling. There Hildreth nibbled at a ball and he was able to was still half an hour of play left, and in the take another catch. Roelof van der Merwe was eight overs played, unfortunately Lammonby next in to replace Hildreth. Craig continued to was out LBW to his second delivery without bat positively, even taking Glover for 12 from one a run on the board. However, Byrom and new over as Somerset tried to accumulate more runs. batsman Abell, stayed until the close of play at Sanderson though, had other ideas. Coming in to 15-1. Note: there had been a total of 21 wickets bowl he had Craig caught by Berg. Brother Jamie falling in the day. fared not much better. Having edged Sanderson Day 2: twice consecutively over the slips for 4, he then A complete change in the weather heralded the succeeded in dragging the ball onto his stumps start of play. Instead of the warm, sunny first day, to make the score 110-8, giving Sanderson his fifth it was now overcast. Neither the dismal weather, wicket. Josh Davey was another caught by Berg, nor the early wicket of Abell to the third ball of the but Jack Brooks had other ideas. Of course, he morning, served to lighten the mood. Hildreth was also knew the venue well, having started out his next in, and he and Byrom started to set about the career with Northamptonshire, but he began to bat bowling, plundering eight boundaries in the space belligerently, collecting 8 runs from his first four of five overs, and putting a total of 35 runs on to the deliveries. Then, by a judicious mixture of cutting, board. With the arrival of the team’s 50 Berg was pulling and driving (and not just a small amount of brought into the attack, taking over from Glover, luck) he and Roelof brought up the 50 partnership only for Hildreth to be out LBW. The very next ball, for the tenth wicket. Unfortunately, the innings did Byrom parried a ball to first slip, Vasconcelos. The not last much longer, as Brooks edged another rest of the over passed without incident as Davies catch to Rossington, to give him his fourth catch of tried to play himself in. In Berg’s next over Banton the innings, meaning that Somerset ended on 166 fenced at his third delivery and was caught behind all out. by Rossington. Worse was to come, as Craig The Northamptonshire openers were another left- Overton, taking a leg bye from his second delivery, handed pair, and Emilio Gay. It only took handed the strike back to Davies who was bowled. the opening bowlers of Craig Overton and Davey 25 What had been 50-2 was now 53-6, the last four deliveries until the first wicket, that of Gay for 0, as wickets falling in the space of 13 deliveries. he tried to avoid the ball by lifting his bat high, but The new batsman was Van der Merwe, and he giving an easy catch through to Davies. Thereafter, and Craig really started to attack the ball, having a another left-hander, joined partnership of 67. Van der Merwe in trying for yet Curran, and together they started to accumulate another boundary was out, caught by Vasconcelos.

The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 33 Craig’s brother Jamie was the next in but then Craig with the wicket of Glover, caught by Van der Merwe went at one ball too many and Curran, running back at third slip. some distance, managed to catch the ball. The win for Somerset was by 167 runs. Both Jamie With half an hour left before lunch, Jamie and new Overton and Brooks finished with four wickets each, batsman Davey, showed some restraint, with the Jamie for 26 runs and Brooks for 40. This innings former adding an odd flourish here and there, to provided four more ducks for Northamptonshire, leave Somerset on 175-8, before the ninth wicket giving nine in the match for them and two to (Davey) fell, Blessing Muzarabani taking the catch Somerset. From 148-4 Northamptonshire ended on at the second attempt. The last batsman, Brooks, 154 all out – the loss of six wickets for 6 runs in 24 arrived at the crease to join Jamie, who was now balls; the last 5 batsmen contributing a total of 1 run to resume his flamboyant style of batting. When between them. In the match they contributed just eventually he was out, Somerset ended on 222 all 10 runs. out, with Northamptonshire needing 322 to win. Somerset 166 all out (47.2 overs) B. W. Sanderson 15-7- By now, it had become quite humid, as Curran and 28-5 & 222 all out (39.1 overs) J. Overton 68, C. Overton 53. Gay set themselves up to begin the fourth innings. Northamptonshire 67 all out (32 overs) & 154 all out (43 Craig Overton and Davey were to open the bowling again, however, the first wicket was not to fall until overs) R. S. Vasconcelos 52. the score was 21, as Jamie Overton was in the action again at second slip. Northamptonshire needed to bat out the time to save the match, but it was unlikely. It was testimony to Somerset’s exceptional fielding that the first five wickets to fall, all went to catches. Wickets 2 and 3 fell when the score was 46 and 51, but Vasconcelos and Charlie Thurston worked together steadily, so that by tea, the score which had been 51-3, had become 103-3 with Vasconcelos collecting his 50. Immediately after tea, the name Overton was once again etched onto the scorecard as Davey induced Vasconcelos to edge the ball to Jamie. , in at number six, carried on from where Vasconcelos had left off. He and Thurston batted steadily, nudging and nurdling the odd single and pillaging a boundary whenever the occasion presented itself. In this manner they took the score from 104-4 to 148. Abell decided to turn once more to one of his strike bowlers, Jamie. Never out of the action, Jamie went for six off the first over of his return, but his next over was to become pivotal as he managed to remove the obdurate Thurston off the first delivery, caught by Davies. ‘Keeper Rossington was the next in but was out LBW after 3 deliveries. A double wicket maiden by Jamie then gave way to another over with two wickets in it as Brooks bowled. Berg only lasted four deliveries, as Hildreth took another catch, and then the next delivery, Sanderson was adjudged LBW. With the eighth wicket to fall it was certain that Somerset were on course to win. Jamie had to be content just with a single wicket more as he removed Procter, Craig catching the ball at second slip. Seven balls later Brooks completed the rout 34 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS OVERVIEW

TheThe The 2020 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac Almanac and and and Season Season Season Revi Review Reviewew 35 Warwickshire v Somerset 15th-18th August 2020; Birmingham Warwickshire won the toss and batted. Result: Match Drawn. Warwickshire (11 points) & Somerset (16 points).

WARWICKSHIRE 1st Innings 2nd Innings RM Yates ct Davies b C Overton 3 b JH Davey 1 * WMH Rhodes run out (Abell) 10 c & bowled b L Gregory 41 SR Hain b C Overton 1 c Hildreth b J Overton 7 IR Bell c Davies b L Gregory 15 c Davies b L Gregory 6 MJ Lamb Bwled b C Overton 22 c Abell b JH Davey 13 † MGK Burgess b L Gregory 15 c Hildreth b JH Davey 0 TT Bresnan not out 32 c Davies b J Overton 26 AT Thomson run out (Banton) 0 b L Gregory 12 HJH Brookes c Hildreth b TB Abell 11 not out 2 CN Miles c Davies b TB Abell 0 not out 0 OJ Hannon-Dalby c Davies b TB Abell 0 (1b, 5lb, 2w, 4nb, 0p) 12 (6b, 10lb, 6w, 10nb, 0p) 32 Total (All Out, 45.2 Overs) 121 (8 Wickets, 56 Overs) 140 Fall 1-12, 2-15, 3-15, 4-59, 5-65, 6-88, 7-88, 8-113, 9-113, 10-121 1-3, 2-24, 3-39, 4-58, 5-58, 6-104, 7-138, 8-138

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb C Overton 14 6 17 3 0 0 C Overton 17 5 31 0 0 0 JH Davey 11 2 22 0 2 0 JH Davey 12 5 21 3 1 0 L Gregory 8 1 30 2 0 1 J Overton 9 5 22 2 1 0 J Overton 9 2 42 0 0 1 L Gregory 16 5 50 3 0 5 TB Abell 3.2 2 4 3 0 0 TB Abell 2 2 0 0 0 0

SOMERSET 1st Innings 2nd Innings EJ Byrom c Bresnan b OJ Hannon-Dalby 30 TA Lammonby c Hain b OJ Hannon-Dalby 33 * TB Abell c Burgess b CN Miles 41 JC Hildreth c Thomson b TT Bresnan 1 T Banton lbw b OJ Hannon-Dalby 13 † SM Davies not out 123 C Overton lbw b TT Bresnan 25 L Gregory c Brookes b TT Bresnan 14 RE van der Merwe c Burgess b OJ Hannon-Dalby 4 J Overton c Burgess b TT Bresnan 120 JH Davey not out 5 (0b, 3lb, 1w, 0nb, p0) 4 Total (9 Wickets, Declared, 99 Overs) 413 Fall 1 - 56, 2 - 67, 3 - 80, 4 - 101, 5 - 130, 6 - 191, 7 - 215, 8 - 226, 9 - 406

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb OJ Hannon-Dalby 33 7 104 4 1 0 TT Bresnan 26 3 99 4 0 0 HJH Brookes 16 0 85 0 0 0 CN Miles 13 2 82 1 0 0 WMH Rhodes 5 1 14 0 0 0 AT Thompson 6 1 26 0 0 0

36 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club * Captain * Wicket Keeper BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS

Day 1. time to Oliver Hannon-Dalby who yielded the This match was to be blighted by rain from the last wicket of the innings as Davies took his outset as all the forecasts predicted. It was overcast fourth catch. The innings closed on a total of from the beginning when the Warwickshire openers 121 with Bresnan not out on 32. Abell’s figures Rob Yates and went out to face Craig were 3.2-2-4-3, including an unusual seven- Overton and Josh Davey. ball maiden. Again, Somerset had bowled out For half an hour Yates and Rhodes showed a side in under two sessions and confidence application until Yates pushed forward to a very full was high. ball, which he edged to Steven Davies. Craig’s 1-4 With a short period before tea, the opening was soon to become 2-4 as Hain lost his off stump. pair of Eddie Byrom and Tom Lammonby took In what was to be Craig’s last over of his first spell, the Somerset score on to 24 without loss, but Rhodes was run out, having called him under half an hour afterwards, Byrom was through for a quick single, and Tom Abell in fielding the first to go when Bresnan took a catch off the ball, scored a direct hit. The score was now 15-3 Hannon-Dalby, the score moving on to 56-1. as Matt Lamb walked out. Shortly thereafter Lammonby was also out to Lewis Gregory, came on to replace Davey (0-11 Hannon-Dalby, but this time caught by . Bad light stopped play at 1730 and the

from 6 overs), and Jamie Overton replaced his OVERVIEW brother Craig, (7-5-4-2). With half an hour before umpires called play to a halt on the day soon lunch, Bell flashed at a ball from Gregory, and afterwards when the score had moved on to Davies took a sharp catch. He was replaced at the 80-2, Abell and Hildreth both not out on 16 and crease by Michael Burgess, who went out to join 1 respectively. Lamb. They then played sensibly, trying not to lose Day2: another wicket before lunch especially as Craig had As predicted, the rain arrived and play was been brought back into the attack. To emphasise not able to resume on time. An early lunch Somerset’s domination in the pre-lunch session, was taken and, with the floodlights on, play Lamb nibbled at a ball and found his off stump began just after 1300. Whether the long wait had knocked back leaving Warwickshire on 65-5, with had an effect on the batsmen, we will never know, Craig having bowled 9-6-5-3. but Hildreth was out without a run being added to The resumption after lunch saw the dangerous Tim the score, as Thomson caught the mis-timed shot. Bresnan come out to join Burgess, but although Banton only lasted half an hour for his 13 before Bresnan managed to stay put, the problems being out LBW to Hannon-Dalby. Meanwhile, Abell continued. Forty minutes were to elapse before the continued to play quietly and steadily. Davies, who sixth wicket went down. Abell had recalled Gregory joined him, played in like manner until the rain came, into the attack and his third ball was an attempted by which time the score had moved on to 116-4. off drive by Burgess, but an inside edge saw his On the resumption of play Burgess took a stunning off stump removed, and he too had to walk back. catch, to dismiss Abell for 41. Craig Overton joined Somerset did not have to wait long for the seventh Davies at the crease and before tea the pair had a wicket. Alex Thomson attempted a run but the ball 50 partnership. went straight to Tom Banton at mid-wicket, who Bad light extended the tea break by about half an threw down the wicket at the non-striker’s end, hour, after which time Hannon-Dalby and Bresnan with Thomson out of his ground by some distance. resumed their dangerous bowling collaboration. The score was now 88-7. , made Gregory soon replaced Craig Overton out in the his way to the crease and he was able to hold up middle, when the latter had fallen LBW to Bresnan, proceedings with Bresnan. Abell brought himself on but bad light brought a halt to play at 1710 on 214-5. to bowl, and Brookes pushed at the second ball he Day 3: faced, giving an edge to Hildreth at first slip. , not known for his prowess with the bat, was Play started on time and wickets fell almost straight the next man to join Bresnan, however, he too was away. Gregory fell at 215-7, and Van der Merwe to perish on the second ball he faced from Abell, at 226-8, still ahead of Warwickshire but not by when he gave a regulation catch to Davies. One enough. Jamie Overton was to come in with Davies more over from Jamie Overton yielded eight runs, who was on 62. An uninterrupted morning’s play but the next over Abell was back bowling again, this was to see one of the most spectacular partnerships

The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 37 develop over the course of the morning. The score would be able to bat or not, so it could have meant advanced to 353-8 by lunchtime; Jamie and Davies that it was effectively 8 wickets down. At this point putting on 127 in almost even time. Warwickshire an early lunch was taken and over the extended must have rued the two dropped chances off Jamie. break, the groundsmen worked really hard to get After lunch the plunder continued, another 53 the game back on and eventually play started again being added from six overs. By the time Jamie was at 1500, but it was not looking too hopeful. Miles, caught by Burgess, he had 120 (from just 92 balls); who had come out to join Thomson at the crease, the total score was 406-9, the partnership was a was out within the first over after restarting. Hannon- massive 180 and Somerset had collected maximum Dalby joined the rear-guard action. Only one more batting points. With Davey in to bat with Davies, over was possible, before the rain came down again Abell declared the innings closed, Davey not out and the players went off. The score was 140-8. on 5 and the anchor, Davies, was 123 not out. The There was an interminable wait of about two hours, total was 413-9 declared, some 292 runs ahead of to see whether the rain would cease, which it did Warwickshire at this stage. not, so the result was a disappointing drawn match Warwickshire’s poor form was to continue. Davey but the Somerset lads however, could claim the took the first wicket of Rob Yates, who was clean moral victory. bowled. The floodlights were turned on because of Warwickshire 121 all out (45.2 overs) & 140-8 (56 overs) bad light but still the wickets fell. The score was 24 Somerset 413-9 declared (99 overs) S. M. Davies 123*, J. when the second wicket, Sam Hain’s, fell to Jamie Overton 120. Overton, which Hildreth caught. Ian Bell was also to fall before tea as Gregory bowled a yorker when an edge was caught by Davies. At tea Warwickshire had advanced to 54-3. After tea the light had improved enough for the lights to be turned off, but it did not stop the wickets falling. In the third over after tea, Davey managed to account for Burgess as he drove a ball straight to Abell. The next in, Bresnan, drove at his first delivery only to become a another catch for Hildreth. From 54-3 at tea it had become 58-5 with only a quarter of an hour passing since the break. With Bresnan out, Thomson came in to join Will Rhodes, and they batted well. The floodlights were turned on again as the light deteriorated. Gregory finally put an end to Rhodes for a very solid 41, as he just chipped it back to the bowler. The score was 104-6 when Brookes arrived at the crease, but only four more balls were able to be bowled, as the rain came down and stopped play and this was to be the score at the close of play. Day 4: Again, more rain was forecast but the match started on time, but after four overs the players came off because of rain. They resumed after twenty minutes but only four balls were able to be bowled before they were back at the dressing rooms. They then managed another 35 minutes of play, during which time Warwickshire lost another wicket,Brookes who was bowled. With the score on 138-7 it was now known that Matt Lamb had collected a broken toe the day before and it was a moot point whether he

38 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS OVERVIEW

The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 39 Somerset v Gloucestershire 22nd-25th August 2020; The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton Gloucestershire won the toss and fielded. Result: Somerset (20 points) beat Gloucestershire (3 points) by 314 runs.

SOMERSET 1st Innings 2nd Innings EJ Byrom b DA Payne 0 c van Buuren b DA Payne 6 TA Lammonby c Lace b RF Higgins 24 not out 101 * TB Abell c Roderick b J Shaw 10 not out 101 JC Hildreth lbw b RF Higgins 13 GA Bartlett not out 100 † SM Davies c Roderick b DA Payne 16 C Overton lbw b RF Higgins 32 RE van der Merwe c Hankins b DA Payne 1 J Overton c Roderick b DA Payne 4 JH Davey c Dent b RF Higgins 0 JA Brooks c Higgins b MD Taylor 24 (1b, 8lb, 0w, 4nb, p0) 13 (1b, 4lb, 0w, 10nb, p0) 15 Total (All Out, 72.2 Overs) 237 (1 Wickets, Declared, 54 Overs) 223 Fall 1-4, 2-29, 3-44, 4-55, 5-89, 6-164, 7-165, 8-169, 9-176, 10-237 1-12

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb DA Payne 19 6 44 4 0 0 DA Payne 11 3 31 1 0 1 RF Higgins 20 4 72 4 0 1 RF Higgins 11 1 54 0 0 3 J Shaw 13 4 41 1 0 0 J Shaw 11 0 39 0 0 0 MD Taylor 14.2 0 53 1 0 0 MD Taylor 10 0 34 0 0 0 GFB Scott 6 1 18 0 0 1 GFB Scott 6 0 31 0 0 1 BG Charlesworth 5 0 29 0 0 0 GLOUCESTERSHIRE 1st Innings 2nd Innings BG Charlesworth c Hildreth b JH Davey 3 c Davies b JH Davey 1 * CDJ Dent lbw b C Overton 5 lbw b C Overton 4 GL van Buuren c Davies b C Overton 1 c Davies b JH Davey 15 J Shaw lbw b JH Davey 0 b JH Davey 8 TC Lace b JA Brooks 21 b C Overton 5 MD Taylor c Lammonby b JH Davey 12 lbw b C Overton 21 GT Hankins c C Overton b J Overton 6 c Byrom b JH Davey 0 RF Higgins ct Davies b C Overton 15 not out b 5 † GH Roderick lbw b C Overton 6 c Hildreth b C Overton 1 GFB Scott c Davies b TA Lammonby 0 c Bartlett b C Overton 0 DA Payne not out b 0 c Lammonby b JA Brooks 3 (0b, 5lb, 0w, 2nb, 0p) 7 (0b, 5lb, 0w, 2nb, 0p) 7 Total (All Out, 45.2 Overs) 76 (All Out, 34.3 Overs) 70 Fall 1-7, 2-9, 3-9, 4-9, 5-29, 6-48, 7-56, 8-71, 9-76, 10-76 1-5, 2-5, 3-14, 4-23, 5-49, 6-49, 7-61, 8-63, 9-67, 10-70

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb C Overton 13.2 4 25 4 0 0 C Overton 13 5 26 5 0 0 JH Davey 12 7 21 3 0 0 JH Davey 11 3 25 4 0 0 J Overton 6 1 12 1 0 0 J Overton 5 3 6 0 0 0 JA Brooks 5 2 9 1 0 0 JA Brooks 5.3 2 8 1 0 1 TA Lammonby 2 0 4 1 1 0

40 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club * Captain * Wicket Keeper BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS

Day 1: What might have looked like a pretty mediocre This was George Bartlett’s first match back since his score as Somerset were batting, became a injury in the first BWT game against Glamorgan and stunning score once Gloucestershire had had a he certainly proved his worth here. Gloucestershire chance to bat. had inserted Somerset so once again Eddie Byrom Once more it was Somerset’s bowlers who and Tom Lammonby went out to open the batting. did the business, as wicket after wicket fell in Byrom was out first, bowled by with the next three-quarters of an hour. Because a superb delivery that swung late and took his off of the rain delay earlier in the morning, there stump when the score was 4. was an allowance added on to the day so the Meanwhile, the weather that had been threatening prescribed number of overs could be bowled. right from the first ball, finally arrived, with the Play did not finish until nearly 7.00pm. score on 14-1. Fortunately, the stoppage was only During that time, twelve overs were bowled, 40 minutes which meant that Somerset could get six by Craig Overton and six by Josh Davey and some more runs before lunch. The captain, Tom both were rewarded for their efforts as they Abell, had come out when Byrom had perished but both collected two wickets. Gloucestershire he too, was out; this time caught by wicket-keeper, ended the day on 13-4 with Craig 6-2-9-2 and , as Abell pushed forward to a Davey 6-4-4-2. OVERVIEW delivery. He had made 10 by lunch and the score Day 2: was 42-2. Gloucestershire continued to lose wickets After the break James Hildreth was out for 13 in the steadily throughout the morning’s play with first over, as he pushed forward to a ball that hit his all the bowlers picking up at least one wicket front pad and he was out LBW. The score became and Craig and Davey collecting 4 and 3 44-3 and it was at this point that Bartlett came in to respectively. The highest partnership was 20 bat with Lammonby, but they could only manage 11 between Lace and Matt Taylor and the whole runs before Lammonby was out for 24 as he gave a innings lasted little more than a session at two sharp catch to , fielding at third slip. and a half hours. It was Steven Davies who was in next and the left- This all meant that Somerset had to come out hander looked quite comfortable, and was batting for one over before lunch where just one run was steadily, until he was strangled down the legside to scored. Shortly after the resumption though, another give another catch to Roderick. The next partnership wicket fell, that of Eddie Byrom for 6, when he between Bartlett and Craig Overton turned out to tried to flick the ball around the corner and only be the highest of the innings, as they batted steadily succeeded in finding Graeme van Buuren at square together for over an hour and a half. They scored leg. 75 together, which repaired some of the damage That was the only success by the Gloucestershire of the early wickets. By the time Craig was out for team as the two Toms, Abell and Lammonby, set 32, giving Ryan Higgins another LBW, they had about Gloucestershire, batting them out of the advanced the score from 89-5 to 164-6. In the next match. At tea the score was 93-1 and, after the five overs however, four wickets went down for only break, the run rate climbed gradually, with several 12 runs. milestones passing on the way. The ninth wicket – that of Josh Davey, allowed the First it was Abell’s 50 as his rate quickened. Next it inimitable Jack Brooks to the crease. Not only did he was the team’s 100, followed shortly afterwards by score 24 in the 61-run partnership, he also enabled the 100 partnership where Abell was outscoring his Bartlett to reach his fourth first-class 100, his first in partner by about two to one. At this point the light the BWT Trophy. Unfortunately, that was all it was, had deteriorated such that the umpires asked for as Brooks drove a ball straight to mid-off, where the floodlights to be turned on, however, Somerset Higgins took the catch. Somerset managed 237 all seemed to be seeing the ball quite comfortably. out, gaining one batting point, and Gloucestershire This situation only lasted for about half an hour as three bowling points. the clouds passed over without dropping anything. Sir is very fond of saying that one The next landmarks to be passed were cannot tell how the pitch is playing, until both sides Lammonby’s 50 (122 balls), the team’s 150 and then have batted once, and so it was with this match. the 150 partnership, and still the runs kept coming.

The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 41 Abell’s century from 153 deliveries was the signal, with only a quarter of an hour needed by Somerset it seemed, for Lammonby, whose own scoring rate to wrap up proceedings, Jack Brooks took the had climbed since his half century, to hog the strike wicket of Matt Taylor, who was caught in the gully from the next three overs, scoring 36 from 17 balls by Lammonby. This wicket denied Davey his fifth, and collecting his century from 160 deliveries. (as he ended on 4-25) as Gloucestershire slumped It also completed the team’s 200 and the unbroken to even fewer than in the first innings, at 70 all out. 200 partnership, as Abell declared on 223-1, both Craig ended with 9 wickets in the match and Davey, batsmen being on 101 not out at the end of the 7. A victory to Somerset by a massive 314 runs innings, meaning that Gloucestershire would need a Somerset 237 all out (72.2 overs) G. A. Bartlett 100* & 223- massive 385 to win. 1 declared (54 overs) T. A. Lammonby 101*, T. B. Abell 101*. The timing of the declaration gave Gloucestershire Gloucestershire 76 all out (38.2 overs) & 70 all out (35.3 about half an hour to bat out the day before digging overs) C. Overton 13-5-26-5. into the runs properly on the third day, but this wasn’t to happen. Before two overs were completed the first wicket fell to Davey as in trying to avoid a rising ball, edged it to Steven Davies. That was 5-1, which was to become 5-2 two balls later, as was out LBW to Craig Overton when the full ball kept low. The end of the day came in the ninth over when Davey collected a second wicket when he bowled a full ball to Lace, who played and missed, only to hear the clatter of the stumps behind him. The day ended on 14-3. Day 3: Frustratingly for Somerset the day dawned wet and chilly, as the start of play was delayed until 1600. Gloucestershire must have wished for longer as almost immediately Craig Overton collected his second wicket by bowling the new batsman, , through the gate, for 5 as two of the stumps were ripped up. Gloucestershire’s innings continued in much the same vein as before, as there was a progression of wickets throughout the afternoon. Roderick and Higgins did show some defiance in trying to stay in, only to be thwarted when rain stopped play again. Play continued after some 40 minutes, but Higgins succumbed almost straight away to Craig as the ball kept full and low, to give him his third wicket. With Payne out almost straight away in Craig’s next over for the 8th wicket, it looked as though the game could be wrapped up before close of play, but Gloucestershire was saved this ignominy as bad light stopped play before the end of the day, Gloucestershire being on 63-8. Day 4: As day 3, there was no play before lunch, and after an early lunch, play resumed at 1345. Within eight deliveries Craig Overton obtained his fifth wicket of the innings, as Gloucestershire reached 67-9. Then, 42 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS OVERVIEW

TheThe The 2020 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac Almanac and and and Season Season Season Revi Review Reviewew 43 Worcestershire v Somerset 6th-9th September 2020; New Road, Worcester Somerset won the toss and batted. Result: Somerset (21 points) beat Worcestershire (4 points) by 60 runs.

SOMERSET 1st Innings 2nd Innings BGF Green run out (Barnard) 8 b J Leach 0 TA Lammonby b DY Pennington 28 not out 107 * TB Abell c Cox b DY Pennington 59 c Cox b J Leach 7 GA Bartlett b JC Tongue 18 lbw b EG Barnard 2 EJ Byrom c Barnard b DY Pennington 30 lbw b EG Barnard 12 † SM Davies b BL D'Oliveira 9 b BL D'Oliveira 14 C Overton c Mitchell b EG Barnard 1 b BL D'Oliveira 2 L Gregory c Pennington b BL D'Oliveira 37 c Libby b DY Pennington 17 JH Davey c sub (JJ Dell) b EG Barnard 28 c sub (JJ Dell) b EG Barnard 21 MJ Leach lbw b EG Barnard 21 lbw b EG Barnard 5 JA Brooks not out 4 c Cox b DY Pennington 1 (5b, 3lb, 0w, 0nb, p0) 8 (0b, 5lb, 0w, 0nb, p0) 5 Total (All Out, 83.1 Overs) 251 (All Out, 70.4 Overs) 193 Fall 1-18, 2-93, 3-120, 4-120, 5-131, 6-134, 7-197, 8-203, 9-242, 10-251 1-4, 2-16, 3-28, 4-42, 5-78, 6-82, 7-121, 8-176, 9-190, 10-193

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb J Leach 20 4 59 0 0 0 J Leach 19 11 24 2 0 0 JC Tongue 12 3 40 1 0 0 DY Pennington 13.4 1 57 2 0 0 DY Pennington 20 5 49 3 0 0 EG Barnard 17 9 25 4 0 0 EG Barnard 15.1 3 53 3 0 0 JC Tongue 12 4 28 0 0 0 BL D'Oliveira 15 3 31 2 0 0 BL D'Oliveira 9 1 54 2 0 0 DKH Mitchell 1 0 11 0 0 0 WORCESTERSHIRE 1st Innings 2nd Innings DKH Mitchell lbw b L Gregory 31 b L Gregory 3 JD Libby c Davies b JA Brooks 58 b L Gregory 23 TC Fell b JA Brooks 26 lbw b L Gregory 20 JA Haynes b L Gregory 4 lbw b JH Davey 30 BL D'Oliveira lbw b C Overton 8 lbw b C Overton 28 MH Wessels c Byrom b C Overton 32 c Byrom b JH Davey 9 † OB Cox c Abell b C Overton 8 c Davies b JH Davey 32 EG Barnard b JH Davey 0 c Abell b C Overton 0 * J Leach c Leach b JH Davey 6 lbw b JA Brooks 17 DY Pennington not out 11 lbw b JA Brooks 4 JC Tongue b JH Davey 0 not out 0 (0b, 12lb, 0w, 4nb, 0p) 16 (12b, 4lb, 0w, 2nb, 0p) 18 Total (All Out, 62 Overs) 200 (All Out, 71.2 Overs) 184 Fall 1-57, 2-123, 3-128, 4-128, 5-164, 6-181, 7-182, 8-182, 9-190, 10-200 1-5, 2-30, 3-72, 4-96, 5-108, 6-126, 7-132, 8-176, 9-184, 10-184

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb C Overton 16 4 40 3 0 0 C Overton 20 10 40 2 0 0 JH Davey 14 4 32 3 0 0 JH Davey 14.2 8 16 3 0 0 L Gregory 13 1 49 2 0 0 L Gregory 17 5 65 3 0 0 MJ Leach 8 3 22 0 0 0 JA Brooks 15 2 35 2 0 1 JA Brooks 11 4 45 2 0 2 TB Abell 5 1 12 0 0 0

44 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club * Captain * Wicket Keeper BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS

This game would confirm the leaders of the Central and negotiated it safely, to be 14-0 Division of the BWT. At this stage Somerset and at stumps. Worcestershire were occupying the top two places Day 2: in the table, so whichever team won, would qualify The batting partnership was to continue the for the final at Lord’s. next morning, for over an hour. Although Day 1: Mitchell was out LBW to Gregory for 31, the A watery sun greeted the Worcestershire team batting was not easy, but continued slowly and and the Somerset openers, Ben Green and Tom deliberately. With the light not being good, Lammonby, as they walked out to start the match. and with no floodlights the umpires were Once more there was an early wicket, but this time monitoring the situation every few overs. When it was the run out of Green, when they tried to take a eventually, the rain came, they decided to take quick single. Tom Abell, who had come in at the fall the players off for an early tea, with the score of the first wicket, and Lammonby, put on 75 for the on 121-1. second wicket as they batted sensibly, eschewing Ten overs were eventually lost as the players the quicker single and taking advantage of the came back, it seemed, to a completely looser delivery. At lunch the score was 80-1. different match. Gregory and Brooks who had

After lunch the partnership continued. By now they slowed the scoring rate, now picked up three OVERVIEW were taking at least a boundary in every over. Abell wickets as firstly, , then reached his 50 but two balls later, Lammonby tried and opener Libby fell one after another, so the to cut a ball but only managing to chop it onto his score 128-4. stumps. George Bartlett was the next man in and When at last Brooks and Gregory were played himself in cautiously, but he too perished like replaced by Craig Overton and Josh Davey, the Lammonby. 120-3 became 120-4 as Abell became wickets started to fall again, Overton claiming Pennington’s second victim. his first as D’Oliveira was out LBW. The next five Steven Davies and Eddie Byrom steadied the team, wickets were to be taken by this pair of bowlers until Davies was bowled by a ball which took the to give them three apiece for a total of 36 runs, as off stump. Craig Overton was the next out, caught Worcestershire slumped to 200. It should be noted by at second slip. What had been 120-3 that this was the first batting point that had been was now 134-6 as Lewis Gregory came in to join scored against Somerset in the whole of the BWT Byrom. Never one to miss an opportunity to score, Trophy and Somerset had a useful 51 runs lead. Gregory’s second and third scoring shots were consecutive sixes off , and Byrom joining There was still over an hour to go before the close in on the act, struck three fours off Barnard’s next of play and, as on the previous day, Green and over. Needless to say, Barnard was taken out of the Lammonby opened the innings and with batting attack the next over, however, his replacement fared still looking difficult, the pair tried to concentrate. not much better, as Gregory took 11 off it to bring the Immediately after the first sanitisation break, Green total to 177-6 at tea, with Byrom and Gregory not out was out bowled, when a full ball demolished on 22 and 25 respectively. the stumps. Lammonby and new batsman Abell Within half an hour of the resumption after tea, both survived until the early finish due to bad light. Byrom and Gregory were out. Day 3: At 203-8, Somerset had collected a batting point The day started brighter than the previous ones, but and Josh Davey and Jack Leach were at the crease. Abell was out to his first ball of the day, as he edged The partnership was eventually broken at 242, when a sharp catch to the wicket-keeper. It was becoming Davey was out, as substitute fielder took harder to score as the game went on, and this the catch at mid-wicket. Another bonus batting was becoming obvious – it took George Bartlett point was in sight as Jack Brooks was the eleventh 43 balls to score 2 before he was LBW to Barnard, man in, which he and Jack Leach managed before meanwhile Lammonby was batting obstinately. Brooks was out, the innings being completed by Byrom was another early wicket to Barnard, while Barnard when Jack Leach was out LBW with the the maiden overs were stacking up. score on 251. Other wickets followed. Davies was looking more Worcestershire had a nerve-wracking 20 minutes composed until he was out for 14, followed shortly to bat at the end of the first day, and Daryl Mitchell afterwards by Craig Overton on 2. By the lunch The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 45 break Somerset were 90-6, and Gregory was in with was now the turn of the bowlers to bat, though Lammonby, who had reached his 50. Cox was still holding up one end. With just over an After lunch, Gregory and Lammonby stayed hour gone after lunch, was out together, accruing another 31 runs along the way. for 4 as Brooks claimed his second LBW and two Gregory who had just creamed a six, tried to flick balls later Cox’s valiant innings was over as he was another one to leg, only getting a leading edge out to a delivery from Davey which was edged to which was taken by Libby. Davey and Lammonby the ‘keeper Davies. Worcestershire’s innings was managed a 55-run partnership in really quick time eventually 184 all out, which meant that Somerset (59 balls) until the score was 176, when Davey was had won by 60 runs, and were through to the Lord’s caught by the same substitute fielder, Dell. The two final, by finishing top of the Central Division table Jacks, Leach and Brooks were numbers 10 and 11, with 97 points, well ahead of both the top teams in but it was Brooks who was with Lammonby as he the other tables. made his century, which became his highest first- Somerset 251 all out (83.1 overs) T. B. Abell 59 & 193 all class score as he ended on 107 not out, and he is out (70.4 overs) T. A. Lammonby 107*. the youngest Somerset player so to do. Somerset Worcestershire 200 all out (62 overs) J. D. Libby 58, & finished on 193, meaning Worcestershire needed 184 all out (71.2 overs) 245 to win with a day and a half left in the match. Worcestershire had two hours to bat out the day, and they set out their stall to go slowly and carefully. There could be 120 overs left in the match – more if the spinners were on. They would need to score overall at just over two an over to be able to do this, and they started methodically. Once more it was the opening pair of Mitchell and Libby, but by the fall of the first wicket, that of Mitchell in the tenth over, the score was 5-1. By the end of the day however, the second wicket Libby, had fallen, as the total became 58-2. Day 4: A break for bad light, soon after the beginning lasted for only twenty minutes but the two overnight batsman, Fell and Jack Haynes had taken the score onto 72, with Overton and Gregory bowling. Fell was the first to go – LBW to Gregory, which brought in Brett D’Oliveira. He stayed in for nearly an hour and a half, but those who came in to be with him were not so assiduous, as they tried to whittle down the score. Haynes was also LBW to Davey and was to depart when he tried to pull Davey to mid-wicket, where Byrom waited. Wicket-keeper Cox was the next one to come in with the score 108- 5. Overton struck to remove D’Oliveira when he too, was trapped LBW. After lunch, Gregory and Overton continued to bowl. Barnard, who came in at D’Oliveira’s demise, pushed forward to a delivery that went straight to Abel at slip, to give Overton his second wicket. Joe Leach was in next to join Cox, and together they had the highest partnership of the innings, accumulating 44 runs. When at last Leach was out LBW to Brooks, 245 was looking to be some way away. it

46 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS OVERVIEW

The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 47 Somerset v Essex Bob Willis Trophy (5-day) Final Somerset v Essex – 23rd-27th September 2020; Lord’s Essex won the toss and fielded. Result: Match Drawn (Essex won the Trophy by having the greater number of runs than Somerset in the first innings.) SOMERSET 1st Innings 2nd Innings BGF Green b SJ Cook 24 c AN Cook b AP Beard 41 TA Lammonby lbw b SJ Cook 0 lbw b SR Harmer 116 * TB Abell c Wheater b AP Beard 19 c Browne b JA Porter 15 EJ Byrom lbw b SJ Cook 117 b JA Porter 1 GA Bartlett c AN Cook b JA Porter 12 c Westley b JA Porter 5 † SM Davies c Wheater b SJ Cook 27 c AN Cook b SR Harmer 19 C Overton lbw b JA Porter 66 not out 45 L Gregory lbw b SJ Cook 9 c AN Cook b JA Porter 1 JH Davey not out 17 not out 16 MJ Leach lBW b SR Harmer 3 JA Brooks b SR Harmer 0 (1b, 4lb, 0w, 2nb, p0) 7 (0b, 11lb, 0w, 2nb, p0) 13 Total (All Out, 102 Overs) 301 (7 Wickets, Declared, 76 Overs) 272 Fall 1-0, 2-34, 3-52, 4-94, 5-139, 6-266, 7-270, 8-279, 9-301, 10-301 1-105, 2-155, 3-167, 4-187, 5-187, 6-188, 7-224

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb JA Porter 29 9 85 2 0 0 JA Porter 23 4 73 4 0 1 SJ Cook 32 10 76 5 0 0 SJ Cook 16 2 56 0 0 0 AP Beard 11 1 68 1 0 1 SR Harmer 32 9 101 2 0 0 SR Harmer 20 6 36 2 0 0 PI Walter 1 0 3 0 0 0 DW Lawrence 1 0 2 0 0 0 AP Beard 4 0 28 1 0 0 PI Walter 9 1 29 0 0 0 ESSEX 1st Innings 2nd Innings NLJ Browne c C Overton b L Gregory 8 c Abell b L Gregory 13 AN Cook c C Overton b L Gregory 172 c Davies b L Gregory 31 * T Westley c Abell b TA Lammonby 51 lbw b C Overton 0 DW Lawrence c Lammomby b L Gregory 6 lbw b MJ Leach 35 PI Walter lbw b L Gregory 0 lbw b MJ Leach 21 RN ten Doeschate lbw b C Overton 21 c Bartlett b MJ Leach 46 JA Porter b L Gregory 13 not out 14 † AJA Wheater not out 26 not out 0 SR Harmer c C Overton b b L Gregory 0 AP Beard not out 14 SJ Cook (4b, 12lb, 0w, 10nb, 0p) 26 (1b, 10lb, 0w, 8nb, 0p) 19 Total (8 Wickets, 120 Overs) 337 (6 Wickets, 80.3 Overs) 179 Fall 1-27, 2-197, 3-208, 4-208, 5-264, 6-266, 7-303, 8-303 1-25, 2-26, 3-68, 4-98, 5-131, 6-179

Bowling O M R W w nb O M R W w nb C Overton 29 6 66 1 0 0 C Overton 17 7 37 1 0 0 JH Davey 23 3 70 0 0 0 JH Davey 9 3 18 0 0 0 L Gregory 27 5 72 6 0 4 L Gregory 21.3 5 52 2 0 3 JA Brooks 9 3 25 0 0 1 JA Brooks 8 3 11 0 0 0 TB Abell 2 0 10 0 0 0 MJ Leach 22 10 38 3 0 1 MJ Leach 22 4 52 0 0 0 EJ Byrom 1 0 4 0 0 0 TA Lammonby 8 2 26 1 0 0 TA Lammonby 2 1 8 0 0 0

48 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club * Captain * Wicket Keeper BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS

Day 1: new ball, Overton was out LBW to Porter for It was known from the outset, that the weather a well-grafted 66. With Overton’s demise on would play a part in the game. The toss that Essex 266-6, the last four wickets went relatively won was vital because of the overhead conditions, quickly including Byrom, who was out for 117, and they chose to field. One regulation for this enabling Sam Cook to take 5-76. The Somerset match, as well as the limitation on the number of score was 301 and, with poor light, no more 120 overs in the first innings, was in the case of a play was possible. draw (or tied match), the BW Trophy would go to the Day 3: team that had more runs in the first innings. The day began in sun, but it was blustery and Sam Cook was to claim the first wicket of Tom cold. Overton and Josh Davey opened the Lammonby without a run on the scoreboard. bowling, with and Alastair Cook However, the other opener, Ben Green together with batting, but there was not to be a wicket until Tom Abell batted well, given the tricky conditions the change of bowlers. which were prevailing, until the score was 34 when When Lewis Gregory and Jack Brooks took Abell was caught by , and his place over from Overton and Davey, Browne was was taken by Eddie Byrom. caught by Overton in the slips. There were to

With half-an-hour to go to lunch, Green was bowled be no more wickets in the morning session, OVERVIEW for 24 with the score on 52-3. George Bartlett and and at lunch the score was 79-1 with Alastair Byrom were able to continue towards lunch, as the Cook and Westley both not out. light deteriorated and the floodlights were turned The afternoon session definitely belonged on, the score being 90-3 at the break. to Essex as the batting carried on patiently. The players were not able to continue after lunch as Alastair Cook moved smoothly, firstly onto 50 it was raining. When eventually they returned it was and then onto 100, whilst his partner Westley difficult to score runs and only two scoring strokes managed his 50 just before tea when the score were made off the next 39 deliveries at which point was 196-1. collected his first wicket when Bartlett After tea, there were three quick wickets. Firstly Dan edged a catch to Alastair Cook, standing at his Lawrence, was caught by Lammonby at square leg, normal position of first slip. followed immediately by LBW. Ryan As the wicket fell, the floodlights were turned back ten Doeschate came in to join Alastair Cook, with on, as Steven Davies walked out to the middle. The Gregory on a hat-trick ball, which was not to be. The two left-handers continued for just over 20 minutes, next milestone to be passed was Alastair Cook’s 150 at which point it started to rain, so once more there which he did with consummate ease. was a delay of about two hours, with the score on There was not to be another wicket for another hour, 107-4. However there were only four more overs by which time ten Doeschate had reached his 50, bowled before they all had to go in again. During but was out for 56 when Overton trapped him LBW. these last four overs Byrom had claimed his half The next wicket was Alastair Cook for a chanceless century and at 119-4, “Time” was called on the day. 172, Gregory being the bowler and once more Day 2: Overton the catcher at second slip. Porter came in The day dawned much brighter, although judging as night watchman at the demise of the previous from the actions of everyone on the ground it was wicket and Alastair Cook’s wicket meant that extremely chilly. Play started on time but, with half Wheater did likewise. Only four more overs were an hour gone, Davies played at a delivery and gave possible before “Stumps” were called at the end of a regulation catch to Wheater. With the score now the day, with the score on 271-6. on 139-5, Craig Overton came out to bat, and he and Day 4: Byrom were to play a pivotal century partnership, as The weather had become even colder as Somerset well as Byrom scoring his own century. took the field. The not out batsmen, Porter and Twenty minutes after the lunch break, rain stopped Wheater went out but it was not until 11.00am that play again, and there was a delay of about two- Gregory collected the wicket of the night watchman, and-three-quarter hours. At this point, the score Porter. The score was now 303-7 as Essex went was 255-5, but having had the delay, with the into the lead. Two overs later Overton took another subsequent break in concentration and with the catch, the score now 303-8. There were no more

The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 49 wickets as Essex completed the allotted 120 overs put on 30 for the fourth wicket, before Lawrence at 337-8; ahead by 36 runs on the first innings. was out LBW to Jack Leach, to become his first This was now to be crucial as time was ticking away. victim. Lewis Gregory’s final bowling figures for the first Walter carried on the partnership with the new innings was 27-5-72-6. batsman, Ryan ten Doeschate, until four overs after With still half an hour before lunch, Green and tea when Walter became Leach’s second wicket Lammonby came out to bat and they negotiated with the score on 131-5. It was now the turn of this tricky period of play until the break at 12-0. Wheater and Ten Doeschate to batten down the After lunch Somerset’s young batsmen put on the hatches so no more wickets would fall. 37 to overtake the deficit, then the 50 and then the The last hour was called at 1633, when a minimum 100 without a wicket falling, but when the score of 15 overs needed to be bowled. Ten Doeschate reached 105, Green edged a ball to Alastair Cook. was out for 46 from 135 deliveries. With 5 minutes Abell replaced Green and together with Lammonby left in that hour, the players “shook hands” put on a 50 partnership as the opener drew ever metaphorically because of restrictions. Simon nearer to his century. With the score on 155 Abell Harmer and Wheater were the not out batsmen as was caught by Browne. At tea the score was 159-2 the match concluded in a draw. with Lammonby on 94 not out. After the break Disappointingly, the game ended in a draw, with Lammonby reached his 100, but in the same over Essex receiving the first Bob Willis Trophy for having Byrom was bowled by Porter. more runs than Somerset in the first innings. Bartlett was in and out in very quick succession, Somerset 310 all out (102 overs) E. J. Byrom 117, C. leaving the score 187-4. Overton 66, S. J. Cook 32-10-76-5, & 272-7 declared (76 Lammonby, having made a very fine 116, and overs) T. A. Lammonby 116. Gregory, both fell in quick succession as the score Essex 337-8 (120 overs – innings closed after maximum became 188-6, but it was left to Davies and Craig bowled) A. N. Cook 172, T. Westley 51, L. Gregory 27-5-72- Overton to stabilise things again. With only a few 6 & 179-6 (80.3 overs). overs to go before the end of the day, and with the clouds ever more lowering, Davies was out to another fine slip catch by Alastair Cook. Davey came in but only eleven more balls were possible as firstly bad light, and then rain, stopped play. With no more play possible, stumps were drawn at 227-7. Day 5: Somerset decided to set a total and to that end Davey and Overton played positively putting on 45 runs in half an hour before Abell declared on 272-7 (Overton 45* and Davey 16*), leaving Essex needing 237 to win in two and a half sessions. Once more Browne and Alastair Cook strode out to open the Essex innings and they were to face Overton and Davey. However, with Davey having bowled just three overs, Abell decided to bring Gregory into the attack and with his second delivery hehad Browne caught by Abell. Overton, in the next over, had the Essex captain, , pinned in front of his wicket to be out LBW with the score on 26-2. At lunch it was 61-2. With four overs gone after lunch, Alastair Cook’s wicket was collected by Gregory as Davies caught the ball for just 31. and Paul Walter

50 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS OVERVIEW

The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 51 52 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club BOB WILLIS TROPHYBOB WILLIS The Statistics The Bob Willis Trophy 2020

Somerset Batting Averages

Player Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St TA Lammonby 6 11 2 459 116 51.00 3 0 4 0 SM Davies 6 10 2 320 123* 40.00 1 1 19 0 TB Abell 6 11 1 386 119 38.60 2 1 5 0 J Overton** 4 6 0 206 120 34.33 1 1 7 0 GA Bartlett 4 6 1 160 100* 32.00 1 0 2 0 C Overton 6 10 2 248 66 31.00 0 2 7 0 JA Brooks 5 7 2 139 72 27.80 0 1 1 0 BGF Green 3 5 0 127 54 25.40 0 1 0 0 EJ Byrom 6 11 0 271 117 24.64 1 0 3 0

JC Hildreth 4 6 0 124 45 20.67 0 0 10 0 OVERVIEW JH Davey 6 9 3 113 28 18.83 0 0 1 0 L Gregory 3 5 0 78 37 15.60 0 0 1 0 RE van der Merwe 4 6 1 57 30 11.40 0 0 4 0 T Banton 2 3 0 33 18 11.00 0 0 0 0 MJ Leach 2 3 0 29 21 9.67 0 0 1 0 *Denotes Not Out

Somerset Bowling Averages

Player Ovs Mdns Runs Wkts Ave E Best 5w 10w J Overton** 68.1 24 186 15 12.40 2.73 5-48 1 0 C Overton 196.2 66 403 30 13.43 2.05 5-26 2 0 JH Davey 150.2 55 331 24 13.79 2.2 4-25 0 0 TB Abell 16.2 5 50 3 16.67 3.06 3-4 0 0 L Gregory 102.3 22 318 18 17.67 3.1 6-72 1 0 TA Lammonby 12 3 38 2 19.00 3.17 1-4 0 0 JA Brooks 89.5 23 254 13 19.54 2.83 4-40 0 0 MJ Leach 52 17 112 3 37.33 2.15 3-38 0 0 Also bowled; RE van der Merwe 6-2-8-1, E.J. Byrom 1-0-4-0

** J Overton left Somerset CCC before the end of the season to join Surrey on loan before signing for them on a 3 year deal 2021-2023. The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 53 The Somerset Live Streaming Service 2020 By Ben Warren t was, without doubt, the most unique of required. A change in media rights between times here at the Cooper Associates County SCCC, SKY and ECB meant that additional IGround this summer. From being based at cameras were now permitted, meaning it was home throughout large portions of the year within our means to turn the stream into more of feeling consigned to an empty fixture list, a production. Partnering with a local company to broadcasting and reporting on 28 days of in MyActionReplay, we set about mapping that cricket under the strictest of safety protocols in process and in February 2020, 3 further cameras the space of 7 weeks, it has been a challenging were installed at the Cooper Associates County period but one in which I hope we have Ground and a specialist “slo-motion” camera managed to provide some entertainment. acquired. The live streaming service at Taunton was first Let’s fast forward to August 1st. Somerset vs piloted in 2017 during a Royal London One- Glamorgan in the Bob Willis Trophy. I’d never Day Cup Quarter-Final between Somerset and had imagined a situation where the live stream Notts Outlaws. We had been keen to move would be the only way of watching Somerset, into the area previously but the technology, but here we were. A new, untested system media restrictions and costs were all barriers in place, a hospitality suite turned into the until a solution was reached in this space. I was “production studio” (which sounds a lot fancier hopeful that it would be successful, but quickly that it was) and Marchant de Lange running realised that even my wildest expectations into bowl at Eddie Byrom and Tom Lammonby. had been surpassed as we started gathering A couple of minor audio issues later and we momentum for the service in 2018 with regular are up and running, our very own homemade broadcasts, albeit from two fixed cameras. Somerset TV. Myself and Club Marketing Exec Fast forward nearly two years, and at the Dan, with the brilliant volunteering efforts of beginning of 2020 we had accumulated 2.1 Geoff Vian on the gantry. Geoff deserves a big million “views” the previous season. It wasn’t just special mention here as a former SKY and BBC purely numbers, the feedback was very positive cameraman who came out of retirement and and it was clear that County Cricket was now stood behind the roaming camera. Without his stretching across the globe, with help from our help and expertise all summer, we simply could excellent Pakistani contingent of Azhar Ali and not have outputted what was on show. Babar Azam. The superb BBC Commentary, a Onto the Vitality Blast, and with the five matches simple score overlay and live pictures made for again played behind-closed-doors, it was on a robust “homegrown” product. us to provide that spark and buzz associated At this period in time, just before our world with the format. An innovative partnership was was about to be turned upside-down, it was extended with Trade Nation, who invested in decided that investment into the service was giant T targets, charity prizes, TV giveaways and

54 Somerset County Cricket Club SCCC SCCC 2020-2021

much more to help bring the stream alive. Steve headline numbers stand out: Snell and Charlie Taylor did a great job under - Total views: 2,697,119 tough circumstances to provide independent - Total watch hours: 175,388 commentary. - Countries viewed: 101 Overall, despite only streaming 13 days of - Average watch time (UK): 28 minutes cricket instead of 32 in 2019, we had generated - Highest peak concurrent: 23,433 an additional 600,000 views on the streaming - Most popular match: Somerset vs service. I am incredibly grateful for the mountain Gloucestershire (Vitality Blast) of positive comments we received, and the plan Thanks again to everyone who tuned in this is very much to continue in the same vein in summer. Live streaming in cricket is moving 2021. The current strategy is being fine-tuned to forward to help compliment associations with allow an efficient hybrid experience between in- Somerset, but certainly cannot replicate coming ground and digital experiences next summer. to the Cooper Associates County Ground and I After delving into the analysis this winter, some can’t wait to welcome everyone back in 2021. “Friendlies” reports Match by match

Pre-Season 4 day Friendly Somerset 427-9 all out (72.2 overs) G. A. Bartlett 80, T. B. Abell 65, S. M. Davies 50*. Somerset v Gloucestershire With several hours still left in the day, it was decided to hold another “match”. 26th-27th July 2020, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton AND Somerset v Gloucestershire 28th-29th July 2020 at Nevil Road, Bristol 29th July 2020 at Nevil Road, Bristol Toss: Gloucestershire – chose to bat. Toss: Somerset – chose to bat. Result: Somerset won by an Innings & 24 Result: Match Drawn runs Only 30 overs were bowled. The match was Gloucestershire 273 all out (78.3 overs) G. H. concluded at 1815. Roderick 106, N. N. Gilchrist 12.3-4-32-4 & 130 Somerset 109-3 (30 overs) E. J. Byrom 40. all out (74.4 overs) R. F. Higgins 51*. Gloucestershire DNB The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 55 Brian Rose at 70 An affectionate appreciation by

We were denied the opportunity of proper job in the paper industry for more than celebrating our noble president’s 70th a decade. It always irked him that in Wisden his Wbirthday this year. No doubt without the birthplace was designated as Dartford. He lived pandemic we would have all congregated at the there for the first three weeks of his life and has Cooper Associates County Ground on June 5 2020, been in and around Weston Super Mare ever since. the day after his birthday, for a floodlight T20 Blast His devotion to the club has never wavered though match against Surrey and we would have raised a the nature of his contributions have varied. glass to Brian Rose, club captain, cricket chairman, At the start in his teens he was a carefree driver cricket director and president, the four key roles of the ball and then he turned pro and played like that he has held at the club over five decades, a pro, shunning too many extravagances outside the last of which may be the most straightforward the off-stump and tucking the ball away on the (presumably he just has to locate the glass before leg side. In this mode he was good enough to be pouring). Then we would have settled down to picked for England for the 1977/78 winter tour. watch Lewis Gregory, Tom Abell and the boys Then he was made captain of Somerset after the give the Brown Caps a good thrashing while retirement of and we saw a different sympathising - with no great sincerity - with the type of Rose blooming at the top of the order. chief executive of Surrey, Richard Gould, who is He started playing his shots again all around the always welcome at Taunton. wicket. The captaincy had freed up his approach Sadly Brian remains Somerset’s most successful to batting. No one was going to drop him now. For captain, having led us to four trophies – Ian a couple years he vied with as the Botham was leading the side when we won the most destructive English opener around. He was fifth in 1983. This status is a source of dismay to picked again for England again when Ian Botham Brian himself. Since the heady days of the late was captain and he kept attacking even against 1970s and early 80s we have all witnessed so the mighty West Indian quick bowlers. Like most many near-misses, but there remains great and batsmen he was a better player when playing his justifiable hope that the current team, several of shots. whom started with the club when Brian was the It is always a mild surprise when I remind people cricket director, can sort that out. Brian would that Brian was not necessarily the obvious happily be the second most successful captain of choice to be captain. He kept his own counsel in Somerset. his corner of the dressing room, giving nothing He has been a constant at the club for half a away. Derek Taylor and Peter Denning were also century, although along the way he did have a reckoned to be credible candidates back in 1977. But it did not take long to realise that they had chosen the right man. He was quite a contrast to Close, who was never very good at hiding his emotions. Close was a wonderful maverick tactician, living on his wits and instinct, impatiently hunting victory; Rose, it transpired, was more of a ruthless strategist, who would never shy away from the difficult decision. He had a dressing room that was very easy to captain on the good days, but tricky on the bad ones. Whatever the situation captain Rose may have seemed like a beacon of calm common-sense. However this was not always the case. I still enjoy the memory of a Sunday league match when Somerset were chasing a steep target not very convincingly. Brian was already out and stationed on the balcony of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion like a beleaguered captain on the bridge. He looked on silently at our unavailing attempts to up the rate out in the middle. Whereupon he obviously had 56 Somerset County Cricket Club SCCC SCCC 2020-2021

a brainwave. He rose from his seat and bellowed towards the dressing room with the authority of a born leader. “Dennis!”, he shouted in the general direction of Dennis Breakwell, who was a capable and aggressive left-handed batsman down the order. “Dennis, go and put your pads on. Quickly”. A slightly surprised Breakwell replied. “Alright, skip. But you do realise you made me twelfth man earlier this afternoon, don’t you?”. Hopefully I shall be around to remind our president of this little episode - yet again - on the occasion of his 71st birthday.

The Somerset 1979 double winning squad Back row left to right: Trevor Gard, Keith Jennings, Front row left to right: Ian Botham, Viv Richards, Hallam Moseley, David Gurr, , Derek Taylor, Brian Rose, Peter Denning, Colin Dredge, and Vic Marks. Merv Kitchen and Dennis Breakwell. The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 57 The Somerset Cricket Museum 2020 By David Wood, Curator he year 2020 was miserable for everybody we produced a high quality booklet of pictures, in the country and it would take an extreme statistics and commentary on the life of Colin Toptimist to claim that it was anything other Atkinson: player, captain, chairman and president than the same for the Museum. of the County Club from 1960 until 1991, in addition to being the inspirational headmaster of Millfield All cricket played at the Cooper Associates School. County Ground was behind closed doors and consequently it would not have been worth We continued to be given cricket books, including opening the museum. We had no income from some 200 in immaculate condition from the estate admission fees or the sale of donated books. of Professor Michael Furmston of , a Fortunately our loyal Museum members had paid supporter of Somerset even though he spent their annual subscriptions and donations before many years away at universities all over the world. the full impact of the virus became known, but our Another welcome gift was from Graham Sparks, income for the year was more than halved. We a furniture restorer from Wellington. On his own will survive. initiative, he took away and renovated the bench To add to the gloom, I have to report the deaths which stands next to museum doors. It had been of our President, Tony Stedall, our Treasurer, John at the Nursery End at Lords since 1929 until the Evemy and former trustee Rivers Barry. Their 1970s. obituaries appear elsewhere in this Almanac. They It never ceases to amaze me just how many made huge contributions to the establishment people say that they have never visited the and development of the Museum. museum even though they are long standing Our work answering inquiries continued away Club members, so we hope to welcome them and from the ground. At the request of a grandson many others in 2021.

The Harry Burden Award By Andrew Moulding

he Harry Burden Fund is part of the Tony The Tony Coles Charitable Trust has continued Coles Charitable Trust and would normally its work and has made several grants towards Tprovide an annual award and bursary to projects submitted by clubs and schools, as promising young cricketers. follows: However, this year as there has been very little £__ cricket played, the allocation of any awards has not Chard Cricket Club - Mobile Net 650 been possible. Wadham School - Artificial Pitch & Nets 5000 Lympsham & Belvedere Cricket Club - Nets 500 Sadly, Covid-19 has meant that our fund-raising (Awaiting installation and Payment) events, especially the Harry Burden Memorial Taunton St Andrews Cricket Club - Nets 5000 Luncheon, has been cancelled this year. North Perrott Cricket Club - Nets 5000

As there has been a drastic reduction in our funds, we need to appeal for donations! These should be sent to: Nigel Manley, The Tony Coles Charitable Trust , 28 Bakers Close, Bishops Hull, Taunton TA1 5HD e-mail: [email protected] We look forward to meeting up with our loyal supporters, who enable us to support recreational cricket in 2021.

58 Somerset County Cricket Club T20 captain Lewis Gregory reflects on the 2020 season he 2020 season was a very strange one ball was just fantastic. His debut at Glamorgan and hopefully one that wont be repeat- was brilliant. ed again because although we played Will Smeed is another who came into the side Tcricket sadly there were no crowds and made his mark so soon after coming off inside the ground to support us. the Academy. He scored a really impressive 80 It was disappointing for us because we didn’t odd in only his second match after going in at a manage to get out of the group stages and difficult stage of the game. qualify for the quarter-finals. However for us to To see these youngsters doing so well will have have been able to get to the last group stage given them confidence and the future looks game with still a chance of qualifying was good for us as a team. really bright. During the season I feel that we learnt a lot There are things that we need to improve upon about a number of players and also about but they are very small margins and we wont different aspects of the game that we can ap- be too far away in 2021. proach differently going into the 2021 season, Throughout the campaign the thing we noticed So despite our disappointing campaign I feel most was the lack of fans inside the ground. In that there were some good things that we can four day cricket you can get away with it be- take forward and keep building upon for next cause at some places we play there aren’t very year. big crowds but in T20 the atmosphere we get In 2020 we gave three players their debuts and from a full house on a Friday or Saturday night each of them showed a lot of exciting aspects is really special so we really did miss all of that. which if we can keep on developing can help Hopefully the world will have sorted things us to become a real force to be reckoned with out and next year we will be able to get our in this competition. supporters back in and give them something to There were several guys who stood up that cheer about. we haven’t seen a lot of previously which was fantastic and it has given us a bit more of an idea where each player is in the T20 format, and also where we need to improve as a squad to compete. It was great to see Ollie Sale coming to the fore in the way that he did this season. He hasn’t had the best of starts to his career with serious injuries but he has fought back well. Over the last 18 months Ollie has worked really hard on his white ball skills so it was great to be able to give him the chance to go out and showcase what he can do. There are still areas for improvement, like there is for everyone, but it was good to put him into difficult situations against high quality players and see how he coped. A lot of the time he came up with the goods and sometimes he didn’t but that is profession- al sport. Lewis Goldsworthy also came into the side and made his debut. He is one of those gritty characters who comes in and really competes and the way he performed with both bat and

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 59 Match by Match T20 Vitality Blast 2020

Birmingham Bears v Somerset Northamptonshire Steelbacks 171-6 (20 28th August 2020; Edgbaston, Birmingham overs) A. M. Rossington 51. (Floodlit) Somerset 162-8 (20 overs) B. W. Sanderson No toss 4-0-36-3. Result: Match abandoned: Birmingham Bears (1 point) & Somerset (1 point) Somerset v Glamorgan 1st September 2020; The Cooper Associates Northamptonshire Steelbacks County Ground, Taunton (Floodlit) v Somerset Somerset won the toss and fielded 30th August 2020; Wantage Road, Result: Somerset (2 points) beat Glamorgan Northampton by 8 wickets. Somerset won the toss and fielded This was Somerset’s first home game of the Result: Northamptonshire Steelbacks (2 T20 schedule and the hosts certainly took points) beat Somerset by 9 runs. their advantage. Having won the toss and Somerset started well enough in the field, asked Glamorgan to bat, the first wicket fell encouraged by some luck that went their to the second ball of the match when Dan way in the power play overs. Craig Overton Douthwaite fell LBW to his first delivery. By the had already accounted for in the end of the six overs of power play Glamorgan fourth over when Steven Davies had taken had only managed 39 runs for the loss of three a sharp catch, after the latter had deposited wickets and they were finding runs very hard the first ball over backward point for 6, but 3 to accumulate. Only their wicket keeper, Chris balls later, when the new batsman Cooke showed any real resistance, but even drove the new ball straight down the pitch, he was out for only 42. Apart from Marchant Overton managed to get a finger tip onto the de Lange, who was not out on 28, no-one else ball, which then ricocheted onto the stumps made more than 17 runs, on what, it has to and the dangerous was left be said, was a fairly benign pitch, Glamorgan stranded backing up and he was run out. Adam only amassing 133 in total. Ben Green starred Rossington then came out to bat and, with the with the ball in taking four Glamorgan wickets, wickets falling regularly at the other end, he two of which (his third and fourth) came in managed a well crafted 51 despite an injury to consecutive deliveries. his hand, to guide the home team to a total of When Somerset batted it looked a completely 171. different pitch. Although both openers, George Overton not only effected the run out, he took Bartlett and Steven Davies, were out cheaply 2 wickets when bowling and made 2 catches within the power play, James Hildreth and Tom as well. Abell were able to see Somerset home with Rossington was unable to take the field, so Ricardo Vasconcelos came out as substitute almost four overs still to play, the latter posting wicket keeper. In reply, although Somerset was a massive 74 from only 45 deliveries and only up with the rate, they kept losing wickets at four of which were dot balls. regular intervals which meant that they were Glamorgan 133-8 (20 overs) B. G. F. Green always adrift and, in spite of a spirited late 4-0-26-4. knock by Roelof van der Merwe of 42, it was too Somerset 134-2 (16.1 overs) T. B. Abell 74* (45 late to catch up, as Somerset lost by 9 runs. deliveries 9x4, 1x6).

60 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club T20 OVERVIEW

Worcestershire Rapids v to be his only wicket. The third over, which was bowled by Ollie Sale saw the demise of the Somerset dangerous Rutherford, and by the end of the 3rd September 2020; Edgbaston, Birmingham power play overs, three wickets had fallen. The (SKY televised match) second wicket saw Cornishman, Jake Libby, in Worcestershire Rapids won the toss and to bat and his was the only real opposition as fielded five wickets were to fall at the other end. He Result: Somerset (2 points) beat helped post the highest total of the encounter Worcestershire Rapids by 16 runs. between these two teams as he battled As the Rapids were unable to host their home valiantly in raising 75 from only 46 deliveries game due to international commitments, and was not out as the 20 overs concluded. His Edgbaston was used instead. This was Babar onslaught however, was to prove fruitless as Azam’s first T20 match for Somerset this Somerset took the win by 16 runs. season and he celebrated it by working with Mention must be made of Josh Davey who his co-opener, Steven Davies, to post 90 for took four wickets in total, heralded by his first the first wicket in under 10 overs. Nobody else one where he was able to hang onto a ball was able to stay for any length of time, but which had been struck back by Ollie Cox. Two almost all were striking at more than a run a other catches and an LBW completed the ball, enabling Somerset to post a healthy total quartet. There had been 442 runs scored that of 229-8 from the 20 overs. afternoon, from only 40 overs at more than The Rapids started with intent. Hamish 11 runs per over. 19 x 6s and 41 x 4s had been Rutherford,opened the innings with Riki struck over the course of the match. Wessels, and struck 14 in the opening over. The Somerset 229-8 (20 overs) Babar Azam 60. omens weren’t looking good, however Lewis Worcestershire Rapids 213-7 (20 overs) J. D. Gregory had other ideas. In the second over he Libby 75* (46 deliveries 7x4, 2x6) J. H. Davey had Wessels caught at long off, but that was 4-0-30-3. The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 61 Somerset v Birmingham Bears This was to be another very close encounter 4th September 2020; The Cooper Associates and revenge for the Worcestershire Rapids. County Ground, Taunton (Floodlit) The Rapids had decided to bat and and Riki Wessels once more Somerset won the toss and fielded opened the batting. Once more Wessels was Result: Birmingham Bears (2 points) beat out for 1 from two deliveries, but this time it Somerset by 4 runs (DLS). was in the first over. History was not to repeat This was a match which was to be interrupted itself again, as Rutherford, Jake Libby (again) by almost two hours of rain, however the and wicket-keeper all posted sizeable match did start on time. Somerset had decided scores, indeed Cox was to finish unbeaten on to insert the Bears and they started slowly. They managed to reach 45-3 at the end of the 56. power play overs and Somerset must have felt Only Tom Abell managed to stay in for any that they were on top, especially as they had length of time in Somerset’s innings, as the removed both of the potentially dangerous wickets fell around him at regular intervals, but Ian Bell and without scoring. The even he was to fall as the penultimate wicket captain, Will Rhodes, together with Sam Hain of the innings. Wicket-keeper Cox must have rebuilt the innings in posting a 50 partnership, rued his first dropped catch when Abell was on before Rhodes was out, backing away from a 7, but ultimately it did not affect the outcome as delivery and ending up edging the ball onto the Rapids claimed victory by just 3 runs. the stumps. Two balls later the rain came down Worcestershire Rapids 168-4 (20 overs) O. B. after the eleventh over with the score on 85-4, Cox 56* (34 deliveries 5x4, 3x6). frustrating both teams alike. Somerset 165-8 (20 overs) T. B. Abell 60 (39 When the play resumed, the umpires had deliveries 6x4, 1x6). determined that the time remaining meant that the match was now reduced to 12 overs per side. This meant that the two not out batsmen had to face one more over before their innings closed. DLS calculations were now enforced and it was deemed that Somerset would have to get 125 to win from 12 overs. It was to their credit that they lost by only 4 runs, but by reaching 120 they had in fact lost 7 wickets. When the final over arrived, the score was 102. Tom Lammonby managed 18 from it, in posting 43 not out, but it was not enough. Birmingham Bears 107-4 (12 overs) S. R. Hain 55* (31 deliveries 6x4, 3x6). Somerset 120-7 (12 overs). Somerset v Worcestershire Rapids 11th September 2020; The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (Floodlit) Worcestershire Rapids won the toss and batted Result: Worcestershire Rapids (2 points) beat Somerset by 3 runs.

62 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club T20 OVERVIEW

Somerset v Gloucestershire Glamorgan v Somerset 13th September 2020; The Cooper Associates 16th September 2020; Sophia Gardens, County Ground, Taunton Cardiff (Floodlit) Somerset won the toss and fielded. Glamorgan won the toss and fielded Result: Gloucestershire (2 points) beat Result: Somerset (2 points) beat Somerset by 11 runs. Glamorgan by 66 runs. This contest will be remembered, not for the Glamorgan inserted Somerset when they won fact that Gloucestershire won, nor that Somerset the toss. Following on from one debutant this lost, but for the innings of an 18-year-old in only year, yet another was to make his debut from his second senior match, who delivered an the Somerset Academy. A second Lewis G to innings with a maturity that belied his years, as join the seniors, Lewis Goldsworthy hails from he cut, pulled and drove his way to an innings of Cornwall, and is a slow left arm spinner and 82 in just 49 deliveries. Will Smeed, whose name right-hand top order batsman. Babar Azam’s does not appear in any Playfair annual as yet, knock in this game was the best with us this would not be known by many outside Somerset. year. He carried his bat through the innings Somerset decided to insert Gloucestershire in making 114 not out from just 62 deliveries when they won the toss and Gloucestershire including five 6s and nine 4s. Goldsworthy was made full use of it. The innings was underpinned to join him at the crease in the tenth over, and by firstly Ian Cockbain and then captain Jack stayed with him until the end of the innings in Taylor as wickets fell around them. At one making 38 from 29 deliveries and hitting four point, Cockbain struck three consecutive 6s boundaries. Together they had a partnership of on his way to 50, but it was with 110 in 64 deliveries which was the foundation a cameo innings of 49 from just 18 deliveries from which the bowlers could make their towards the end of the innings, that enabled mark. Gloucestershire to reach 203-6 from their 20 All five of Somerset’s bowlers took wickets and overs. mentions must be made of the ever-reliable In reply Somerset’s innings started hesitantly, Craig Overton’s three but also of Goldsworthy’s losing opener Steven Davies at the beginning two in particular. Overton accounted for of the fourth over when the score was 17. This Nick Selman as he was just starting to cut brought Smeed to the crease. For just his loose, and also wrapping up the innings second delivery faced, he clipped the ball off with two wickets in two balls as Glamorgan’s his legs to the midwicket boundary. This was innings ended on 117 in the sixteenth over. the first of his six 4s scored. In addition, he also Goldsworthy’s first wicket was caught by the scored five 6s. Unfortunately, no-one was able other Lewis G, Gregory, at slip and the second to stay with him. In spite of his best efforts, was caught by Will Smeed at deep square leg Gloucestershire imposed another loss on hosts the combination of ages for that wicket of just Somerset. 37! Somerset had managed the win by the Gloucestershire 203-6 (20 overs) I. A. Cockbain large margin of 66 runs. 50*(27 deliveries 3x4, 4x6) Somerset 183-3 (20 overs) Babar Azam Somerset 192-8 (20 overs) W. C. F. Smeed 82 114*(62 deliveries 9x4, 5x6). (49 deliveries 6x4, 5x6). Glamorgan 117 all out (15.5 overs). The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 63 Somerset v Northamptonshire Northampton from Middlesex just this season, and who has been an Ireland International for Steelbacks some years. The innings started brightly with 18th September 2020; The Cooper Associates Stirling hitting a 6 within the first over, but two County Ground, Taunton (Floodlit) balls later Levi was caught by Babar Azam Northamptonshire Steelbacks won the toss in the deep, after which only the belligerent and batted. captain, Josh Cobb, stayed at the crease for any Result: Somerset (2 points) beat length of time in scoring his 49. Northamptonshire Steelbacks by 7 wickets. In reply Somerset had three batsmen, firstly Operation “Qualify for Finals Day” was now opener Steven Davies who laid a solid in the minds of Somerset, as they prepared foundation, then latterly Tom Abell and then to host the final home match against the Tom Lammonby who posted scores of 40+, Steelbacks. That they wanted to win this was but once again it was Lammonby who caught evident from their whole attitude right from the eye, as his 43 came from only 23 deliveries, the beginning, when Northants won the toss including the winning 6 runs to claim victory and elected to bat first. As the teams came by 7 wickets. After this win there was still a out there was a guard of honour for the retiring mathematical chance of winning a place in the , Jeremy Lloyds after many years of loyal quarter-finals, but everything needed to fall the service. right way for the final match. The Northamptonshire openers were the Northamptonshire Steelbacks 140-9 (20 dangerous South African, Richard Levi, overs). and Paul Stirling, the latter having joined Somerset 146-3 (18 overs).

64 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club T20

Gloucestershire v Somerset Gloucestershire innings the wickets were 20th September 2020; Nevil Road, Bristol falling at regular intervals, but once again

it was Ian Cockbain who was proving to OVERVIEW Somerset won the toss and batted be Somerset’s nemesis. He came in at Result: Gloucestershire (2 points) beat the fall of the first wicket (9-1) and was the Somerset by 2 wickets. seventh to go. He scored steadily, and The last match of the group stages against 54 of his 89 runs came in boundaries. By our nearest neighbours was always set to be a over 18, Gloucestershire still needed 24 close battle. Somerset chose to bat on winning from the last two overs. The nineteenth the toss and the game started with a guard of honour for retiring umpire, Jeff Evans. over, often the deciding over, went for 11, but more importantly, it saw the demise The first wicket of the match did not go down of Cockbain who had batted beautifully. until the sixth over when the score was 53, Steven Davies and Babar Azam having put on With the last over there was one batsman in a half-century partnership in double quick time on 0 and who had not yet faced a delivery, 13 in just 32 deliveries and, by the time Davies was were still needed. The first four deliveries had out they had already scored 8 sixes between yielded 10 runs but the fifth ball was a wicket them. Babar was able to anchor the batting as Gregory held on to a mis-timed drive at for his 42 and when, eventually he was out it mid-on. We now had two batsmen in, neither was Lewis Gregory who took over this rôle. of whom had received a ball. The batsmen had He scored 50 from his 28 deliveries received crossed whilst the ball was in the air and so it all but it was with Roelof van der Merwe that the fell to Tom Smith. Three runs were still needed. accelerator was pressed. Together they put The ball was slogged out to cow corner and on 54 for the sixth wicket in 29 balls. With four crossed the boundary – 4 runs off the ball balls to go for the innings Gregory was out, but ended it in a win for Gloucestershire, and a Somerset finished on a total of 161-7, meaning dipping out of the Vitality Blast T20 quarter that Gloucestershire needed 162 for victory. finals for Somerset. Somerset started well, claiming 3 wickets Somerset 161-7 (20 overs) L. Gregory 50 (28 within the power play overs and limiting them deliveries 4x4, 2x6). to 38-3 (as opposed to Somerset’s 54-1 at Gloucestershire 163-8(20 overs) I. O. Cockbain the same stage). Right the way through the 89 (57 deliveries 9x4, 3x6).

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 65 The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 65 66 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club T20

The Statistics OVERVIEW Vitality Blast ~ 2020

Somerset Batting Averages

Player Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St RE van der Merwe 9 6 3 127 41* 42.33 0 0 4 0 TA Lammonby 6 5 2 121 43* 40.33 0 0 0 0 JC Hildreth 4 4 1 119 34* 39.67 0 0 2 0 Babar Azam 7 7 1 218 114* 36.33 1 0 6 0 TB Abell 9 9 2 227 74* 32.43 0 2 6 0 C Overton 5 2 1 26 17* 26.00 0 0 2 0 L Gregory 7 5 0 118 50 23.60 0 1 9 0 SM Davies 9 9 0 182 60 20.22 0 1 4 0 ORT Sale 9 4 3 19 14* 19.00 0 0 3 0 WCF Smeed 5 5 0 94 82 18.80 0 1 2 0 GA Bartlett 3 3 0 41 24 13.67 0 0 2 0 BGF Green 3 2 0 24 14 12.00 0 0 2 0 EJ Byrom 5 4 0 41 18 10.25 0 0 0 0 JH Davey 5 3 2 9 6* 9.00 0 0 3 0 J Overton** 1 1 0 1 1 1.00 0 0 0 0 LP Goldsworthy 3 1 1 38 38* n/a 0 0 1 0 MTC Waller 9 0 0 0 n/a DNB 0 0 4 0 *Denotes Not Out Somerset Bowling Averages

Player Ovs Mdns Runs Wkts Ave E Best 5w JH Davey 15 0 123 11 11.18 8.20 4-41 0 LP Goldsworthy 11 0 86 5 17.20 7.82 2-21 0 BGF Green 7 0 77 4 19.25 11.00 4-26 0 L Gregory 19 0 176 9 19.56 9.26 2-18 0 C Overton 14.5 0 137 6 22.83 9.24 3-36 0 ORT Sale 29.4 0 301 13 23.15 10.15 3-32 0 MTC Waller 34 0 212 8 26.50 6.24 3-18 0 TA Lammonby 5 0 45 1 45.00 9.00 1-14 0 RE van der Merwe 29 1 209 3 69.67 7.21 2-15 0 TB Abell 0.2 0 11 0 33.00 0-11 0 J Overton ** 3 0 21 0 7.00 0-21 0 ** J Overton left Somerset CCC before the end of the season to join Surrey on loan before signing for them on a 3 year deal 2021-2023. The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 67 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Match by match reports

South East Stars v Western Storm 33 extra runs. Ex-Storm’s, and now the Sunrisers’ coach, Trevor Griffin, 29th August 2020; Kent County Ground, Beckenham. saw his team struggle in reply. Three of the players Western Storm won the toss and fielded. returned to the pavilion without scoring and only Joanne Result: Western Storm won by 6 wickets. Western Gardner made any real runs as she amassed 54. Fi Storm (5 points) & South East Stars (0 points). Morris collected five scalps, as the Storm earned a Choosing to bat first, the Stars had only two bonus point in bowling out the Sunrisers. partnerships over 27. Hannah Jones and Susannah Rowe Western Storm 265-6 (50 overs) S. N. Luff 85. put on 47, but the top partnership of 49 was between Sunrisers 179 all out (45 overs) J. L. Gardner 54, F. M. K. the captain, , and ex-Storm cricketer, Morris 10-3-26-5. , before the Stars were all out in under the allotted 50 overs. The result was never in doubt, as the Storm’s captain Heather Knight anchored the innings with her 91 not Western Storm v South East Stars out, and putting her side firmly in control, crashing ten 11th September 2020; County Ground, Bristol boundaries along the way. The Storm managed a bonus South East Stars won the toss and batted. point when they won with more than ten overs to spare. Result: Western Storm won by 7 wickets. Western South East Stars 166 all out (48.1 overs) G. M. Hennessy Storm (4 points) & South East Stars (0 points) 8.1-1-31-4. Again, it was the Stars batting first in this, the first return Western Storm 167-4 (39.5 overs) H. C. Knight 91 n.o. match of the competition, although the result turned out to be the same. The Storm’s erstwhile accurate bowlers, found their precision somewhat dimmed in allowing the Stars to reach their total of 212, although both Maxine Western Storm v Southern Vipers Blythin and Kirstie White scored 50. The wickets were 31st August 2020; County Ground, Bristol spread between the bowlers. Western Storm won the toss and fielded. The reply started badly as Fi Morris was out to the third Result: Southern Vipers won by 22 runs. Western ball, however, Sophie Luff with a century, and Georgia Storm (0 points) & Southern Vipers (4 points) Hennessy with 86, steadied the innings and so the These two teams had been perennial rivals in the Storm romped home with nearly four overs to spare. KIA Super League. Being put into bat, the Vipers’ South East Stars 212-9 (50 overs) K. E. White 50, M. experienced openers of and Danni Blythin 50. Wyatt had a century partnership in laying a foundation. Western Storm 215-3 (46.1 overs) S. N. Luff 104*, G. M. Together with Charlotte Dean, all three made half Hennessy 86. centuries as the team made 261 for the Storm to overhaul. In reply, only four Storm players made double figures, Heather Knight once again making a half century, Southern Vipers v Western Storm as did Sophie Luff, in the struggle that was to fall an 13th September 2020; The Ageas Bowl, agonisingly 23 runs short. There were 13 balls spare as Southern Vipers won the toss and batted. the Storm were bowled out. Result: Southern Vipers won by 32 runs. Southern Southern Vipers 261-7 (50 overs) C. E. Dean 60*, G. L. Vipers (4 points) & Western Storm (0 points). Adams 55, D. N. Wyatt 53. Batting first, Georgia Adams and Ella McCaughan put Western Storm 239 all out (47.5 overs) H. C. Knight 67, S. on 155 for the first wicket. When eventually McCaughan N. Luff 60, T. G. Norris 8-0-45-4. was out, Maia Bouchier took over and scored her own 50, but Adams outstretched her two partners by far, in her record-breaking unbeaten innings of 154 in just 155 Sunrisers v Western Storm deliveries. 5th September 2020; County Ground, Chelmsford. 288 runs were always a hard target to beat, but credit Sunrisers won the toss and fielded. must go to the Storm as the tenth wicket to fall was on Result: Western Storm won by 86 runs. Sunrisers (0 the last ball of the innings, when they fell short by only points) & Western Storm (5 points). 32 runs. Wicket-keeper Natasha Wraith, made a fine half A total of nine Sunrisers’ bowlers saw the Storm put on century, as did Sophie Luff again. 265 in the allotted overs, with Sophie Luff being in the Southern Vipers 288-1(50 overs) G. L. Adams 154*, E. M. runs again, as she made 85. The score was boosted by McCaughan 63, M. E. Bouchier 50*. a total of 16 deliveries being called wide which yielded Western Storm 265-6 (50 overs) S. N. Luff 79, N. A. J. 68 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club Western Storm

Wraith 68, C. M. Taylor 10-0-41-4.

Western Storm v Sunrisers 19th September 2020; County Ground, Bristol Sunrisers won the toss and fielded. Result: Western Storm won by 47 runs. Sunrisers (0 points) & Western Storm (4 points). As in the first match between the teams, the Sunrisers chose to field first and the Storm took full advantage. Georgia Hennessy played her finest innings of the 2020-2021 competition in making a century and was supported well by Alex Griffiths, who made 80, as the Storm batted out the 50 overs. Not content with making a century, player of the match Hennessy also took two wickets, as well as contributing to four others as she completed two catches, and hit the stumps directly twice within the space of three balls, as she ran out two more. Western Storm 288-6 (50 overs) G. M. Hennessy 105, A. C. Griffiths 80. Sunrisers 241 all out (49 overs) G. E. Scrivens 72.

Front row Left to Right: Danielle Gibson, Georgia Hennessy, Sophie Luff, Fi Morris Middle Row Left to Right: Nat Wraith, Alex Griffiths, Emma Corney, Heather Knight Back Row Left to Right: Lauren Filer, Abbie Whybrow, Emily Edgcombe, Niamh Holland, Steph Hutchins

The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 69 The Statistics Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2020

Western Storm Batting Averages

Player Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St HC Knight 2 2 1 158 91* 158.00 0 2 1 0 SN Luff 6 6 1 339 104* 67.80 1 3 4 0 CL Nicholas 3 2 1 46 24* 46.00 0 0 0 0 AC Griffiths 6 4 0 141 80 35.25 0 1 2 0 GM Hennessy 6 6 0 209 105 34.83 1 1 3 0 LA Parfitt 6 5 1 89 33* 22.25 0 0 1 0 NA Wraith 6 6 1 111 68 22.20 0 1 1 4 FMK Morris 6 6 0 115 33 19.17 0 0 2 0 KL George 2 2 1 19 19* 19.00 0 0 0 0 EM Edgcombe 3 2 1 11 10 11.00 0 0 1 0 E Corney 6 3 1 21 12 10.50 0 0 3 0 N Holland 6 2 0 8 8 4.00 0 0 0 0 S Hutchins 4 1 0 4 4 4.00 0 0 1 0 L Filer 4 1 1 3 3* 0 0 0 0 DR Gibson 2 1 1 33 33* 0 0 0 0 A Shrubsole 1 0 1 0 A Whybrow 1 0 0 0 *Denotes Not Out

Western Storm Bowling Averages

Player Ovs Mdns Runs Wkts Ave E 5w Best HC Knight 10 1 36 2 18.00 0 2-36 0 FMK Morris 59 4 240 11 21.82 1 5-26 0 L Filer 11 1 70 3 23.33 0 2-24 0 GM Hennessy 53.1 2 257 11 23.36 0 4-31 0 SN Luff 4 0 27 1 27.00 0 1-27 0 KL George 16 0 58 2 29.00 0 1-15 0 N Holland 5 0 35 1 35.00 0 1-21 0 S Hutchins 31 4 130 3 43.33 0 1-26 0 E Corney 20 0 88 2 44.00 0 1-16 0 CL Nicholas 24 0 89 2 44.50 0 1-31 0 AC Griffiths 36 3 189 3 63.00 0 2-53 0 EM Edgcombe 14 2 71 1 71.00 0 1-39 0 A Shrubsole 9 1 31 0 0 0-31 0

70 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club Sophie’s big year in 2020

ophie Luff’s achievements to develop. As well as playing for in 2020 will have brought Somerset, and going on to lead them Shuge pleasure to everyone in to promotion back to the top division, Somerset, especially to those who she was on the England Women’s have been involved with her cricketing Academy and has been part of the development over the years. Western Storm squad ever since the Captaining Western Storm and being Kia Super League was established. one of the highest run scorers in this Reflecting on what Western Storm year’s Rachel Heyhoe Flint competition means to her Sophie said: “Storm has (339 runs at an average of 67.8) will been a massive part of my life over the have been one of the highlights of her last few years and when I step out on career to date. to the field I feel incredibly proud to be The 27 year old hails from Lympsham representing my region. where she grew up in a cricketing family. Sophie first played club cricket “The South West is in my blood and it’s for Weston-Super-Mare and captained a place that means so much to me. To the boys team at Hugh Sexey’s Middle be asked to lead the team this season School. was a real honour and hopefully that can continue for a number of years.” At 13 she was picked for the Somerset Emerging Players Programme and At the end of the summer Sophie was under the watchful eye of Pete named as one of the 41 women who Sanderson, who was her first proper will become professional players about coach, Sophie progressed through the which she said: “This is something age groups and got into the Somerset that I’ve worked really hard for and I Women’s side at the age of 15. feel lucky to have earned the right to “I have grown up with cricket so it’s a be able to call myself a professional massive passion of mine, I’m very lucky cricketer. to be involved in such a great sport.” “When people ask me what I do I can Sophie started working for the now say that I’m a cricketer! To be able Somerset Cricket Board in 2016 as a to focus on that full time is a dream community coach, where she helped come true and I’m determined to make to deliver the Chance to Shine initiative the most of this opportunity. The fact in schools. During her time in post she that the ECB have been able to issue inspired many boys and girls to take up these contracts given the year that playing cricket. everyone has had is great for the sport.” She then went onto become the Sophie added:” This shows the Women’s and Girls Performance Head direction that the women’s game is Coach, a role in which she enjoyed going in and hopefully there will be huge success. even more contracts on offer over the In addition to working for the SCB, next few years as the game continues Sophie’s own cricket has continued to become more professional.” The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 71 Somerset players seize Western Storm opportunities in 2020

n their inaugural season in the newly More recently the Western Storm formed women’s professional structure Academy has been set up with the IWestern Storm were well represented aim of developing the next group of by Somerset Women’s players. professionals for the team with a squad Sophie Luff, Georgia Henessey, Nat of 14 being selected made up of girls Wraith, Lauren Filer and Niamh Holland from Wales, Somerset, Gloucestershire, all competed for Western Strom in the Devon , Cornwall, Dorset and Wiltshire. Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy that took Four girls from Somerset have been place this summer. named in that squad- the most from any The side was led by Somerset Women county – Lola Harris, Jess Hazell, Niamh captain Sophie Luff who was one of Holland and Joleigh Roberts, who will all three players initially offered a full-time get opportunities through the winter with professional contract. This contract the Somerset EPP and also the Western is testament to the hard work and Storm Academy training at regional dedication that Sophie has put into her centres at either Exeter or Bristol on a own game and Somerset are immensely weekly basis with an additional group proud of her achievement. session every fortnight. Niamh Holland, who was only 15 at the The amount of cricket that is being made time and on the Somerset Girls EPP and available to this group shows the exciting playing Somerset Under 17 and Women’s way that Women’s Cricket is developing cricket, played a large number of games and will hopefully inspire more girls to which was an outstanding achievement want to start to play the game. for her and shows where she was at with her cricket. All five players made important contributions. Sophie scored runs at every opportunity, Georgia excelled with both bat and ball, Nat made match defining contributions and Lauren showed glimpses of how exciting she can be with ball in hand. As a result of their excellent performances; Georgia and Nat have joined Sophie in being offered professional contracts for this winter, which is a great achievement for them but also something for Somerset to be Sophie Luff proud of. 72 Somerset County Cricket Club SCB Somerset Women’s Team in 2020 By Rich Askew

his year was always going to be an Devon, Gloucestershire, Wales and Cornwall. “interesting” year for Women’s County Overall results were inconsistent but we saw solid TCricket, no-one could have dreamed that it performances from several key players which would end up as it did! bodes well for next year. Originally due to finish last year in favour of Georgia Tulip continued to open the bowling the 100 Competition at Senior level we were effectively and swing the new ball, most often in granted an extra two years by the ECB while Club partnership with Roberts. Jodie Filer established structures evolved and established competitive herself as a reliable option in the middle cricket within counties. overs and we saw very promising debuts for Lola This was due to take the form of a short season of Harris () and Alice Bird (seam) from the U15 T20s ending in June, all of which were cancelled squad. while the game was on hold across the country. With the bat we perhaps need to work on However, after much liaising with our neighbours, the tempo of an innings and look to secure informal friendly games resumed in the second defendable totals. On their appearances Holland half of the summer. and Churcher both scored freely, along with Jess With the 100 disappearing Western Storm were Hazell from the U17s. Daisy Jeanes returned from resurrected and an Invitational XI featuring University and added a dash of the IPL with her potential squad players had a tied game with a clean boundary hitting. Somerset XI in July. Somerset were indebted to 69 Looking ahead to next year we are waiting for from Sophie Luff and 50 for Niamh Holland while Georgia Hennessy had a great day with 53 to go clarification from The ECB of what form any with 3 for 31 and Tilly Bond took 3 for 27. Women’s Cricket may take. The 100 is planned to commence so, in all probability, we will lose a In August another friendly against Wales saw number of our regular first choice players later in Luff score 123, Hennessy 48 and Joleigh Roberts the year and we would anticipate games to fall take 4 for 38 with the ball as Somerset won within the early season once more. We’ll keep by 2 wickets. As a result of these games Luff, our fingers crossed that training can start in the Hennessy, Holland, Nat Wraith and Lauren Filer New Year and that we have an uninterrupted few were recruited by Western Storm to play in the Rachel Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, later joined by Olivia months of cricket in 2021. Churcher too. Back Row Left to Right: Alice Bird, Jess Hazell, Having lost the availability of those players there Joleigh Roberts, Niamh Holland and Ellie Mitchell was plenty of opportunity for the best of the Front Row Left to Right: Emma Godman, Georgia age group players to step up in the following Tulip, Daisy Jeanes, Jodie Filer, Tilly Bond and Lola few weeks as T20 Friendlies were arranged with Harris.

Somerset Women’s Team 2020

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 73 Somerset Academy in 2020 By Steve Snell

nce we had eventually come to that were pleasing. terms with all of the difficulties that From an Academy perspective it was we were all facing operationally, the O pleasing to see a continued transition amount of cricket that we played in 2020 was far more than we could have expected. from the SCCC Academy onto the SCCC Professional staff. Will Smeed made his Across the pathway, we decided to play debut for Somerset against Gloucestershire two T20 matches in a day at every age where he made his first 50 in professional group and ensure our youngsters were cricket. batting, bowling and fielding at least twice, giving them as much opportunity as For Will and Ned Leonard, who also signed possible. his first contract, to transition onto the We saw huge enthusiasm and participation professional staff in what is an extremely across the region in club cricket at youth challenging year from a cricketing training sessions. It was staggering how perspective is extremely pleasing. many people were involved and proactively This summer the cricketing fraternity trying to make cricket happen. It felt like showed just how resilient it is and there everyone really seized the opportunity and were so many volunteers across the county relished playing again. who helped ensure cricket survived in the The opportunity of some engagement in first instance and continued to engage cricket and sport in general was so well and connect with their local clubs and received from our pathway players and communities. their parents and also from the staff at Somerset. The amount of thought and the The whole eco system of cricket in the level of planning that went into facilitating South West is so proactive and makes me cricket being played was quite simply feel really proud to be involved with it. phenomenal. It is difficult to plan for next year, with not We should salute the contribution that knowing what we will or wont be allowed to Laura Lewis, Matt Drakeley and Andrew do, but we are trying to be as optimistic as Griffiths, who organize and run age group possible. cricket, put in because we played almost as many home games as we normally From the pathway point of view having would in a whole season despite losing played a lot of T20 this summer its four months from the regular season. important that we do prioritise red ball cricket in 2021. We saw huge development in our Under 12s and 13s in T20 cricket in terms of their The basics of the game are really important skills, creativity and understanding of the so we need to ensure that we are coaching game. robust strong fundamentals as well as the We saw a massive growth of knowledge shorter form game that our young players of the game and increase in a range of are growing up watching. areas from our Under14s and 15s while It was great to have the emerging players in our Under 18s the level of cricket that back in at the start of the autumn even we witnessed, the game intelligence and though the second lockdown has put the the striking, fielding and athleticism was brakes on a little, but hopefully soon we will constantly evolving. get them back and start prepping towards There were just so many different aspects what will be another successful season.

74 Somerset County Cricket Club Girls Pathway Cricket in 2020 By Matt Drakeley

he logistical difficulties caused because the last thing we wanted by the Covid 19 pandemic in to do after six months of inactivity Tthe summer of 2020 created was to deprive anyone of the quite a challenging situation for chance to play. I was really happy some of the girls cricket clubs with what we were able to provide across Somerset. and this is something that initially next summer we want to make sure As a result it was vital that we tried we continue with- let everyone get to be as inclusive as we could be out onto the grass and play before with the opportunities that were we then start to be a bit more provided to players that had been selective. involved in our winter training programmes. Looking forward for the county age group girls the development By playing more internal matches of the eight regional franchises will and limiting the number of games open many more opportunities for against external county sides it them. Sophie Luff has been a great allowed us to provide upwards of role model for Somerset and there 24 players with match opportunities will now be a chance for others to rather than being limited to just 12. follow in her footsteps. Towards the end of the summer With the creation of 41 professional with the Girls Under 17s we were women players, there is now a able to open that up into quite a genuine pathway in place for girls comprehensive match programme, to aspire to make a career out of against more local counties. This the game, which for a 13 or 15 year meant that this age group was able old coming through gives them to experience something fairly something to work towards. similar to what they would have done in previous years. We are lucky enough to still have Sophie back here coaching with However because we had a some of the age groups. Sophie is number of girls playing for one of the best performing women Somerset Women and Western outside of the England team so to Storm we had a few playing up the have her coming to work with our age groups and a lot of them took young players is amazing. their opportunity and performed really well. We tried hard to keep the opportunities open to everyone

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 75 Somerset Under 17’s Girls report by Rich Askew

f all the Somerset Women’s and three over-age players in any game to Girl’s teams the Under 17s were allow those girls who are on the fringe Operhaps the most fortunate in of the Senior Women’s team to continue this delayed past season. With so many to have regular competitive cricket to of the players in critical school years continue their development and make for exams the fixtures were due to take the step up. This season we saw the final place in July and August. As a result age group games of Tilly Bond, Hannah almost all the games were able to be Capes and Jodie Filer. played when so much cricket had been lost elsewhere. All three have long been representatives for the County age groups and have Overall several good performances become established players with strong were registered, with the ‘double’ skill sets. More importantly they have completed over both Devon and matured into great role models for the Wales. Gloucestershire proved tougher younger girls in the squad and have led opposition but with so many of the the team brilliantly this season. We’ll players in the early years of their age miss them next year but they have each group the squad looks promising for made significant contributions to both next year and beyond, when we should the teams they’ve played in and to return to the ECB County competition. individuals they’ve supported. Key players were Joleigh Roberts We now look forward to hearing from with the ball, taking 3 for 10 against the ECB about the formats that we will Gloucestershire and 4 for 12 against be playing in 2021. Although currently Wales. Lola Harris had 4 for 21, also ‘on hold’ with the pandemic we will be against Gloucestershire, where Pip hoping to start a training program in the Letchford had a great game with 3 for 24 New Year and competition for places to add to her 54 runs. in the squad appears high. We also have some good cricketers moving up Away to Wales Jodie Filer wheeled from this year’s U15 squad and, allied to away her off spin to take 3 for 24 and, on those who featured this year, we should a slow pitch where scoring runs proved be looking forward to a successful tricky, the winning chase was anchored campaign next summer. by a steady, determined unbeaten 23 from 14 year-old Annabel Lamb. In the home game against the same opposition a low scoring game at Wembdon looked to be lost as Wales seemed well on top before U15 Maggie Adams enjoyed a ‘Bothamesque’ late burst of 5 for 16 to seal the victory. One of the anomalies of this age group SCCC Girls Under 17s is that there is an exemption to play 76 Somerset County Cricket Club SCB Boys Pathway Cricket in 2020 By Matt Drakeley

Boys Pathway Cricket looked we also benefited from increased different as a result of the access and game time at Taunton Vale. Tresponse to the 2020 Covid This allowed us to continue playing pandemic. We felt it would be difficult through to the end of September to try and replicate the normal pattern where the season culminated with a fixtures for the pathway and instead two day game against Hampshire for we should explore ways to maximise a combined Under 12s and 13s game, opportunity but minimise risk. which provided a number of players The Under 10s and U11 played purely from these age groups with their first inter squad games which allowed experience of playing this format. us to give 48 players in each age This is something that we will look to group to play in a best against best continue doing in 2021 and beyond as environment. This was fantastic not it’s a great opportunity for players to only from a development perspective develop their skills in another format. but also helped provide players with plenty of match day opportunity At the Under 13 and 14 levels in a year where game time would the number of fixtures against otherwise be limited for a number of neighbouring counties increased. We players. played a mixture of one-day formats As part of the programme we had against our local county partners some great input from coaches who and we were also able to provide would usually work with some of our opportunities for players to play up an older age groups. This accelerated age group. player learning and allowed us to get We developed a good link with some high quality information into our Hampshire where we were able to play youngest age groups.. two matches at each group on a day The Under 12s also mainly played inter utilising some of our two pitch venues squad games across a number of one- around the county. The ability to day formats with a number of players provide 24 players with an opportunity experiencing County games against to compete against County opposition some of our more local partners. in what had been a tough year was The expectation would be that great to see. without County opposition you lose Looking ahead it will be interesting to the competitive nature of the game. see whether some of the things that However with all our age groups this wasn’t the case. We have some really were put in place remain or whether competitive players pools across our we revert back to the way it was in age groups which make for some great 2019. InterSquad games. The boys were From my point of view 2020 was a fantastic in their desire to compete and challenge but one that I enjoyed perform in every match they played in. because it allowed us to provide In view of the fact that there was no different opportunities by being Somerset Second XI cricket this year creative with our planning and delivery. The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 77 Somerset Cricket Board

The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, Somerset TA1 1JT. Telephone 01823 352266 SOMERSET E-mail: [email protected] CRICKET BOARD

BOARD MEMBERS Andy Curtis (Chairman) Andy Fairbairn John Davey

SCB DIRECTORS Winston Duguid Paddy Magill Ken Maddock Jane Knowles Ray Hancock Roger Eggleton

SOMERSET CRICKET BOARD OFFICERS Chairman: Andy Curtis 11 Lethbridge Park, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 3QU Tel: 01823 430877 Finance Administrator: Kaye May The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1JT. Email: [email protected] Cups Competition (Chairman): Tom Packman 17 Lock House, Keepers Close, Taunton, TA1 1AX. Tel: 01823 333014 Grounds Association (Chairman): Phil Mortimer 13 Greenhill Place, , Radstock, Bath, N.E. Somerset, BA3 2TF. Tel: 01761 413725

78 Somerset County Cricket Club SCB Club Cricket Meets The Lockdown Challenge by Andy Curtis, Chairman of the SCB he 2020 cricket enjoy each other’s company, catching up season has on gossip and swapping banter in dressing Tbeen like no room or bar. other of recent decades, presenting Without cricket, the lack of physical real challenges exercise can easily be replaced by cycling, to cricket clubs jogging or brisk walks, but these don’t offer in lockdown that the kind of social engagement essential to questioned their very people’s mental well being. survival - posing the With the latter in mind, many clubs set up question to players and members alike: newsletters - or arranged regular Zoom ‘Just how important is your cricket club to meetings and quizzes with club mates – you?’ or organised fund raising and delivery for The response from many Somerset clubs food banks to overstretched NHS staff and came back loud and clear. The challenge local charities - or set up video cricketing wasn’t made easier when the enforced drills for All Star youngsters to maintain break followed six months of the Winter their interest in the game. ‘close season’ – a time of the year when players would normally be emerging In one well publicised venture launched from cricketing hibernation eager to by Stuart Tudball from Minehead C.C., a start playing again. It has been said that skilfully upholstered bespoke chair bearing ‘volunteers are unpaid – not because the county club’s colours was auctioned they are worthless, but because they are off for more than £2,000, with the proceeds priceless’- and the Covid crisis offered club going to charity. members an opportunity to reaffirm what The financial sustainability of clubs – we already knew. receiving very little income at a time Club groundsmen were allowed to carry when rates and other overheads needed out basic maintenance and preparation, paying – was given significant help via getting pitches ready in the hope that Government, Sport England and ECB a Government ‘all clear’ would allow Return to Cricket grants. In Somerset this training to start and fixtures to be played. much needed lifeline exceeded £850,000 Off the field members were carrying out in total, with 106 clubs benefitting from building upkeep where allowed, and – various much needed sums. Larger clubs as the lockdown eased –reconfiguring employing several full time staff took the pavilion, bar and toilets to ensure advantage of the Government furlough that at the restart the club would satisfy Covid safety requirements for using scheme, thereby helping to preserve job the clubhouse. Advice, support and security. encouragement offered by Matt Counsell So what have we learned in recent and the Cricket Board team proved vital in months? History offers countless examples maintaining this momentum. where adversity has brought out the best Most people recognise that club cricket in people: in what will be remembered as is more than just an organised activity ‘the Covid season’, our club cricketers and involving matches or net practice: it is a volunteer members have certainly lived up coming together of like-minded people to to this claim. The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 79 “I’m looking forward to a vibrant summer of cricket in 2021” Says Andy Fairbairn, SCB Cricket Development Manager n my 2019 report I quickly they can adapt and how flexible started by saying they can be which creates opportunities to I‘We may never see improve and innovate in the future. another summer I have to admit that there were times in like it again’. This May when I simply couldn’t see any cricket was on the back of getting played at our clubs at all, this would an England Men’s have been a total disaster for the game that World Cup win and would have taken years to repair at best. domestic success for Somerset men’s and As it was, out of all the teams who had women’s teams. I will start my 2020 report initially entered leagues for 2021, 80% by saying I sincerely hope we don’t have of senior teams and 77% of junior teams another summer like this one again! managed to play in leagues/bubbles after the lockdown. This has to be looked That said, in Somerset, cricket’s response to at positively and huge credit goes to coronavirus was quite simply outstanding. the clubs for significant time and effort Our Chairman has already written about in reopening their facilities in a Covid-19 the cricket community coming together secure manner. but I would just like to highlight some other positives that will come from this crazy For the game to bounce back stronger in year. 2021 we need to do the following: Our clubs showed initiative and flexibility to 1. Make every effort to get the clubs, stay relevant within their communities and teams and players who didn’t play in 2020 get cricket played. Online booking systems, back to the game in 2021. electronic payments, fundraisers and 2. Take advantage of being a socially online committee meetings are all things distanced sport that is played outdoors in that clubs were forced to adopt but may the summer by creating opportunities for well stay due to their success. people who have been inside for most of Players were given the opportunity to play the 20/21 winter to get outside, socialise shortened matches with less travel and no and try something new. I believe there teas. Some will have enjoyed some of these will be a lot of potential cricketers out changes and will seek permanent change there interested in returning to the sport whilst others will be very keen to return to or playing for the first time if we can just 2019 formats. Whatever the medium-term create the right opportunities for them to outcome, to have the opportunity to trial get involved. these things on a large scale will open My team and I will be working as hard people’s eyes to opportunities previously as we can to support our clubs, leagues thought of as not credible. and communities to make 2021 a year to Leagues have worked closer with each remember for the right reasons. other as well as strengthening relations Look after yourselves and each other with their clubs and respective cricket this winter and I look forward to a vibrant boards. Leagues have also shown how summer of cricket in 2021.

80 Somerset County Cricket Club SCB Somerset Disabled Cricket Club 2020 By Team Captain, Nick Dean

or obvious reasons, the 2020 season has been The game felt like all the progress we had been unlike any other for the Somerset Disabled making this season came together in our best FCricket Club. It was only due to the sheer performance, especially with the bat. dedication, hard work and attention to detail of crucial Man of the Match Jack Milton was outstanding with 50 members off the pitch that we were able to play to go with his three wickets, although his batting was multiple games of cricket in a safe but still enjoyable arguably over shadowed by Russ Young’s second 50 way. for the club coming from just 24 balls. In terms of on the pitch progress, the pandemic has Colin Hancock, Ben Hallows and James Mayled all paused, but not completely stopped, the strides we chipped in with wickets, and were backed up by have been making. Simon Penny and George Fox-Reid taking brilliant The previous two seasons have seen the First XI reach catches. the national semi finals – narrowly missing out on The individual highlights in a top team performance both occasions, whilst the Somerset Dragons played saw Somerset home to a comfortable victory. more matches and had more members than any prior Against the odds, and thanks to the hard work done season. by the Mayled Family, Steve Gass, Neil Staines, The aim for 2020 was to use these successes to push Alister and Tracy Hallows to name just a few, we have on to the next level, aim higher, achieve more – all in managed to have another successful season. our Somerset way, but sadly the national lockdown This club is indebted to all those who put in the hours changed all that. so that we are able to play disability cricket, a task The lockdown didn’t just take away the opportunity to difficult enough in a regular season. On behalf of all play cricket for the club we all love, but it took away the players I’d like to thank you. the chance to be with our friends, our cricket family On a personal note, I love playing for this club, people and be there for one another. Those family values are close to me will tell you I could bore anyone for what our club is built on – and every member should hours talking about it, but the way every member has know that those principles will never change or go stepped up this year to be there for one another in a away despite the best efforts of a pandemic. time of hardship represents what we are about better The first game of the 2020 summer highlighted to than I’m able to express in an overly worded report. me more than ever, that whatever the result we were I couldn’t be more proud or grateful to be captain all just having the best time doing what we love of this club and count myself very lucky. I already surrounded by great people. can’t wait for a successful, and hopefully more As it turns out, we produced one of our best fielding straightforward season in 2021! and bowling performances for a long time, restricting an able-bodied side to under four an over by nailing the basics. We didn’t have enough runs on the day to come out on top, but the result was secondary to being out on the pitch again. Our second game, was against Ilton’s Sunday XI, another able-bodied side of mixed ability in which we needed to carry the momentum from our first game in order to get a result. In the end, we were run away winners, with every player, without exception, stepping up their performances from the first game. Although the less said about Jon’s catching the better! Somerset disabled CC 2020, Stood is James Our final game was against our regular opponents Mayled, Jamie Turner, Ben Hallows, Nick Dean, Dorset Disabled Cricket Club against who we have Jack Milton enjoyed a friendly rivalry for many years, and it was Front row- Colin Hancock, Paul Lewis, Simon fitting that we should get the opportunity to play them Penny, John Tucker, James Redwood in this disrupted season. The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 81 The Baker Cup in 2020 By David Derrick, Competition secretary

he Baker Cup is a Taunton area based 20 over knock Tout competition that was first competed for back in 1938 and is named after Herbert Baker a popular member of both Taunton and Staplegrove Cricket Clubs who died young in 1935. Sadly in 2020 with lockdown not easing until a month after the longest day there was little chance of being able to programme a midweek evening competition. However this hasn’t stopped some very efficient planning for 2021 where at least eighteen teams will be playing for the Taunton St Andrews the Baker Cup winners in 2019 three tiers of the Competition. pictured with some of their young supporters The Somerset County Sports Sunday League in 2020 By David Derrick, League secretary SCS

he set up for 2020 was for 15 member clubs we encouraged all fixtures that were on file from to compete across two divisions, but the the time of the restart to be played as friendly first lockdown saw that no play was possible T matches and this was generally the case. per schedule. For 2021 the membership is thirteen Clubs in two When the time to play came to pass in mid July the idea of playing bubbles was floated divisions and with all fixtures arranged at the time around the membership, but there was not of writing the League is looking forward to its enough traction to take it to the next level, so eleventh season of action.

82 Somerset County Cricket Club SCB Somerset Seniors 50’s in 2020 By Rhys Thomas, Chair of 50s committee

he season started very positively with the tour Wiltshire at Trowbridge, 23/08/20. 35 over game. to South Africa during which a series of games Somerset 192 – 9. Thad been arranged over two weeks in and around the Cape Town area. Wiltshire 139 all out off 34 overs. The committee and players are very grateful to Hampshire at Basingstoke, 25/08 20. 40 over game. Graham Poulton for organising the tour and the Somerset 192 – 8. various activities available to players and partners. Hampshire won by 3 wickets with 1.2 overs to spare. Little did anyone know what was to come as the Dorset at North Curry, 30/08/20. 40 over game. arrival of the Corona virus somewhat took the world by surprise. Somerset 222 – 7 The subsequent pandemic and lockdown required Dorset 190 all out. Somerset won by 32 runs. a hasty retreat from Cape Town followed by the Wales at Croesyceiliog, 02/09/20. 40 over game. ECB and Southern Counties suspending all Seniors cricket. All fixtures were cancelled while we waited to The first game was abandoned due to rain. A 20 - 20 see what would happen next. was then played starting at 3:30pm. The ECB and UK Government finally gave the go Somerset 159 – 7 ahead for cricket to resume in mid-August under Wales 116-6, Somerset won by 43 runs. strict rules around distancing, hand washing, pavilion Gloucester at , 09/09/20. 40 over game. restrictions etc. A series of hastily arranged friendly fixtures were Gloucester 115 all out in 38.3 overs. arranged. A list of these fixtures, the results and Somerset won by 8 wickets with 8.3 overs to spare. some of the performances are noted below. Clevedon at Clevedon, 13/09/20. 40 over game. The availability for the games was good with over 30 Clevedon 184 all out in 39.3 overs. players playing some cricket. New players joining the 50’s teams this year were: Somerset won by 4 wickets with 1 ball to spare. Tony Lippe, Neil Hendy, Kevin White, Vince Milton, Wales at Clevedon, 17/09/20. 40 over game. Gary Bennett, Pete Solomon and Melvin Gale. They Wales 252 – 5. all made positive contributions and I am confident Somerset 232 – 6. Lost by 20 runs. that next year will see them become key players within the two sides. Somerset Over 50s pictured on their South African Corona virus continues to be a threat, but with the Tour- spring 2020 likelihood of a vaccination program in early 2021, its hoped that senior’s cricket will resume under more normal circumstances next year. Below is a summary of the games played. South Africa Tour: March 2020 Game 1 v Western Province. 30 0ver game. Western Province 124 – 8. Somerset won by 8 wickets with 7 overs to spare. Game 2 v Cape Town. 35 over game. Cape Town 161 all out off 25 overs. Somerset won by 4 wickets with 1 over to spare. Game 3 v Loughborough University. 35 over game. Somerset 115 all out off 35 overs. Loughborough Uni won by 9 wickets in 9.5 overs. Pre-Season inter Somerset game at Midsomer Somerset Over 50s CC in Cape Town Norton, 35 over game. Clive Hamblin XI. 262 – 8 off 35 overs. Back Row: Andy Barrett (Umpire) Viv Barrett (Scorer) Chris Golding XI. 189 for 3 off 35 overs. Tom Gliddon, Tony Scott, Mike Caddick, Chris 2nd Pre-Season inter Somerset game at Minehead, Golding, Adrian Proctor, Andy Sapey, Brian Stone, 35 over game. Andy Stevens, Clive Hamblin C h r i s G o l d i n g X I . 1 7 0 – 7 o ff 3 5 o v e r s . Front Row: Eddie Cane, John Boddy, Kev Rogers, Andy Stevens XI. Won by 7 wickets with 6 overs to Andy Fussell, Ian Thomas, Richard Newport, Graham spare. Poulton, Chris Brewer, Ian Smith The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 83 Somerset Over 60s in 2020 SCB SENIORS CRICKET in 2020 were well served by umpire Andy Wright and Over 60’s 1st XI report by team manager Brian scorer Mike Brimble. Brogden Over 60’s 2nd X1 report by Miles Richards team It may have been a strange cricket season, but captain our sincere thanks go to the SW organisers, team As was a common experience, frustrations hit managers and, in particular, Steve Pursey, our hard as the lockdown from April to July coincided coordinator, that we managed any play at all. with some of the warmest, cricket-friendly In a mini tournament we joined Wales and conditions we could have wished for. That Wiltshire in a SW South group; the SW North eventually some cricket became possible, was group consisted of Gloucester, Warwickshire, a relief to everyone, particularly our enthusiastic Worcestershire and Shropshire. The two teams Somerset seniors. topping each group met in the semi-finals. Once a hastily re-scheduled ‘mini-season’ At Somerset’s first game – vs Wiltshire – we of competitive, regional, inter-county cricket welcomed newcomers, Nick Virgin (elevated was given the go ahead, the 2’s first match from the Over 50s), Mike Lanning (from Kent) against Wales saw us 12 runs short of a very and Graham Bishop, along with debutant Simon gettable target - our only defeat of the season. Hogg. Wiltshire batting first were soon in trouble Worcestershire tested us, but not half as much with both Lanning and Virgin getting their first as the stiflingly hot weather did. Emphatic wickets. However, it was the old man of the team, victories followed against Gloucestershire - both Brogden, who did the most damage taking 4 for home and away - and the return fixture v Wales. Somerset, on a points percentage basis, finished 12. A total of 106 should have been a formality, comfortably top of our county group. A final end- but Bishop, Ashfold, Virgin and Fear all fell to of-season ‘friendly’ v Gloucestershire resulted in LBW decisions, while Lanning was spectacularly a third victory over our local rivals and the season caught off his first ball. At 26 for 6 Somerset concluded on a very satisfactory high note. needed something special and they got it in the guise of Simon Hogg (52no), Locke (27) giving Throughout the season 20 players were called on Somerset a win by 4 wickets. in all formats of competition. New players settled well, and everyone contributed to improving team Against Wales, with Ashton missing, Ashfold performances as the season progressed. Clearly, made his debut as captain. Having won the there is a growing interest and demand for toss Wales, elected to bat and had 82 on the Seniors cricket, and our performances reflected board after 18 overs before the first wicket fell the quality of cricketer graduating into the to Lanning – he added three more to his tally Seniors’ ranks. for 45 runs. Wales posted 192-8 and in response Locke and Stephenson put on 79 off 18 overs. There is depth and quality of batting, (as seen by Stephenson retired injured on 56 leaving Hogg Julian Harvey in the middle-order, who amassed (52no) and Lanning to take the score on to 144. over 140 runs without being dismissed). Fielding With Mike Fear joining Hogg, the job was soon was generally sharp and assured, pressurising done. opposition batsmen and creating a number of successful run outs. The variety and quality In the return fixture, Wiltshire fielded a stronger of bowling options often afforded Somerset side but struggled to contain Bishop (98no) who a consistent wicket-taking threat and when saw partners arrive and depart at regular intervals necessary, crucial control of the run rate. All-in-all apart from Ashfold (30). Chasing 178, Wiltshire a most enjoyable and successful season. ended 28 runs short on 150 for 8. Finally, my thanks to our officials, who did a The final group game v Wales was rained off sterling job in this brief and challenging season. leaving Somerset topping the group ahead of But, a particular debt of gratitude is owed to Wales. In our semi-final we met Warwickshire. Steve Pursey, who organised matches, sourced We batted first, but only Hogg (40) and Fear (31) grounds and officials, communicated with mastered the conditions in an under-par total opposition, updated websites and more, all whilst, of 144 for 8. Warwickshire demonstrated some as a key worker, running his business. Without aggressive batting and despite Stevens taking his enthusiasm and commitment to the Senior’s 3 for 41, they reached the target in 31 overs – cricketing cause, we might not have played any subsequently defeating Wales in the final. competitive cricket this season and sadly for Although the season was short, it was most Steve, due to injury, he barely managed to play enjoyable and competitive and, throughout, we the game he loves. 84 Somerset County Cricket Club SCB Somerset Over 70s Review 2020 By Roger Lines Team Captain 2020

This should have been our first season In our final game – a friendly vs back in the National League, but instead Worcestershire at Lansdown – the visitors we were reduced to playing five matches scored 172-6 on a good wicket, but, in in a hastily conceived mini league plus a reply, we were all out for 94; not a good end friendly against Worcestershire, but at least to a disappointing season. we managed to play some cricket. The biggest positive was to see Bernard In the initial phase of the competition at Raines find some excellent form, including Cadnam vs Hants, Bernard Raines set out two half centuries, and over half our runs his stall for the season with an unbeaten 45, against Worcestershire. It was also good being well supported by Steve Sheppard to see ‘Fast Eddie’ Kane scoring 19 not out, (30). However, a total of 137 soon proved to including 2 excellent fours – well done! be an easy one for the hosts who lost just Steve Sheppard was consistently a major three wickets in the process. asset with bat and ball and some lively We beat a strong Wiltshire side at Failand, fielding supported our bowlers. with Sheppard making 52 during a 66 run We hope that the 2021 season will see partnership with Pearson. Alan Elkington a return to more normal conditions contributed a useful 20 and went on to and if all the eligible 70s players make exploit “the ridge” beautifully, taking 2 for 8 themselves available, hopefully with off 6. minimal Coronavirus concerns, we should The return fixture vs Hants was played on have a very good side, both in batting and a rain affected wicket with a ‘bracing’ cross bowling. wind. Everyone struggled in the conditions but a stunning run out by Sheppard, who also picked up two wickets, restricted the visitors to just 140 for 4. In reply only Sheppard made a significant impression and we ended 10 runs short. The final (postponed) group encounter was played in truly autumnal conditions at Malmesbury. We found ourselves doing a lot of ball chasing during which two fielders suffered injuries. In reply to their total of 208 (Sheppard picking up 3 wickets), John Hayward posted an unbeaten 50 and while supported by Sheppard (26), Pearson (23) and Raines (20), we closed 40 short of the target. Somerset Over 70s CC in 2019 In the second-round match against Gloucestershire, we scored a very Back row: Chris Norton (umpire), Geoff respectable 189-7, Raines continuing his Flynn, John Hayward, Bernard Raines, David fine form with 56, and Fairman (26) and Foster, Alan Rogerson, Mark Rylands, David Elkington (37) made valuable contributions. Keen, Dick Allen (umpire) However, Gloucestershire got the runs for Front row: Brian Brogden, Simon Hopkinson, the loss of just one wicket with 5 overs to Paul Fairman (wkt), Brian Pearson (c), spare! Richard Newport The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 85 SCB lend support to help clubs through 2020 season By Matt Counsell t the start of March there was much excitement for online so there was the chance for players, parents, the new season following the successes of 2019 existing volunteers to get qualifications in Umpiring, Awith England winning the World Cup, Ben Stokes Scoring, Ground Maintenance and learn skills to improve winning Sports Personality and Somerset winning the coaching and functioning as a club. Royal London Cup to name a few. With Cricket being suspended clubs were unsure However by the end of March many were wondering if what they were permitted to do to keep their squares any cricket would be played at all. prepared in case cricket could be played later in the The Covid-19 Global Pandemic has affected everyone summer. We were able to provide guidance via The this year and Cricket was no exception with it creating Grounds Maintenance Association and ECB on what much concern and uncertainty for Clubs, Volunteers, work could be done on pitches and how to do it safely Leagues and Players so this had to be our priority for in line with Government Guidelines. As time progressed support. and netting became permitted followed by small group coaching then the news we were all waiting for Cricket After a survey and follow up communication via Phone matches being allowed it created many questions or Email we were able to contact 94% of our clubs and from clubs on what they need to have in place to run learn about their concerns caused by the enforced these activities. This saw us run support webinars to suspension of Cricket. go through the various ECB Government approved Based on the feedback given to us we were able to guidance to help clubs understand what they need to focus on three main areas: have in place and how to adapt their facilities to ensure • People the Safe Return of Cricket at each stage. • Finance Finally, once cricket returned in July our team of • Facilities Community Cricket Coaches were out and about Weekly communications began with our Covid-19 supporting 27 clubs* across Somerset to get people Support Document for Clubs providing the latest playing the game again. information from the ECB which ran through to the point Clubs had requested support for junior coaching, small Cricket fully returned in July. Many phone calls, emails, group coaching, women and girls coaching and coach the new normal of virtual meetings and webinars took mentoring to ensure their members would be able to place to support the grassroots cricket. play and we were delighted to assist. Finance was the biggest concern for clubs, wondering For the community coaches the opportunity to go how to pay the bills with reduced levels of income out into clubs and work with the players and coaches due to the pandemic. We were able to communicate highlighted the brilliant coaching and activities that regularly about funding pots, ways to cover fixed takes place in clubs across Somerset. costs, how to reduce general outgoings, and refunding Affiliation Fees for 2020 all to help clubs to stay solvent Sophie Luff, who has been a community coach in during the pandemic. In Somerset 107 clubs received the county for over four years said: “ The passion and £862,470 between them from Government grants, Sport enthusiasm of club coaches and the work they do in England funding or ECB grants (as of 30th November their clubs is fantastic to see”. 2020). This funding keeps cricket in business and Andrew Skidmore, who has been a community coach for the funding received by clubs has gone a long way nearly six years echoed Sophie’s comment and went on to securing their futures. Clubs are the heartbeat of to say: “Seeing how excited and happy the children have cricket in Somerset and for us to support them with over been to be back playing cricket is testament to the hard £860,000 of funding is amazing which in turn ensures work that clubs have done ensuring that it was possible they can continue to play a big part in their communities. this season”. Keeping engaged with players through this period was The additional support for clubs appears to have gone key so cricket was not forgotten. This saw lots of ideas down very well. Debbie from Hampset CC who had Alex and activities shared with clubs to help keep players Taylor visit the club for three weeks of junior coaching engaged with cricket and developing their skills. In said: “‘The coach support made the difference between partnership with Somerset County Cricket Club, players no youth cricket, and in total contrast an incredible late were encouraged to “Start the Season at Home” by summer of cricketing opportunities”. sending in videos of them playing cricket at home which saw Eddie Hancock win in Somerset securing a visit *The following clubs all received community coaching from an SCCC player at his Club Weston-super-Mare support this summer: Bathford, Beckington, , in 2021. Clubs were encouraged to engage with their Broadway & Horton, Butleigh, Cheddar, Claverham, general membership and continue to bring people Congresbury, Hampset, Huntspill & District, Ilton, and communities together (remotely of course). This Kilmington & Stourton, Knowle, Long Ashton, Long Sutton, saw many Zoom Quizzes, Virtual Race Nights, Fitness Midsomer Norton, , Portishead, Purnell, Challenges to name a few taking place. Also, this was Shapwick & Polden, Staplegrove, Street, Uphill Castle, an opportunity to upskill with lots of courses moving Wedmore, Wembdon, Wombats and Wrington. 86 Somerset County Cricket Club YOUTH North Somerset Youth Cricket League Report 2020

By Marek Petela CRICKET arch 2020 and the season’s vast majority of games were played. preparations are thrown into turmoil The structure provided a competitive as a global pandemic arrives. M match situation, but with these Divisions The hope is that it will all be over in a few being one-offs with no promotion or weeks. relegation, matches were played in the true May arrives and the situation is still bleak. spirit of the game with more of a focus on The season has been put on hold. No idea participation. Feedback from players was when, or even if, any cricket will be played that they were happy to be playing. over the summer. There were tables at the end with teams Hopes are then dashed for an early July placed 1st to 6th, but every team that took resumption when the Prime Minister part in the 2020 season were winners. declares the cricket ball as a ‘natural vector of disease’. Thanks should be recorded to those people in the various League clubs who Throughout this time, League Officials responded to the situation, ensuring continue to work towards having a everything was in place to make grounds structure to enable some organised cricket, and playing conditions safe for the players. in line with ECB guidelines, to happen at The collective response was marvellous short notice. – one example was the response to two In July, the green light comes. Cricket can teams, both unable to use their pitch due to be played – albeit with a lot of caveats. No the pandemic, who participated by playing changing rooms, no teas, lots of sanitising all their games away with teams happy to and a raft of other regulations to follow. host them. A two weekend lead in, following the The pandemic may have reduced announcement, where teams were the length of the 2020 season, but it encouraged to play friendly fixtures to get highlighted the character and resilience of used to the new way to play the game the cricket community. was followed by a League package for clubs over the 5 weekends in August. Not all teams wanted to play for a range of reasons and that should be respected. Those that did, 24 of the 35 teams in the League, were allocated to 4 Regionalised Divisions (North, South, East and West) of 6 teams playing each other once. This was done to reduce the travel as car sharing was an issue! The League plays its fixtures on Sunday’s and the weather was kinder on Sunday’s in August than Saturday’s meaning that the Weston super Mare Under 13s CC

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 87 Bath and District Youth Cricket League By Jon Flagg, League Administrator and Honorary Secretary

n the face of a global pandemic causing relatively short notice. We were delighted no end of the woes – increased deaths that we had around 30 teams across our 3 Iand serious health issues at it’s worst and age groups wanting to participate across a change to everyday way of life for all - the a 6-week window running from early challenges of the Bath and District Youth August until early September. Fixtures Cricket League paled into insignificance. were arranged and teams did their best However, we entered March with our usual to play as much as they could but it was preparations complete after lots of hard always going to be a challenge; it was good work by the volunteers of the League and that the League and the Member Clubs Member Clubs. Fixtures were in place for were able to put something together on our teams, with entries holding-up well a best endeavours basis and above all it from the previous year, and we were all set was great to see everyone so flexible and to kick-off the playing season in late April. accommodating in the interest of the kids and the game. Thank you to those Member Otherwise, (as ever!) we simply hoped Clubs that went above and beyond to make for good weather. We continued to be it happen. buoyed by what appeared to be growing enthusiasm for the game following its As to the future, we must remain optimistic increased profile in recent time both in the that things will be much more normal in men’s and women’s game, with successes 2021 and any restrictions in play will have at national and county level and excited little impact on our ability to run and play how that would translate into our local the game. Hopefully, the interest in our grassroots cricket. beautiful game has grown with the season break rather than waned or created any As we were beset by the pandemic and a apathy. It is hoped that our Member Clubs, long period of lockdown it became clear the many volunteers and the young players this would be a huge impediment to any return with a new energy and passion to league cricket being played in 2020. A make the most of the opportunity, and that shame after all the hard work but most of all new recruits in all areas continue to be for the young players who would likely miss attracted to the game. out on a season of youth cricket in what can be a relatively short “youth career”. As ever, the BDYCL will do its utmost to provide a strong and effective framework There was some “light at the end of the for youth grassroots cricket in the area. tunnel” when the lockdown measures were relaxed and through ECB guidance for a safe return of cricket we were able to provide some competitive cricket for our Member Clubs, although the window of opportunity was small. It has always been a key tenet of the League to focus on participation and this was required now more than ever! We sought interest from clubs who were keen and able to start playing matches at

88 Somerset County Cricket Club YOUTH Taunton Deane Youth Cricket League in 2020 By Amanda Counsell, League Secretary

he Taunton and District Youth Cricket leagues from the Under 11 to Under 15 CRICKET League covers much of Somerset, age groups fifty six teams from twenty five Tproviding a youth cricket league clubs entered. structure for boys and girls at Under 11, Under Each bubble was run on a friendly fixture 13, Under 15 and Under 17 age groups. basis with each team playing the other However in 2020 with the pandemic putting teams in their bubble. No results were paid to any ‘normal’ junior season taking place collated and no leagues were kept. The with the TDYCL, once cricket was given the main aim of the shortened season was to green light it was a case of organising games enable children to play cricket; something that in the most appropriate way possible ensuring didn’t look possible earlier in the season. the safety of all concerned. Scott Chappell from the Somerset Cricket It was decided that teams would be put into Board who organised the fixture bubbles said: smaller geographic ‘bubbles’ to minimise “It was fantastic to have junior cricket played travelling but still ensuring they were playing this summer. All the clubs brought into the teams of a similar standard and getting ethos of the bubbles to ensure children were between four and six games each. Across six able to play cricket and have a fantastic time.”

D.F.C.A. Bristol Youth Cricket League in 2020 By Jim Donaldson, League Chairman ike all other ‘local’ cricket, we went from climaxed on Bank Holiday Monday with ten thinking that we wouldn’t have a Season, Semi-Finals and Finals, played at Frenchay and Lto setting it up in two weeks flat, which was Winterbourne. We had great support from Bristol super work by the Committee and the Clubs to Umpires, who had 20 volunteers to cover the set something up . matches ensuring an excellent day of cricket. We gave Clubs the chance of having either a Out of a potential disaster of ‘no cricket at all’ ‘competitive’ or a ‘friendly’ format. Inevitably, we has come several new initiatives, which are now had a near 50-50 response, so we set up both actively promoting with Member Clubs. These at each age group (U11-U17). We introduced playing age groups on certain days, playing in are aimed at improving the offer, and providing a ‘game’ week,’ and with some generally very more ‘equitable’ cricket across the board more good weather in July and August, lots of cricket based on the ability of individual players. was played. The ‘competitive’ age groups Interesting times indeed!

North Somerset Youth Cricket League in 2020 By Steve Croucher, League Secretary Well what can I say a very unusual season. While 1919 proved beyond all question or dispute that our leagues were cancelled we did manage to cricket had lost none of its attraction for the organise some fixtures on a friendly basis, for our public. youth teams to enjoy. So here’s hoping it will be back as vibrant and I will leave you with positive thoughts for 2021. During the 1st World War cricket was not played immersive as ever in 2021. for 4 years. According to Wisden the season

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 89 The Mid Wessex League in 2020 By Rich Askew n common with all domestic League Winning became far less important than actually competitions this year the Mid Wessex League getting games on and clubs engaged brilliantly Isuffered huge disruption as a result of the Covid with the concept, the vast majority fulfilling all pandemic. However, despite losing the first half of their fixtures and grabbing the opportunity with the season most of our member clubs managed both hands. to get some games in by September. Similarly we had to rearrange our Youth games 2020 had been planned as our first year of along the same lines. This proved more of a running two formats on Sundays. In addition to culture change in that games were usually the 40 over games, which retain an interest in a scheduled to end with the start of school number of clubs in our catchment area, we had holidays, this year they played through July and around 20 teams join us for a program of T20 August instead. games in mid-season. Looking forward to 2021 we will again be offering 40 overs has been a format that has dwindled both formats at Senior level and so far, despite somewhat since the heady days of four Divisions the ongoing issues, entries have been good. but within 20 miles of Yeovil we still have clubs We will be running an online “AGM” at the end that either don’t play Saturday cricket, have of November, after which we will be starting to members who play elsewhere on their main cricket day or teams that use the more friendly group teams into regional clusters and sorting out Sunday games to give youngsters experience fixtures. We have a loose end or two to tie up with without the more serious considerations of WEPL the 40 Over teams but the T20 will run along the or Somerset Leagues. lines of the SCB U19 competitions once more. Unfortunately with the go ahead to begin playing With around 30 Senior and 60 age group teams cricket, albeit with the distanced guidelines, involved across the range for next year our finally arriving in June this meant that the most situation looks healthy and we will continue to sensible solution was to remove the longer work with clubs to try to offer them appropriate format and opt for T20 for all teams. To minimise cricket at a level that suits their needs. As with travel several regionalised groupings were everyone else in the cricket family we’re hoping identified and we introduced a ‘fixtures bureau’ for an undisrupted summer and a return to style offering as much flexibility as possible – ‘normal’ for next year, although we’d quite like to played on Sundays, midweek or whenever best see the same weather that we had in the first few suited the clubs concerned. months of this delayed season!

Butleigh Cricket Club hosting a Mid-Wessex Sunday League game

90 Somerset County Cricket Club YOUTH Martin Berrill Sports Bristol & District League 2020

By Tony Hitch, Secretary CRICKET

fter not expecting there to be any cricket Pakistanis. in 2020 it was a pleasant surprise to be There were ten partnerships of 150 or Agiven the go ahead to start playing in more with the best being 243 between June. M.Blackmore and L. Justin of Midsomer The Bristol & District League decided to Norton 2nds. arrange fixtures for the five weeks of August Individual batting performances saw nine of giving clubs the option of playing friendly fixtures late in July and in September. more than 125 with P. Giddings of Coalpit Heath 2nds.scoring 169 not out including 27 x4 and 4 An added complication was that a considerable number of grounds were unavailable, one of x 6. which hosted six teams, but some clubs made On the bowling side five bowlers took 6 wickets alternative arrangements to play games. with the best performance by S, Hunter of In the end fixtures were arranged for 126 teams Bradley Stoke 3rds taking 6-12. There were also in pods of 6.The majority of the pods contained 26 instances of five wickets. teams of a similar standard but a few groups As there was no promotion or relegation in were a mixture of stronger and weaker teams. the shortened season it was decided that As far as possible travel was kept to a minimum with covid regulations still in force that the and once all the safety regulations were put in presentation evening, with Mark Ramprakash, place play got under way. would be cancelled. Teams were given the option of the number of Arrangements are now being made for the overs to play with 40 overs per side proving to 2021 season, which hopefully will allow a full be the most popular option. season to be played. There may still be some Three of the Saturdays saw an almost regulations that will have to be observed, which complete programme of fixtures with the other clubs dealt with successfully in 2020, and I two affected by the weather. am sure that the wish to have a full season will Of all the games arranged one team withdrew enable them to do the same in 2021. before the start as their ground was not available and five were called off because of a shortage of players. The winners of the pods were Frenchay, Clevedon 2, Bitton, Chew Magna, Hampset, Old Down, Hambrook, Bath 4, Long Ashton, Bristol 3, Bristol Aces, Keynsham 3, Old Bristolians/ Westbury 3, Bristol Eagles, Dyrham & Hinton, Midsomer Norton Methodists, Backwell/Flax Bourton 2, Golden Hill 3, Carsons Mangotsfield 2, Golden Hill 4, and Bristol Malyalee. Despite playing only 40 overs a side there were thirty scores over 250 in total with five exceeding 300.The highest total was achieved by Old Bristolians/Westbury 2 who scored 347 for 6. Chew Magna captain Jamie Dawson walking In contrast three teams failed to reach 50 runs off after scoring a century to help his side to with the lowest total being 37 all out by Bristol win their ‘pod’

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 91 West of England Premier League Report 2020 By Clive Copp -WEPL Administrator

ebruary 2020 saw winter nets in full swing, Clubs were asked to source their own umpires fixture lists printed, plans for overseas and and, where possible, make use of those who Fcontract players being finalised, grounds had completed the basic courses whilst the being prepared, pavilions being spruced WEPL Umpires Premier Panel acted as a up and applications for a share of the £15k clearing house for those who could not. In funding made available by WEPL for ground view of the restricted space in many score improvements submitted when we first heard boxes, it was agreed that if social distanc- rumours that the mysterious virus circulating ing was an issue, one scorer per game was in far off China was likely to make its way to our acceptable. shores in a matter of weeks. Although the fine weather of Spring and early It quickly became apparent that in order to Summer largely deserted us, well over 90% combat the virus, sport including recreational of games were played with North Perrott cricket was one of the many aspects of life and Taunton Deane winning their respective that was going to be placed on hold for some Somerset groups. Although a downside was time and almost certainly beyond the normal that some games were inevitably a little one early May start date. In partnership with the sided, as in some cases Tier 3 teams compet- ECB, our Feeder Leagues, the ACOs and the ed against Premier 1 and Premier 2 teams, this clubs, the WEPL Board analysed the effects of was countered by several important upsides the delay and developed a range of scenar- - Clubs were able to stay in business, players ios for a restart and what recreational cricket who may have otherwise been lost to the might look like in the event a restart became game were retained, with games a touch less possible. These scenarios were reviewed and competitive, many youngsters were able to updated through March to June as HMG and experience adult cricket whilst a few budding ECB guidance developed until late June when umpires were able to stand in relatively com- we were able to consider some sort of restart petitive senior matches. in July. Looking forward, it is already clear that Covid Finance was an issue for many clubs with no is likely to affect next season so WEPL are bar income, no fundraising and no subscrip- already working with the ECB, member clubs, tions or donations coming in, so WEPL, having the ACOs and Feeder Leagues to deliver the prudently maintained a ‘war chest’ to cover best possible recreational cricket for our 63 unseen circumstances were able to fund the clubs in 2021. £17K bill for cricket balls for all 63 member clubs who were then asked to pay later for just enough for the season. Despite over half the season having already gone and a wide range of Covid restrictions still in place, the clubs wanted to play so a decision was taken to group clubs together in geographically based mini-leagues of six or eight teams, playing each other in a 40 overs a side game with a simple 2 points for a win and 1 point for a cancelled or abandoned game, but without trophies – the format being based on just providing some sort of cricket whilst complying with the Covid restrictions, in par- ticular, social distancing, sanitising of players Taunton Deane CC who won their Somerset and officials hands and equipment and the Group inability to share cars or travel long distances. 92 Somerset County Cricket Club YOUTH Monmouth Scientific - Somerset Cricket League Report 2019 By Ray Hancock, Hon. Secretary SCL CRICKET

he Somerset Cricket League, like so many other concept further. clubs and organisations across the country, A survey of all clubs to determine the number of was unable to function in 2020 due to the covid T teams that they are likely to field next year will be restrictions. However, the situation eased slightly and thankfully some cricket was permitted in the latter made well before the AGM. This will enable the weeks of the season. Committee to see a fairly accurate assessment The Management Committee, like most other of next year’s composition. leagues, devised a restricted, but nevertheless Similarly, an assessment of the cricket ball needs will competitive set of matches throughout July, August have to be made so that an order can be placed with and September. Clearly any form of the usual format the supplier. The League is already holding a fair sup- of league cricket was not possible, but the SCL like ply of balls, but with only a limited amount of cricket many others adopted a group approach where ‘bub- played in 2020 and the clubs’ stock of balls, it is nec- bles’ were formed to create a competitive atmos- phere. essary to determine an accurate picture as soon as possible of requirements for a full season in 2021. The Somerset bubbles were created by Matt Counsell and they each comprised 8 teams with a match I have already noted that the fixtures for next year programme of 7 games. I was able to make a viable will be a replica of those designed for 2020. These fixture list that comprised 3 home games and 4 aways fixtures took on board all observations about ground or vice-versa. Most games were played, although unavailability issues etc. that were known at that the British weather tried its upmost to wreck a few time. No doubt some of these restrictions will have matches. changed for next year. Any team that has a ground The bubbles were made up of teams with a similar problem should advise me at the earliest opportunity strength – where possible – and balanced by a so I can review the fixtures if necessary. geographical element. Scores were recorded on play-cricket, so a competitive element prevailed. This year, I shall be producing a reply form that will give an accurate list of club officers and other The Committee determined, at the time of the ‘lock down’ that promotion and relegation would not take requirements. I hope that all clubs will return the form place and the league composition would be held over in good time so to give an accurate picture of the to 2021 when, hopefully a full season can take place. personnel of the SCL clubs. We hope that the fixtures designed for 2020 will still I conclude my remarks with thanks to the members be relevant for next year and I shall be trying to as- of the Management Committee for the help I have re- certain at an early date, which teams will be wanting to play in 2021. Hopefully, all teams that signed up ceived with the running of the Monmouth Scientific – for 2020 will be in the mix next year. At this point in Somerset Cricket League. in this very troubled season time, only one 2nd XI team has withdrawn, but we are encouraged to note that two more teams have joined the league this year to augment the three that joined for 2020 but didn’t start a game- like the rest of us. The Management Committee continued to meet on a regular basis and apart for two meetings in January/ March the remainder were held with the use of zoom. A sub-group looked at the League’s constitution and determined that it needed updating. A revised constitution was prepared and will be put before the membership at the AGM. Obviously, with no ‘real’ cricket being played, the EGM, balls collection evening and presentations did not take place, but it is hoped that some form of social evening could take place next year. Of course, Twelve year old Thomas Rew on his way to all Government conditions would have to be met and 113 not out for Taunton St Andrews B against such a gathering would have to be ultra-safe. The President, Stuart Shepherd agreed to investigate this Wembdon Fourth XI

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 93 SCB T20 Under19 report for 2020 By Matt Counsell he season may have been Diamonds, The Saints, and the eventual shortened but 20 teams from winners Bridgwater Red Sox. These Tacross Somerset took part in a three teams all finished above the reorganised Under 19 T20 competition Staplegrove Centurions who special in 2020. praise should go to for their superb Due to the government restrictions use of social media to promote results, there was no finals day, which is fixtures and player performances normally a highlight of the summer throughout the competition. calendar so for one year only (hopefully) James Hayes of Bridgwater tied at the the competition was played in area top of the National Leader board for run groups with local winners. scoring. In the North East group, the Hinton Whilst the competition was unable to Hornets narrowly pipped the run as normal it was brilliant to see so Beckington Badgers by a single point to much cricket played during the summer be crowned the local winner. in U19T20 in such a short window when On their way they overcame Keynsham for much of the summer it looked like Knight Riders, Timsbury Miners, little or no cricket was going to be Hampset Scorpions, and the Whitchurch possible. Gladiators. Patrick Crawford of the Hinton Hornets showed his 6 hitting prowess finishing third on the national 6 hitting leader board for U19T20. In the North West, Congresbury Cobras went undefeated as they won the area ahead of the Weston Super Kings who were runners up. The pair finished ahead of the Winscombe Wildcats and Claverham Knights in the group with teams playing each other home and away. In the South East group, the Yeovil Whirlwinds had a 100% record as they won this area comfortably from the Klimington Eagles, Street Spitfires, Ilminster Bears and the Perrot Monkeys. Weston super Mare Under 19s CC Dan Ewens of the Yeovil Whirlwinds took 4-8 against Street which was the Left To Right Sam Elstone, Kruz 13th best bowling performance in the Belcher,,Brad Lucas, Eoin Austin, Jodie country. Filer, George Bemand, Sitting Left to The South West group was the closest Right: Davis Trego, Jack Press, Ryan with just three points separating Deane Hearse, Jake Richards.

94 Somerset County Cricket Club WOMENS & GIRLS Somerset Women’s recreational cricket in 2020 By Steve Gass - SCB Growth and Participation Officer

2020 season which teetered on the brink of back providing Deane beat Hatherleigh they were oblivion, ended with over 80 fixtures played through to finals day. A within women’s and girls’ friendly match play Hatherleigh were bowled out for 119, with Hughes programmes. 2-18, Lusk 3-22 and Charlotte Berry 2-21 the pick The prolonged good weather, plus some great work by of the bowlers. Deane were quick to reply with a the ECB in allowing cricket to be the first team sport to hard-hitting 30 from Bond, before Currie came in resume, allowed for a shortened season with minimal and played a captains innings of 22 not out to see disruption. her side home. Things were never going to be perfect, but they ran Final’s Day saw the Deane returning to Hatherleigh smoothly enough to ensure a window of opportunity where they beat both Plympton and Exeter to didn’t go to waste. ensure victory of the Super 8’s league. Frustratingly, we were unable to implement our plans Firstly Plympton were beaten by 43 runs, thanks to brilliant bowling from the two opening bowlers to grow female hard-ball sections across the county or CRICKET to drive increases in girls’ sections at clubs due to the juniors Lusk and Smyth Lees with 3-9 and 1-14 pandemic. respectively. There were some notable performances, especially This victory saw Deane take on a very young from Taunton Deane Ladies whose success in Devon is talented Exeter side in the final, where batting first detailed below. the Devon side reached 78-3, in reply to which We are, of course grateful that we were able to get Deane won with two balls to spare, thanks to 26 cricket played at all this summer and our plans to from Bond and an unbeaten 17 from Rose while significantly grow the female game in Somerset will just skipper Currie remained 6 not out. have to wait for a few more months. Deane bowler Millie Lusk was the top bowler in the whole competition taking 9 wickets, while Laura Taunton Deane Ladies enjoy success in Devon Currie, the team captain, took the role of keeper in the Taunton Deane Ladies enjoyed success when they tournament, not her regular position but only gave away competed in the Devon League for the first time in 2020. a total of 19 byes/leg byes in all 8 games a fantastic This season the format was changed to a super 8’s effort. competition, which saw teams split into 3 pools, playing Hannah Hughes said: “ This was a brilliantly run and well everyone twice, with the winners of those pools meeting organised competition that allowed us to compete in a on a finals day. COVID safe way. The Devon League have been hugely In the opening match of the first round played at the welcoming, and Deane Ladies look forward to what next Convent Field on 2nd August against Sandford, batting season has to offer.” first thanks to Hannah Hughes retired 32, supported by Madi Bond, 30 and Karla Rose 19 Deane reached 155 all out. Sandford responded well but junior Jessie Smyth Lees with 3-25 helped secure the victory. Next up came North Devon Tarka who scored 121/4 off their 16 overs, with junior Millie Lusk taking 2-18 in reply to which Deane reached 123/4 off 14.4 overs of which Abby Murray scored 30 retired The second round a week later saw Deane facing hosts Hatherleigh who were an unknown quantity however the visitors posted 140/ 4 off the 16 overs, Hughes and Murray both retiring on 30, with useful contribution from Laura Currie with 26. Hatherleigh responded well but in the end fell short by 12 runs, with the wickets being shared amongst the bowlers. Taunton Deane Ladies in Devon League In the second match Sandford won the toss and opted to bat, tight bowling and a couple of runouts restricted their run rate only reaching 61/5 in their 16 overs. Deane Team pic- Back row -Jessie Smyth Lees, Millia Lusk, went out and pushed the pace, running well between Laura Currie (capt), Abby Murray, Charlotte Berry the wickets and punishing loose balls, and got the runs Front row- Daisy Farrow, Karla Rose, Madi Bond and in 8.4 overs. Hannah Hughes The third round saw Deane travelling to North Devon CC Others who played in earlier rounds but not included in at Instow where batting first the hosts scored 117 in reply team photo – Lauren Morrish, Kate Gillard, Nicola Beviss to which the Somerset side made 91.Despite this set and Harriet Kelly The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 95 West Somerset Cricket League Review of the 2020 Season. By David Wilson (Acting Secretary)

o there we were, fixtures organized by our and we followed Gordon’s divisional fixture list. juggling genius, Gordon Everett. He has to (We rejected localizing matches, to save Div. 5 Sdovetail them with the Somerset League and Pygmies from being crushed by Div. 1 Giants.) then grant requests for free Saturdays because of Teams could opt out – and seven did. We fêtes, weddings, and the captain’s grandma’s 80th informed clubs about which fixtures could not birthday. We’re a very accommodating league. be fulfilled, but also supplied them with a list of Clubs were netting and preparing pitches, players teams that would be free each Saturday so that were washing last year’s flannels and disinfecting they could arrange matches themselves. We also their boxes, and WAGS were resigning themselves sent them a summary of the ECB’s guidelines to grass widowhood or making the teas……And when eventually they arrived, just in time to start then…… the half season. We all know what happened next. Or did it? To For the first season in living memory, the records play or not to play, that was the question. Nobody officer could relax every Saturday, there were no seemed to know. disputes over player eligibility, and no disciplinary IRATE CLUB CAPTAIN hearings. We don’t know of any fielder catching a (phoning Chairman Bob Bowyer): Corona, and the few emails and phone calls we Are we going to play or not? did receive were to thank us for the organization CHAIRMAN: Dunno. and to tell us that the half season had been ICC: You’re the Chairman. enjoyed. CHAIRMAN: I know. But of course we’re hoping that all the same ICC: So you should decide. Next year we’ll play our normal game, CHAIRMAN: I can’t do anything till the ECB tell us what we can do. And when we hear folk talk of a “test”, ICC: Then ask the ECB. We’ll think of England v the rest! CHAIRMAN: They can’t do anything till the The WSCL match between Minehead Third XI v government tells them what to do. Wiveliscombe Seconds featured four Father and ICC: Then ask the government. Son groups for the hosts pictured below CHAIRMAN: They can’t do anything till Boris Johnson tells them what to do. ICC: Then ask Boris Johnson. CHAIRMAN: He can’t do anything till Dominic Cummings tells him what to do. ICC: Then ask… CHAIRMAN: I can’t. He’s gone to Durham. Eventually, after one of many emailed questionnaires, the committee decided to cancel the first half of the season. Then we waited. We kept clubs informed of all the non-developments as and when they were announced. And we waited. Some other sports were allowed. Boris Johnson informed the nation that he loved village cricket but the virus loved cricket balls. So we waited. And then suddenly the virus changed its Minehead Thirds featured four families mind and didn’t love cricket balls after all. We pictured above could play! The ECB would immediately issue a set of guidelines. We waited. Back row-Left to right: Adrian Priddle and in But by now we’d drawn up our own plan: friendly front his son Finn, Rob Hopkins and in front his son matches only, no promotion or relegation, normal Jonah, Ian Goodrum and his son Lewis in front and format unless both captains agreed otherwise, Paul Jones and son Ryan in front 96 Somerset County Cricket Club SCB

North Perrott reach semi finals of National Village Cup By Darren Taylor aving reached the quarter finals of the in trouble at 18-3 after six overs. National Village Cup for the last two seasons However a fourth wicket stand of 107 between Hthere was considerable delight in the North Gordon Whorlow and Sam Rowswell rescued Perrott camp when recreational cricket was given the situation somewhat although a flurry of late the go ahead in July and the 2020 competition wickets saw North Perrott finish on 161-8, which at could be played. best was a par score. Frocester opening batsman The first game was at home to north Somerset Chris Whincup was in a rush as he scored at more side Timsbury in early August when batting first than a run a ball but once he fell for 69 (off 58 the hosts racked up an impressive 277/6 in their balls) with the score on 99-5, Frocester collapsed 40 overs, with young opener Joseph Eckland to 114 all out. leading the way with a fine 81. In reply, Timsbury So for the first time in the clubs history, North were always struggling and an unplayable eight Perrott made it to the semi final. They were overs from Lorraine Szczepanski, who took 5-20 drawn at home to St Albans side Redbourn. A dismissed them for only 138. 300 miles round trip! An ever bigger crowd than The following week saw a trip to Congresbury and the last round saw North Perrott bat first, who the hosts, batting first, raced to 116-1 from less were indebted to Gordon Whorlow (32) and Sam than 20 overs before Perrott hauled them back, Rowswell (47) again for posting a score to defend. bowling them out for 215, a challenging target North Perrott scoring 160-9 in their 40 overs. It on a damp pitch. However with Gordon Whorlow must be said the Redbourn bowlers, especially anchoring the innings with 54 runs and a rapid the spinners, were excellent and very economical. 64, from 65 balls, from Sam Rowswell saw North Replying, Redbourn’s openers, brothers Edward Perrott home by five wickets. Hales (71 from 48 balls) and William Hales (77 not Traveling to Wiltshire to play Burbage & Easton out from 64 balls) simply took the game away from Royal followed and having been asked to bat the hosts, as Redbourn won by eight wickets. first on a very sticky wicket, North Perrott were in So a trip to Lords was not meant to be, but North trouble at 10-2 off seven overs. Jamie Baird batted Perrott can be very proud for making it so far and beautifully though for 56 very vital runs and a representing Somerset so well. Gordon Whorlow cameo from Jesse Meaker, 29 from 21 balls, saw was voted into the National Village Cup Team of North Perrott post an above par score of 169-8 the Year, following the success of George Retter from 40 overs. A terrific bowling performance last year. from the young Perrott bowlers saw the club With two quarter finals and semi final appearance comfortably into the next round as Burbage were in the last three seasons, can they go one better dismissed for 123. next year? With only sixteen teams left in the competition, North Perrott hosted the Welsh champions, Pentyrch in the next round. Batting first, the visitors were always struggling and very tight bowling from Alfie Ogborne, who only conceded seven runs from the bat in his seven overs, saw Pentyrch restricted to 159 all out. An opening stand of 100 between Gordon Whorlow (35) & George Retter (57) meant Perrott were always ahead of the required rate and a quickfire 47 from 41 balls from Jamie Baird got Perrott over the line with seven full overs remaining. The North Perrott line up for the quarter final match In the quarter final North Perrott were drawn to against Frocester- Back row: Sam Rowswell, Alfie face Gloucestershire champions Frocester at Ogborne, Joseph Eckland, Jesse Meaker, Lewis home. A carnival atmosphere amongst the large, Hunt, Gordon Whorlow. Front row: Lorraine Szczepanski, George Retter, socially distanced crowd, saw a competitive game Jake Symes (capt), Max Dicker, James Salaman. ensue. After being asked to bat first Perrott were The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 97 B Colman D Brown G Woolford T Stedall 2020 A Helliker J Tucker B Danial W Tucker Obituaries P Patston D Hanney R Tucker R Rossiter (As of 5th November 2019) Tony Brown Rivers Barry Tony Brown who served Rivers Barry died as Secretary of Somerset suddenly at his home County Cricket Club for in Nynehead, near six years between 1982 Wellington, on October and 1988, passed away on 19th at the age of 65, May 27th at the age of 83. Rivers left school early Anthony Stephen Brown and went to work as was born in Bristol on 24 a farm labourer. He June 1936 and enjoyed then worked in the a long and impressive construction industry playing career with Gloucestershire before for a while and was he was appointed to the post of secretary at involved in helping to build some of the Somerset in 1982. bridges that crossed the M5 motorway. Tony Brown was a very useful all rounder who He returned to education and obtained a played for Gloucestershire from 1953-1976, degree in English Literature and subsequently and skippered the side from 1968 until 1976. lectured on the subject at both Bridgwater One of the highlights of his years of captaincy College and Richard Huish. For a number of was when he was named Man of the Match years Rivers also owned and ran the bookshop in the Gillette Cup Final in 1973 after scoring in Wellington. an unbeaten 77 to help Gloucestershire beat Rivers was a keen sportsman and enjoyed Sussex at Lord’s. his cricket for Nynehead CC, where he was During his career Tony Brown made 489 first chairman for a number of years during which class appearances for Gloucestershire in which he played a major part in helping the club to he scored 12681 runs and claimed 1223 wickets acquire their ground and build a new pavilion. His career best score in the first class game was 116 against Somerset in 1971, while with In the winter Rivers played rugby for the ball his best was 8 for 80 against Essex in Cullompton RFC where he was a second row 1963. forward. When he gave up playing regularly he became president of Cullompton RFC a post Tony also held onto 488 catches, including he still held at his untimely passing. Rivers was seven in one innings against Nottinghamshire also involved with Wellington RFC and was still at , which equalled the world a keen tennis player. record and still stands today. He was also involved with all aspects of village After retiring from playing Tony remained life and for the last few years served on the involved with cricket initially as secretary and Nynehead Parish Council. manager at Gloucestershire, before he was appointed as secretary of Somerset in 1982 to Rivers was a Trustee of the Somerset Cricket replace David Seward. Museum in Taunton for a number of years as well as being a syndicate member of a box at During his time in post at Somerset he had the County Ground from where he would enjoy to manage the upheaval caused by the following the fortunes of Somerset CCC. departures of Ian Botham, Joel Garner and Viv Richards, before in 1988 he was appointed Rivers Barry,is survived by his wife Danielle, as assistant secretary at the Test and County and their children Helena and Patrick. Cricket Board. Later Tony Brown became chairman of cricket at Gloucestershire from 1999 to 2007, during which time the club enjoyed success in one- day competitions, before serving as president between 2008 and 2011. 98 Somerset County Cricket Club OBITUARIES

D Harcourt-Smith B Caswell B Perry M Barter R Smith M Stuart-Brown S Pierce E Beasley D Brister A Squires M Holley M Wallburton D Lench

Roy Smith and nine scores in excess of 50. He also Former Somerset took 19 wickets at an average of 57.00, with cricketer Roy Smith, a best of four for 91. who later went onto After cricket Roy trained to become a play for Devon died in teacher at St Lukes Exeter and taught at Weston super Mare on Richard Huish’s where he stayed until 1978. September 22nd at the In addition to teaching maths he coached both age of 90. the school cricket and football teams. Roy was born in Taunton Between 1957 and 61 Roy played Minor County on 14th February 1930 cricket for Devon for who he appeared in 31 and went to Huish’s matches in which he scored 912 runs at an Grammar School before average of almost 25 with a best of 150. He moving to Woolacombe in 1944, where the also took 49 wickets. talented all round sportsman started to make Tony Stedall his mark playing cricket for North Devon and Tony Stedall, who football for Ilfracombe. was one of the driving In his first full season playing club cricket Roy forces behind the claimed 117 wickets at less than eight runs establishment and each, which drew the attraction of Somerset running of the Somerset and he eventually was offered a job working as Cricket Museum for assistant secretary to Nigel Daniell. many years, passed Roy did his National Service at Norton away on 11th May 2020 Fitzwarren and in a trial match against the at the age of 95. Army he took eight for56. Born in Coulsdon, Surrey His debut for Somerset came in June 1949 on June 3rd 1925 from against Cambridge University at Bath and an early age Tony had an interest in cricket and he scored 40 in the second innings on the rugby, which was further enhanced when he strength of which in 1950 Roy signed a went onto attend Cranleigh School. When the professional contract with the county. Second World War broke out at the earliest opportunity he signed up and joined the Tank In the 1952 season, Roy played in about half Regiment. of Somerset’s first-class matches and in the game against Essex at Taunton, batting at No In 1944 Tony took part in the D Day landings and served as a member of the crew of a flail 8, he made 58, his first score of more than 50. tank that helped with the liberation of France. Towards the end of that season, he took four Leicestershire wickets for 91 the best figures of Following World War Two, Tony met his wife his career. Sheila In 1947 and four years later they were married. In 1955 their son Neil was born and He was a regular player in the Somerset side they moved to live in Taunton, initially at in 1953, and made 1176 runs at an average of Creech Castle before eventually settling in 26.17, scoring 100 against Worcestershire at Trull which remained their family home. , which earned him his county cap. Tony became a member of Somerset County Another of the highlights off his career was his Cricket Club as soon as they moved to the 77 not out against Australia at Taunton in 1953. county and quickly became heavily involved. During the winters Roy played football in the He became secretary of the Somerset Western League for Bridgwater Town. Supporters Club and along with the officers of After two disappointing season’s Roy was the organisation Jack Goldsworthy, Rex Frost, released by Somerset at the end of 1956, Richard Robinson and Ken Wills the idea of having played in 96 matches and scored 2600 creating a Cricket Museum was proposed. runs at an average of 17.10 with one century In 1979 a site adjoining the County Ground, that The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 99 2020 Obituaries Continued included the old Priory Barn and was being the time of his death. used at the time as a builders yard by F and F He was an accomplished musician, just Small, came up for sale, which the Supporters recently performing his own “Musical Life Club duly purchased. Story” with his favourite pieces dating back to Tony became secretary and later the first his first recitals at Blundells School. curator of the Somerset Cricket Museum and His passion for music was perhaps best along with his wife Sheila worked tirelessly to expressed through his love for singing with firstly create a building suitable to house the The West Somerset Singers. He sang and museum and then collecting items to display. performed with this choir for over seven He continued to serve as secretary and curator decades! of the Somerset Cricket Museum from it’s opening in 1989 until 2006 during which time He also loved his sport and played rugby for he was always supported and helped by Taunton RFC as a winger as well as cricket to a Sheila. high standard. He also enjoyed golf, especially with his Thursday morning group at Taunton After retirement from his post Tony continued and Pickeridge Golf Club. to be involved as a Trustee of the Somerset Cricket Museum until he moved into the Manor In the words of one of his many friends: “John Nursing Home where he died. Evemy was just a lovely man, who was simply adored wherever he went. “ Somerset County Cricket Club is indebted to Tony Stedall for the time and commitment He is survived by his children, David and that he gave over many years to creating and Sheridan and grandchildren Carina, Belen, maintaining the Cricket Museum, which is a Andrew and Carolyn. lasting memorial to him. Derek Brown John Evemy Derek Brown who John Evemy, who served served on the Bath Area as Treasurer of Somerset committee and was a CCC for 10 years died on driving force behind the December 19th 2019 at Bath Cricket Festival for the age of 89. many years died on April 27th at the age of 77. John was born in Cardiff on 6th February 1930 Derek was born in Bath and attended Blundell’s on 5th February 1943 School from January 1944 and had his first taste of where he remained until County Cricket when he attended the Bath July 1947, during which time he won two prizes Festival iaged 10 to watch Bertie Buse’s Benefit for music. match. Professionally, John qualified as a Chartered During the match, that was completed in just Accountant in 1952 after which he accepted a one day with Lancashire winning by an innings post with Cooper Bros. in Nairobi, Kenya. East and 24 runs, Derek helped the stewards with Africa. When he returned home to Taunton he the blanket collection. joined AC Mole in 1961 where he went onto Derek was a stalwart of Somerset cricket, become Senior Partner in 1991. becoming a life member and supported the Between 1969 and 1979 John was treasurer of Club for 67 years. He was a Somerset County Cricket Club during which member of an informal group known as the time he introduced new financial controls, that ‘Friends of Bath Cricket’ who regularly met for proved to be so successful that he was invited coffee in the market cafe and always attended to Lords to lecture to the other Counties on the the Bath Festival. merits of the system. When the Friends of the Bath County Cricket John remained involved with Somerset and Festival was formed in 1987, Derek became was still Treasurer of the Cricket Museum at treasurer until 2000 and was appointed 100 Somerset County Cricket Club OBITUARIES

Chairman in 2004. From 1988 until 2011 the at Purton before becoming head teacher at Friends attracted a membership of almost 400 Westmead Junior School in Chippenham from all over the UK and beyond and raised where he remained for more than 20 years many thousands of pounds in support of the until he retired. Bath Festival. Jack became secretary of the Chippenham Derek devoted a huge amount of time and and District Branch of the National Union of effort to the Friends of Bath Cricket Festival Teachers from 1970 to 1988 during which and would spend the entire week each year he also served for a period as Wiltshire County organising events. President. Derek was also a member of the Bath & In 1972 Jack first became involved with Calne Wilts Area Committee for some years and his Cricket Club when it had very little money knowledge of cricket in the area was and only six members. He agreed to become invaluable. secretary and was instrumental in helping the club’s revival. Over the years Derek organised numerous trips to Taunton, taking colleagues and friends He played well into the 1980s and eventually often for the entire duration of the match. He became club President , delighting in the was a kindly man who had an astonishing progress the club had made, especially with memory of Somerset cricket. the move to the new facilities at Beversbrook, where he remained a regular spectator. Derek was related to Jack Brooks and closely followed his career with Northamptonshire, For many years Jack was a member of the Yorkshire and Somerset. Bath and Wiltshire Area Committee of SCCC and also served as Secretary of the West of The last match that Derek attended was England Branch of the Cricket Society. against Yorkshire at Taunton in September 2019 and although Somerset won this match, He enjoyed an active retirement, during which sadly Jack was unable to play. he became a founder member of the North Wilts Branch of U3A, eventually becoming its Derek Brown died on 27th April 2020 and is Chairman. survived by his wife Ann. Jack loved his visits to the County Ground and Jack Endacott would enjoy nothing more than regaling those Jack Endacott, who had watched Somerset close to him with stories of Somerset matches every year since 1936, he had witnessed down the years and the fact passed away at the Great that he had both watched Harold Gimblett and Western Hospital in played against him! Swindon on 19th March at Jack’s last visit to the ground was for the the age of 89. Taunton Area Committee Christmas Lunch in Born at Staplegrove December 2019 and he was looking forward Stores in Taunton on to the new season, which sadly for him didn’t 19 May 1930, Jack’s ever arrive. father Les Endacott had founded Staplegrove Sports Club in 1919 and served as its Secretary and Treasurer until 1969. Jack inherited his father’s love of cricket and made his debut for the Staplegrove cricket team at the age of 14 and went onto score his only century in 1950. He trained to become a teacher and after starting his career in Exeter he moved to Wiltshire in 1963 to take up a deputy headship

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 101 Somerset County Cricket Club 2021 1st XI Fixtures

Date Days Home Away Ground Comp Thu Apr 08 4 Middlesex Somerset Lord’s CC Thu Apr 15 4 Somerset Gloucestershire CACG CC Thu Apr 22 4 Leicestershire Somerset CC Thu Apr 29 4 Somerset Middlesex CACG CC Thu May 06 4 Hampshire Somerset Ageas Bowl CC Thu May 13 4 Somerset Surrey CACG CC Thu May 20 4 Gloucestershire Somerset Bristol CC Tue May 25 4 Somerset New Zealand CACG TOM Thu Jun 03 4 Somerset Hampshire CACG CC Wed Jun 09 1 Somerset Essex Eagles CACG T20 F Fri Jun 11 1 Somerset Surrey CACG T20 Tue Jun 15 1 Somerset Kent Spitfires CACG T20 F Fri Jun 18 1 Sussex Sharks Somerset Hove T20 F Sat Jun 19 1 Somerset Glamorgan CACG T20 Wed Jun 23 1 Surrey Somerset Kia Oval T20 F Fri Jun 25 1 Somerset Hampshire CACG T20 Mon Jun 28 1 Kent Spitfires Somerset Canterbury T20 F Tue Jun 29 1 Essex Eagles Somerset Chelmsford T20 F Thu Jul 01 1 Gloucestershire Somerset Bristol T20 Fri Jul 02 1 Somerset Middlesex CACG T20 Sun Jul 04 4 Somerset Leicestershire CACG CC F Fri Jul 09 1 Hampshire Somerset Ageas Bowl T20 Sun Jul 11 4 Surrey Somerset Kia Oval CC F Fri Jul 16 1 Glamorgan Somerset Cardiff T20 Sun Jul 18 1 Somerset Gloucestershire CACG T20 F

102 SomersetSomerset County County Cricket Cricket Club Club SCCC SCCC 2020-2021

Date Days Home Away Ground Comp Tue Jul 20 1 Cornwall Somerset TBC NC Thu Jul 22 1 Devon Somerset TBC NC Sun Jul 25 1 Somerset Derbyshire CACG 50L Wed Jul 28 1 Somerset Glamorgan CACG 50L Fri Jul 30 1 Nottinghamshire Somerset Welbeck 50L Sun Aug 01 1 Somerset Yorkshire CACG 50L Thu Aug 05 1 Surrey Somerset Kia Oval 50L F Sun Aug 08 1 Northamptonshire Somerset Northampton 50L Tue Aug 10 1 Somerset Leicestershire CACG 50L Thu Aug 12 1 Warwickshire Somerset Edgbaston 50L F Sat Aug 14 1 TBC TBC TBC 50L QF Tue Aug 17 1 TBC TBC TBC 50L SF Thu Aug 19 1 TBC TBC TBC 50L Final F* Tue Aug 24 1 TBC TBC TBC T20 QF Wed Aug 25 1 TBC TBC TBC T20 QF F* Thu Aug 26 1 TBC TBC TBC T20 QF F* Fri Aug 27 1 TBC TBC TBC T20 QF F* Mon Aug 30 4 TBC TBC Div Fixture CC F* Sun Sept 05 4 TBD TBC Div Fixture CC Sun Sept 12 4 TBD TBC Div Fixture CC Sat Sept 18 1 TBC TBC TBC T20 SF F Sat Sept 18 1 TBC TBC TBC T20 Finals Tue Sept 21 4 TBD TBC Div Fixture CC F Tue September 22 4 Hampshire Somerset Ageas Bowl CC 1 F = Floodlight F* = Floodlight TBC

*Fixtures correct at the time of going to press. The The 2020 2020 Almanac Almanac and and Season Season Review Review 103 SCB Information: Useful Addresses & Telephone Numbers

• ECB Somerset & South West Academy Director: Steve Snell SOMERSET Somerset County Cricket Club, CRICKET BOARD The Cooper Associates County Ground, St. James Street, Taunton TA1 1JT. Tel: 01823 352266 • Somerset Association of Cricket Officials, SACO Secretary: Stuart Allbut 62 Parkfield Road, Taunton, Somerset, TAI 4SD. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01823 279918 / 07970 345 671 • Somerset Schools Cricket Secretary: Chris Twort 4 Turner Court, Priory Road, Wells, Somerset, BA5 1SU. Tel: 01458 837575 / 07885 213953 • Somerset Schools Chairman: Andy Curtis 11 Lethbridge Park, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, TA4 3QU. Tel: 01823 430877

LEAGUE CONTACTS • Monmouth Scientific Someret League: Ray Hancock: [email protected] • Sports Bristol & District League: Martin Berrill Tony Hitch: [email protected] • West Somerset League: Bob Bowyer: [email protected] • West of England Premier League: Clive Copp: [email protected] • North Somerset Sunday League: Martin Peters: [email protected] • Mid Wessex League (Adult & Junior): Robin Barker: [email protected] • Taunton & District Youth League: Amanda Counsell: [email protected] • Bath & District Youth League: Jon Flagg: [email protected] • North Somerset Youth League: Stephen Croucher: [email protected] • Bristol Youth Cricket League: Jim Donaldson: [email protected] Waiting for the 2021 season to come- an early February morning drone shot by Liam Holley.

The 2020 Almanac and Season Review 105 MMXX-MMXXI