Somerset County Cricket Club
Encyclopedia
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county
clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket
structure, representing the historic county of Somerset
. The club's limited overs team was formerly the Somerset Sabres, but is now known as just Somerset.
The county club was founded in 1875, and was granted first-class status in 1882, and then again in 1891, having lost it for five years between. Somerset have never won the County Championship
, in which they have competed since 1891, the county's highest finish being second, which was achieved in both 2001 and 2010. The club won their first silverware in the late 1970s, winning both the Gillette Cup and John Player League in 1979. In the years since, Somerset have experienced some success in one-day cricket, winning the Gillette Cup on two further occasions, the Benson & Hedges Cup
twice and the John Player League once more. Since the introduction of Twenty20
cricket in 2003, the club have reached the final of the Twenty20 cup competition on four occasions, winning the competition in 2005.
The club has its headquarters at the County Ground, Taunton
, where it plays the majority of its games. Somerset also play one-day cricket at the Recreation Ground
, Bath. Former grounds include Yeovil
, Weston-super-Mare
, Frome
, Glastonbury
, Wells
and the Imperial Tobacco Ground in south Bristol
.
was being played in north Somerset
, as in neighbouring Gloucestershire
and Wiltshire
, as well as parts of Dorset
. This sport most likely used either the base of a tree or its remaining stump
as its wicket, as both 'stow' and 'stob' are dialect words for 'stump'. However, 'stow' could also refer to a frame used to support crawling tunnels in mines
such as those lead
mines in north Somerset, providing another possibility for the wicket. The ball was made of a leather
case, stuffed with boiled quills, and was four inches in diameter
, roughly the same size as a modern softball, while the bats, known as 'staves' were shaped similarly to a field hockey stick
and typically made of withy
or willow
.
The earliest confirmed reference to cricket in Somerset is a match on 13 July 1751 that was played in memory of the late Frederick, Prince of Wales
who was a noted patron of the sport. The first officially organised club to be recognised in Somerset were Lansdown Cricket Club
, formed in 1825, although a Bath cricket club seems to have preceded it with a similar collection of enthusiasts from around 1817–1824. With a limited number of other organised clubs to play, fixtures were few and far apart in the founding years, with matches being played against Clifton, Sidmouth and Teignmouth. Lansdown placed Somerset in the cricketing world, and played a number of matches against 'England XI' in various forms.
In 1865, the first attempt at a county side was made with the formation of Yeovil and County Cricket Club. They performed poorly in their opening matches against local club sides, and on one occasion, even lost three players to their opposition the day before the match was scheduled to begin. In spite of these problems, they did play a 'county' fixture, against the Gentlemen of Devon; the match was abandoned due to rain. The first recorded occasion of a Gentlemen of Somerset side playing comes five years previously however, when a Somerset side travelled down to Culm Vale to take on the Gentlemen of Devon, this match also resulting in a draw.
in Devon
. Having played a two-day match, which the Somerset team won by eight wickets, the Gentlemen of Somerset and their friends held a meeting and resolved the Somerset should have its own county cricket club. Somerset is the only one of the present first-class counties in English cricket whose county cricket club was founded outside the boundaries of the traditional county. After their resolution, the gentlemen continued playing games under the name Gentlemen of Somerset, but their fixtures became more regular; rather than occasional games against the Gentlemen of Devon, they played host to teams from Dorset and Devon in 1876, and in 1877 visited Dorset, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Wiltshire in addition to their trip to Devon.
The following 1878 season, two matches were played by a Somerset team; a two-day match against Hertfordshire
played at St Albans
finished in a draw, while Worcestershire
were beaten by an innings and 47 runs later in the month at Bath. In 1879, Somerset played nine matches, albeit one of them against a Wells
team. During these early seasons, Somerset were never far from insolvency. An initial letter sent out after the formation of the club had only managed to raise £70 17s, while gate receipts in the first season raised the club £1 15s 8d. Despite this, fixtures continued to be arranged, and the amateurs kept on playing; bringing their own kit and paying for their own tickets for travel to away matches.
There are alternative versions of when Somerset's first first-class match took place, and matches in 1879 and 1881 are central to the statistics of W. G. Grace
– see the article on Variations in first-class cricket statistics
. If those games are discounted, then Somerset CCC played its initial first-class match against Lancashire CCC at Old Trafford on 8, 9 and 10 June 1882 and joined the (then unofficial) County Championship
. This first-class status lasted for only four seasons: after the 1885 season, Somerset failed to arrange sufficient fixtures with the other first-class teams to be accorded first-class status.
In 1890, following a successful recruitment policy at universities by the club's first full-time secretary, Henry Murray-Anderdon, Somerset played 13 games, including 2 against Middlesex, winning 12 of them and tying the other against Middlesex, furthering their ambition to be a first-class county.
At the third annual meeting of The County Cricket Council on 9 December 1889 the counties decided to create a sub-committee to consider whether an official classification of the counties should exist and how counties might rise from one class to another. Somerset was one of the 6 counties represented on the committee. The committee met on 11 August 1890 and proposed three classes of counties. The existing 8 first-class counties would remain with Somerset one of 8 second-class counties proposed. A system of promotion and relegation was suggested. These proposals was debated at the fourth annual meeting of The County Cricket Council on 8 December 1890. They were not well received. Eventually a vote was taken on whether The County Cricket Council itself should be suspended sine die
. The motion was passed on the casting vote of the Chairman and The County Cricket Council effectively ceased to exist. "This utterly unexpected result fairly took those present by surprise, and they dispersed hurriedly – a most undignified ending to what we are compelled to describe as a most unbusinesslike meeting." Mr. H.T. Hewett
and Mr. T. Spencer
were present for Somerset. On the following day, 9 December 1890, the county secretaries met to decide the fixtures for 1891, which they did on the usual basis of arranging "home and home" matches against whichever counties they wished. "The most noticeable feature ... is the encouragement given to Somersetshire by the chief county clubs. Middlesex played the western shire last summer, but Kent, Surrey, Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Lancashire will next summer test the merits of the eleven, which showed such good all round cricket, under Mr. H.T. Hewett
's command, last year." By arranging these 12 matches against first-class counties Somerset became a de facto
first-class county without any proposal or vote to that effect. Hewett, Spencer and Mr. W.N. Roe were present for Somerset.
), they enjoyed over many decades a reputation for cheerful inconsistency. Until the Second World War, the team regularly comprised a number of more or less talented amateurs and just a handful of professionals.
Famous names from the pre-First World War period included the England players Sammy Woods
, Lionel Palairet
and Len Braund
; the fast bowler Tom Richardson
also played for the county once after his retirement from Surrey
. In 1908, Woods persuaded the England rugby union
international John Daniell
to become captain with the team at a low ebb, and Daniell stayed, mostly playing as captain and often acting as secretary too, for almost 20 years.
The team continued to be a mix of a few highly talented amateurs, a few good professionals, with the side often made up with amateur players who appeared in only a few games. Among the amateurs, the west Somerset farmer Jack White
, who succeeded Daniell as captain in 1927, played for England as an off-spinning all-rounder
and also captained the Test side in Australia in 1928–29. The briefest Test match
career of them all was "enjoyed" by another amateur, Jack MacBryan
, whose only game for England was the rain-ruined match against the South Africans
in 1924, in which he neither batted nor bowled. Of the professionals, fleeting international careers were enjoyed by the hard-hitting batsman Harold Gimblett
, whose entry into first-class cricket was the stuff of legends, and by Arthur Wellard
, fast bowler and a mighty smiter of sixes.
and Bill Alley
from Australia, and from other counties. In 1958, under the captaincy of the first professional cricketer to captain the team, Maurice Tremlett
, the side again finished third, and this was repeated in 1963 and 1966 under different captains, Harold Stephenson
and Colin Atkinson
, who later became headmaster at Millfield School.
There was a further dip in fortunes towards the end of the 1960s, but, though County Championship success continued to elude the county, Somerset finally found in the 1970s the makings of a successful one-day team under the combative, inspirational captaincy of Yorkshireman Brian Close
. A trio of world class players, Viv Richards, Joel 'Big Bird' Garner
and the England all-rounder
Ian Botham
made the team for the first time in its long history a formidable trophy winning proposition.
The real success came after Close had retired. Under the captaincy of left-handed opener Brian Rose
, Somerset won their first ever silverware by taking the Gillette Cup and the Sunday League in 1979. In the same 1979 season, Somerset's newfound ruthless streak provoked controversy in the Benson & Hedges Cup
limited-overs competition when Rose declared the Somerset innings closed in the match against Worcestershire
, in an attempt to safeguard passage through to the quarter-final on run rate: the county was subsequently disqualified from the competition at a special meeting of the Test and County Cricket Board
. Rose also captained the side to the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1981 and 1982, and the renamed NatWest Trophy (formerly the Gillette Cup) in 1983.
Controversy returned to Somerset in the mid-1980s. With the successful side ageing, new captain Peter Roebuck
led the move to make changes and the overseas stars Viv Richards and Joel Garner were sacked, replaced by the New Zealander Martin Crowe
. Ian Botham resigned from Somerset in protest and moved to Worcestershire.
Success has been elusive in recent years, although New Zealand born Andy Caddick
and opener Marcus Trescothick
have proved major pillars of the England Test team
and overseas stars such as Jamie Cox
have given sterling service for the club, resulting in their appearance in the NatWest Trophy in 1999 and the C & G Trophy final in 2001 and 2002, winning in 2001 over Leicestershire
. In 2001, the team finished second in the first division of the County Championship, its highest-ever placing. But true to its contrary traditions, the county was relegated to the second division at the end of the following season.
Under the guidance of Director of Cricket Brian Rose
, the team has adopted a youth policy, which Rose accepts will lead to a succession of good and bad results in the short term. To balance the youth policy, for two seasons the club was led by high profile overseas stars Ricky Ponting
and Graeme Smith
to enable coaching of the young group of players. In July 2005, as perhaps a portent of better times to come, the county was the surprise winner of the third Twenty20 Cup
, beating Lancashire
in the final at The Oval
.
The 2006 season was up and down in results, but in June 2006 Rose announced the signing for six weeks of the Australian cricket team
opening batsman Justin Langer
, while countryman Dan Cullen
was on duty with Australia A. Langer responded by hitting the highest score in the county's first-class history, but without him the team struggled in both short and long versions of the game, failed to repeat their Twenty20 success and languished at or near the bottom of both County Championship and Pro40 second division tables.
In 2007 Langer, having returned to the team, was named captain. Cameron White
was the other overseas player. Somerset's season began brightly, including a county-record 850/7 declared against Middlesex
in their first Championship match, but a few weeks later Somerset were on the wrong end of a huge total when they conceded 801/8 declared to Derbyshire
. However, they recovered well from this set-back and achieved promotion, returning to Division One of the Championship for the first time since 2002, after beating Essex
at Chelmsford with five sessions to spare. They were also promoted to Division One of the Pro40 league.
While 2008 was an improved season, 2009 brought marginally less success. Langer announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at the end of the 2009 season, making the 2009 Champions League Twenty20
in India his last competitive competition for the club.
On the departure of Justin Langer, Marcus Trescothick was named as club captain for the 2010 season. It was a memorable season for Somerset, although somewhat bitter-sweet. In one of the most successful seasons in the club's history, Somerset finished as runners-up in all major domestic competitions. In the County Championship they finished second to Nottinghamshire
. While level on points at the close of play on the last day of the season, Nottinghamshire lifted the title by virtue of more wins during the year. They were then beaten by Warwickshire
in the Clydesdale Bank 40 final
. Finally the club went down to Hampshire in the Friends Provident t20 final
, after failing to effect a run-out from the last ball that would have secured them the title.
In the 2011 season Somerset again performed well in all 3 domestic competitions finishing 4th in the County Championship, and runners up again in the 20/20 competition to Liecestershire and also in the CB40 final to Surrey. The young Somerset batsman - keeper Jos Butler secured a call up for England for 20/20 cricket. By virtue of finishing runners up in the domestic 20/20 competition Somerset qualified for the T20 Champions League competition in India featuring manyof the worlds best 20/20 teams. Roelof Van Der Merwe returned as their overseas player for this competition. Somerset performed exceptionally well, progressing from the premiliminary round to the semi final where they lost to the Mumbai Indians, in the process picking up considerable prize money.
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
structure, representing the historic county of Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. The club's limited overs team was formerly the Somerset Sabres, but is now known as just Somerset.
The county club was founded in 1875, and was granted first-class status in 1882, and then again in 1891, having lost it for five years between. Somerset have never won the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
, in which they have competed since 1891, the county's highest finish being second, which was achieved in both 2001 and 2010. The club won their first silverware in the late 1970s, winning both the Gillette Cup and John Player League in 1979. In the years since, Somerset have experienced some success in one-day cricket, winning the Gillette Cup on two further occasions, the Benson & Hedges Cup
Benson & Hedges Cup
The Benson & Hedges Cup was a one-day cricket competition for first-class counties in England and Wales that was held from 1972 to 2002, one of cricket's longest sponsorship deals....
twice and the John Player League once more. Since the introduction of Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
cricket in 2003, the club have reached the final of the Twenty20 cup competition on four occasions, winning the competition in 2005.
The club has its headquarters at the County Ground, Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, where it plays the majority of its games. Somerset also play one-day cricket at the Recreation Ground
Recreation Ground (Bath)
The Recreation Ground is a large open space in the centre of Bath, England, next to the River Avon, used for recreational purposes by Bath residents and the public generally....
, Bath. Former grounds include Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
, Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
, Frome
Frome
Frome is a town and civil parish in northeast Somerset, England. Located at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, the town is built on uneven high ground, and centres around the River Frome. The town is approximately south of Bath, east of the county town, Taunton and west of London. In the 2001...
, Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
, Wells
Wells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
and the Imperial Tobacco Ground in south Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
Earliest cricket in Somerset
In the seventeenth century, the related sport of "Stow-Ball", or "Stob-Ball"Stoolball
Stoolball is a sport that dates back to at least the 15th century, originating in Sussex, southern England. It may be an ancestor of cricket , baseball, and rounders...
was being played in north Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, as in neighbouring Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, as well as parts of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. This sport most likely used either the base of a tree or its remaining stump
Tree stump
After a tree has been cut and felled, the stump or tree stump is usually a small remaining portion of the trunk with the roots still in the ground. Stumps may show the age-defining rings of a tree. The study of these rings is known as dendrochronology....
as its wicket, as both 'stow' and 'stob' are dialect words for 'stump'. However, 'stow' could also refer to a frame used to support crawling tunnels in mines
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
such as those lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
mines in north Somerset, providing another possibility for the wicket. The ball was made of a leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
case, stuffed with boiled quills, and was four inches in diameter
Diameter
In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints are on the circle. The diameters are the longest chords of the circle...
, roughly the same size as a modern softball, while the bats, known as 'staves' were shaped similarly to a field hockey stick
Field hockey stick
In field hockey, each player carries a stick and cannot take part in the game without it. The stick is usually between 36" and 38" long and traditionally made of wood but now almost all the more expensive sticks are composite, that is made of a number of materials...
and typically made of withy
Withy
Withy or withe is a strong flexible willow stem that is typically used in thatching and for gardening. An advantage of using this type of material is said to be a greater resistance to woodworm....
or willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
.
Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales was a member of the House of Hanover and therefore of the Hanoverian and later British Royal Family, the eldest son of George II and father of George III, as well as the great-grandfather of Queen Victoria...
who was a noted patron of the sport. The first officially organised club to be recognised in Somerset were Lansdown Cricket Club
Lansdown Cricket Club
Lansdown Cricket Club, formed in 1825, is recognised as the earliest official organised cricket club in Somerset. Originally based in Lansdown, since 1869 the club has been based at Combe Park, Bath, adjacent to the Royal United Hospital.-Foundation:...
, formed in 1825, although a Bath cricket club seems to have preceded it with a similar collection of enthusiasts from around 1817–1824. With a limited number of other organised clubs to play, fixtures were few and far apart in the founding years, with matches being played against Clifton, Sidmouth and Teignmouth. Lansdown placed Somerset in the cricketing world, and played a number of matches against 'England XI' in various forms.
In 1865, the first attempt at a county side was made with the formation of Yeovil and County Cricket Club. They performed poorly in their opening matches against local club sides, and on one occasion, even lost three players to their opposition the day before the match was scheduled to begin. In spite of these problems, they did play a 'county' fixture, against the Gentlemen of Devon; the match was abandoned due to rain. The first recorded occasion of a Gentlemen of Somerset side playing comes five years previously however, when a Somerset side travelled down to Culm Vale to take on the Gentlemen of Devon, this match also resulting in a draw.
Origin of club
The formation of Somerset County Cricket Club was decided in 1875 after the playing of one such match between the Gentlemen of Somerset and the Gentlemen of Devon at SidmouthSidmouth
Sidmouth is a small town on the English Channel coast in Devon, South West England. The town lies at the mouth of the River Sid in the East Devon district, south east of Exeter. It has a population of about 15,000, of whom 40% are over 65....
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. Having played a two-day match, which the Somerset team won by eight wickets, the Gentlemen of Somerset and their friends held a meeting and resolved the Somerset should have its own county cricket club. Somerset is the only one of the present first-class counties in English cricket whose county cricket club was founded outside the boundaries of the traditional county. After their resolution, the gentlemen continued playing games under the name Gentlemen of Somerset, but their fixtures became more regular; rather than occasional games against the Gentlemen of Devon, they played host to teams from Dorset and Devon in 1876, and in 1877 visited Dorset, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Wiltshire in addition to their trip to Devon.
The following 1878 season, two matches were played by a Somerset team; a two-day match against Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire County Cricket Club
Hertfordshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Hertfordshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
played at St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
finished in a draw, while Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
were beaten by an innings and 47 runs later in the month at Bath. In 1879, Somerset played nine matches, albeit one of them against a Wells
Wells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
team. During these early seasons, Somerset were never far from insolvency. An initial letter sent out after the formation of the club had only managed to raise £70 17s, while gate receipts in the first season raised the club £1 15s 8d. Despite this, fixtures continued to be arranged, and the amateurs kept on playing; bringing their own kit and paying for their own tickets for travel to away matches.
There are alternative versions of when Somerset's first first-class match took place, and matches in 1879 and 1881 are central to the statistics of W. G. Grace
W. G. Grace
William Gilbert Grace, MRCS, LRCP was an English amateur cricketer who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time, having a special significance in terms of his importance to the development of the sport...
– see the article on Variations in first-class cricket statistics
Variations in first-class cricket statistics
Variations in first-class cricket statistics have come about because there is no official view of the status of cricket matches played before 1947. As a result, historians and statisticians have compiled differing lists of matches that they recognise as first-class. The problem is significant where...
. If those games are discounted, then Somerset CCC played its initial first-class match against Lancashire CCC at Old Trafford on 8, 9 and 10 June 1882 and joined the (then unofficial) County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
. This first-class status lasted for only four seasons: after the 1885 season, Somerset failed to arrange sufficient fixtures with the other first-class teams to be accorded first-class status.
In 1890, following a successful recruitment policy at universities by the club's first full-time secretary, Henry Murray-Anderdon, Somerset played 13 games, including 2 against Middlesex, winning 12 of them and tying the other against Middlesex, furthering their ambition to be a first-class county.
At the third annual meeting of The County Cricket Council on 9 December 1889 the counties decided to create a sub-committee to consider whether an official classification of the counties should exist and how counties might rise from one class to another. Somerset was one of the 6 counties represented on the committee. The committee met on 11 August 1890 and proposed three classes of counties. The existing 8 first-class counties would remain with Somerset one of 8 second-class counties proposed. A system of promotion and relegation was suggested. These proposals was debated at the fourth annual meeting of The County Cricket Council on 8 December 1890. They were not well received. Eventually a vote was taken on whether The County Cricket Council itself should be suspended sine die
Adjournment sine die
Adjournment sine die means "without assigning a day for a further meeting or hearing". To adjourn an assembly sine die is to adjourn it for an indefinite period...
. The motion was passed on the casting vote of the Chairman and The County Cricket Council effectively ceased to exist. "This utterly unexpected result fairly took those present by surprise, and they dispersed hurriedly – a most undignified ending to what we are compelled to describe as a most unbusinesslike meeting." Mr. H.T. Hewett
Herbie Hewett
Herbert Tremenheere "Herbie" Hewett was an English amateur cricketer who played for Somerset, captaining the county from 1889 to 1893, as well as Oxford University and the Marylebone Cricket Club. A battling left-handed opening batsman, Hewett could post a large score in a short time against even...
and Mr. T. Spencer
Thomas Spencer (cricketer)
Thomas Spencer played first-class cricket for Somerset in three matches between 1891 and 1893. His birthplace is not known, and he died at Bishopsteignton, Devon....
were present for Somerset. On the following day, 9 December 1890, the county secretaries met to decide the fixtures for 1891, which they did on the usual basis of arranging "home and home" matches against whichever counties they wished. "The most noticeable feature ... is the encouragement given to Somersetshire by the chief county clubs. Middlesex played the western shire last summer, but Kent, Surrey, Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Lancashire will next summer test the merits of the eleven, which showed such good all round cricket, under Mr. H.T. Hewett
Herbie Hewett
Herbert Tremenheere "Herbie" Hewett was an English amateur cricketer who played for Somerset, captaining the county from 1889 to 1893, as well as Oxford University and the Marylebone Cricket Club. A battling left-handed opening batsman, Hewett could post a large score in a short time against even...
's command, last year." By arranging these 12 matches against first-class counties Somerset became a de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
first-class county without any proposal or vote to that effect. Hewett, Spencer and Mr. W.N. Roe were present for Somerset.
Pre-First World War
In Somerset's second season, 1892, they finished third, but it was to be 66 years before they finished as high again. Bottom of the table 12 times (plus one shared wooden spoonWooden spoon (award)
A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...
), they enjoyed over many decades a reputation for cheerful inconsistency. Until the Second World War, the team regularly comprised a number of more or less talented amateurs and just a handful of professionals.
Famous names from the pre-First World War period included the England players Sammy Woods
Sammy Woods
Samuel Moses James "Sammy" Woods was an Australian sportsman who represented both Australia and England at Test cricket, and appeared thirteen times for England at rugby union, including five times as captain. He also played at county level in England at both soccer and hockey...
, Lionel Palairet
Lionel Palairet
Lionel Charles Hamilton Palairet was a famous cricketer of the so-called "Golden Age" of English cricket before the First World War...
and Len Braund
Len Braund
Leonard Charles Braund, born October 18, 1875, at Clewer, Berkshire, and died December 23, 1955, Putney Common, London, was a cricketer who played for Surrey, Somerset and England....
; the fast bowler Tom Richardson
Tom Richardson
Tom Richardson was an English cricketer. A fast bowler, Richardson relied to a great extent on the break-back , a relatively long run-up and high arm which allowed him to gain sharp lift on fast pitches even from the full, straight length he always bowled...
also played for the county once after his retirement from Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
. In 1908, Woods persuaded the England rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international John Daniell
John Daniell (cricketer)
John Daniell, was an international rugby union player for England and a first-class cricketer for Somerset and Cambridge University Cricket Club....
to become captain with the team at a low ebb, and Daniell stayed, mostly playing as captain and often acting as secretary too, for almost 20 years.
Between the wars
In the first season of the County Championship after the First World War, 1919, Somerset finished fifth in the table, the highest since 1892. But that was the highest position in the inter-war years, and mostly the side finished at or below halfway down the table, though there were no more bottom places in this period.The team continued to be a mix of a few highly talented amateurs, a few good professionals, with the side often made up with amateur players who appeared in only a few games. Among the amateurs, the west Somerset farmer Jack White
Jack White (cricketer)
John Cornish White, known as "Farmer" or "Jack", was an English cricketer who played for Somerset and England. White was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1929...
, who succeeded Daniell as captain in 1927, played for England as an off-spinning all-rounder
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
and also captained the Test side in Australia in 1928–29. The briefest Test match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
career of them all was "enjoyed" by another amateur, Jack MacBryan
Jack MacBryan
John "Jack" Crawford William MacBryan was an English cricketer who played for Cambridge University and Somerset and made one almost imperceptible appearance in a Test match for England...
, whose only game for England was the rain-ruined match against the South Africans
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
in 1924, in which he neither batted nor bowled. Of the professionals, fleeting international careers were enjoyed by the hard-hitting batsman Harold Gimblett
Harold Gimblett
Harold Gimblett was a cricketer who played for Somerset and England. He was known for his fast scoring as an opening batsman and for the much-repeated story of his debut...
, whose entry into first-class cricket was the stuff of legends, and by Arthur Wellard
Arthur Wellard
Arthur William Wellard was a cricketer who played for Somerset and England. A late starter in county cricket, having been told by his native county, Kent, that he would be better off taking up a career as a policeman, Wellard played on into his late 40s...
, fast bowler and a mighty smiter of sixes.
Post-Second World War
In postwar cricket, the happy-go-lucky Somerset attitude was no longer sustainable, and the side finished bottom of the Championship for four consecutive seasons from 1952. With the strong possibility of going out of business, drastic change was inevitable. Somerset recruited heavily from other countries, taking Colin McCoolColin McCool
Colin Leslie McCool was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Tests from 1946 to 1950. McCool, born in Paddington, New South Wales, was an all-rounder who bowled leg spin and googlies with a round arm action and as a lower order batsman was regarded as effective square of the wicket and against...
and Bill Alley
Bill Alley
William Edward Alley was a cricketer who played 400 first-class matches for New South Wales, Somerset and a Commonwealth XI....
from Australia, and from other counties. In 1958, under the captaincy of the first professional cricketer to captain the team, Maurice Tremlett
Maurice Tremlett
Maurice Fletcher Tremlett was an English cricketer, who played for Somerset, Central Districts and England....
, the side again finished third, and this was repeated in 1963 and 1966 under different captains, Harold Stephenson
Harold Stephenson
Harold William Stephenson was an English first-class cricketer who played for Somerset. He captained Somerset from 1960 until his retirement in 1964....
and Colin Atkinson
Colin Atkinson
Colin Ronald Michael Atkinson CBE - Cricketer, schoolmaster and headmaster of Millfield School....
, who later became headmaster at Millfield School.
There was a further dip in fortunes towards the end of the 1960s, but, though County Championship success continued to elude the county, Somerset finally found in the 1970s the makings of a successful one-day team under the combative, inspirational captaincy of Yorkshireman Brian Close
Brian Close
Dennis Brian Close , usually known as Brian Close, is a former cricketer who is the youngest man ever to play Test cricket for England. He was picked for the Test team to play against New Zealand, in July 1949, when he was 18 years old. Close went on to play 22 Test matches for England,...
. A trio of world class players, Viv Richards, Joel 'Big Bird' Garner
Joel Garner
Joel Garner , also known as "Big Joel" or "Big Bird", is a former West Indian cricketer, and a member of the highly regarded late 1970s and early '80s West Indies cricket teams....
and the England all-rounder
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
Ian Botham
Ian Botham
Sir Ian Terence Botham OBE is a former England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket, and remains well-known by his nickname "Beefy"...
made the team for the first time in its long history a formidable trophy winning proposition.
The real success came after Close had retired. Under the captaincy of left-handed opener Brian Rose
Brian Rose (cricketer)
Brian Charles Rose is an English former cricketer, who played in nine Tests and two ODIs for England from 1977 to 1981.-Life and career:...
, Somerset won their first ever silverware by taking the Gillette Cup and the Sunday League in 1979. In the same 1979 season, Somerset's newfound ruthless streak provoked controversy in the Benson & Hedges Cup
Benson & Hedges Cup
The Benson & Hedges Cup was a one-day cricket competition for first-class counties in England and Wales that was held from 1972 to 2002, one of cricket's longest sponsorship deals....
limited-overs competition when Rose declared the Somerset innings closed in the match against Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
, in an attempt to safeguard passage through to the quarter-final on run rate: the county was subsequently disqualified from the competition at a special meeting of the Test and County Cricket Board
Test and County Cricket Board
The Test and County Cricket Board was established in 1968 to provide Test and county cricket in England, replacing the functions of the Board of Control for Test Matches and the Advisory County Cricket Committee. In 1992 Scotland severed their ties with the TCCB and England...
. Rose also captained the side to the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1981 and 1982, and the renamed NatWest Trophy (formerly the Gillette Cup) in 1983.
Controversy returned to Somerset in the mid-1980s. With the successful side ageing, new captain Peter Roebuck
Peter Roebuck
Peter Michael Roebuck was an English cricketer who achieved later renown as an Australian newspaper columnist and radio commentator. A consistent county performer with over 25,000 runs, and "one of the better English openers of the 1980s", Roebuck captained the English county side Somerset...
led the move to make changes and the overseas stars Viv Richards and Joel Garner were sacked, replaced by the New Zealander Martin Crowe
Martin Crowe
Martin David Crowe is a former New Zealand cricketer. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1985, and was credited as one of the "best young batsmen in the world". Crowe represented New Zealand from the early 1980s until his retirement in 1996 as a right-handed batsman...
. Ian Botham resigned from Somerset in protest and moved to Worcestershire.
Recent years
Andrew Caddick
Andrew Richard Caddick is a retired cricketer who played for England as a fast-medium bowler. At 6 ft 5in, Caddick was a successful bowler for England for a decade, taking 13 five-wicket hauls in Test matches...
and opener Marcus Trescothick
Marcus Trescothick
Marcus Edward Trescothick MBE is an English cricketer. He plays first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club, and represented England in 76 Test matches and 123 One Day Internationals. A left-handed opening batsman, he made his first-class debut for Somerset in 1993 and quickly established...
have proved major pillars of the England Test team
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
and overseas stars such as Jamie Cox
Jamie Cox (cricketer)
Jamie Cox is a former opening batsman cricketer, who played for the Tasmanian Tigers in Australia's domestic competitions....
have given sterling service for the club, resulting in their appearance in the NatWest Trophy in 1999 and the C & G Trophy final in 2001 and 2002, winning in 2001 over Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. In 2001, the team finished second in the first division of the County Championship, its highest-ever placing. But true to its contrary traditions, the county was relegated to the second division at the end of the following season.
Under the guidance of Director of Cricket Brian Rose
Brian Rose (cricketer)
Brian Charles Rose is an English former cricketer, who played in nine Tests and two ODIs for England from 1977 to 1981.-Life and career:...
, the team has adopted a youth policy, which Rose accepts will lead to a succession of good and bad results in the short term. To balance the youth policy, for two seasons the club was led by high profile overseas stars Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting , nicknamed Punter, is an Australian cricketer, a former captain of the Australian cricket team between 2004 and 2011 in Test cricket and 2002 and 2011 in One Day International cricket. He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very...
and Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith
Graeme Craig Smith is a South African cricketer and captain of the South African cricket team Test Match side, having succeeded Shaun Pollock after the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
to enable coaching of the young group of players. In July 2005, as perhaps a portent of better times to come, the county was the surprise winner of the third Twenty20 Cup
Twenty20 Cup
The Twenty20 Cup was a cricket competition for English and Welsh county clubs.In 2010, it has been replaced by Friends Provident t20 as the domestic Twenty20 competition.-History:...
, beating Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in the final at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
.
The 2006 season was up and down in results, but in June 2006 Rose announced the signing for six weeks of the Australian cricket team
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
opening batsman Justin Langer
Justin Langer
Justin Lee Langer AM is a former international cricketer who represented Australia in 105 Test matches and the current Assistant Coach and Batting Coach of the Australian cricket team. A left-handed batsman, his opening partnership with Matthew Hayden was one of the most successful of all time...
, while countryman Dan Cullen
Dan Cullen
Daniel James Cullen is an Australian cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and right-hand off break bowler. He plays his domestic cricket for South Australia and played for Somerset in the 2006 English cricket season....
was on duty with Australia A. Langer responded by hitting the highest score in the county's first-class history, but without him the team struggled in both short and long versions of the game, failed to repeat their Twenty20 success and languished at or near the bottom of both County Championship and Pro40 second division tables.
In 2007 Langer, having returned to the team, was named captain. Cameron White
Cameron White
Cameron Leon White is an Australian cricketer and current Australian Twenty20 captain. A powerful middle order batsman and right-arm leg-spin bowler, White made his first-class cricket debut as a teenager in the 2000–01 season for the Victorian Bushrangers as a bowling all-rounder...
was the other overseas player. Somerset's season began brightly, including a county-record 850/7 declared against Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
in their first Championship match, but a few weeks later Somerset were on the wrong end of a huge total when they conceded 801/8 declared to Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
. However, they recovered well from this set-back and achieved promotion, returning to Division One of the Championship for the first time since 2002, after beating Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
at Chelmsford with five sessions to spare. They were also promoted to Division One of the Pro40 league.
While 2008 was an improved season, 2009 brought marginally less success. Langer announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at the end of the 2009 season, making the 2009 Champions League Twenty20
2009 Champions League Twenty20
The 2009 Champions League Twenty20 was the first edition of the Champions League Twenty20, an international club cricket tournament. It was held in India between 8 October and 23 October 2009 and featured 12 domestic teams from Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and...
in India his last competitive competition for the club.
On the departure of Justin Langer, Marcus Trescothick was named as club captain for the 2010 season. It was a memorable season for Somerset, although somewhat bitter-sweet. In one of the most successful seasons in the club's history, Somerset finished as runners-up in all major domestic competitions. In the County Championship they finished second to Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
. While level on points at the close of play on the last day of the season, Nottinghamshire lifted the title by virtue of more wins during the year. They were then beaten by Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
in the Clydesdale Bank 40 final
2010 Clydesdale Bank 40
The 2010 Clydesdale Bank 40 tournament is the inaugural Clydesdale Bank 40 limited overs cricket competition for the England and Wales first-class counties...
. Finally the club went down to Hampshire in the Friends Provident t20 final
2010 Friends Provident t20
The 2010 Friends Provident t20 tournament was the inaugural Friends Provident t20 Twenty20 cricket competition for the England and Wales first-class counties. The competition ran from 1 June 2010 until the finals day at The Rose Bowl on 14 August 2010...
, after failing to effect a run-out from the last ball that would have secured them the title.
In the 2011 season Somerset again performed well in all 3 domestic competitions finishing 4th in the County Championship, and runners up again in the 20/20 competition to Liecestershire and also in the CB40 final to Surrey. The young Somerset batsman - keeper Jos Butler secured a call up for England for 20/20 cricket. By virtue of finishing runners up in the domestic 20/20 competition Somerset qualified for the T20 Champions League competition in India featuring manyof the worlds best 20/20 teams. Roelof Van Der Merwe returned as their overseas player for this competition. Somerset performed exceptionally well, progressing from the premiliminary round to the semi final where they lost to the Mumbai Indians, in the process picking up considerable prize money.
Ground history
Current squad
- No. denotes the player's squad number, as worn on the back of their shirt. denotes players with international caps. denotes a player who has been awarded a county cap.
No. Name Nat Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Notes Batsmen 2 Marcus Trescothick Marcus TrescothickMarcus Edward Trescothick MBE is an English cricketer. He plays first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club, and represented England in 76 Test matches and 123 One Day Internationals. A left-handed opening batsman, he made his first-class debut for Somerset in 1993 and quickly established...
*25 December 1975 (age 36) Left-handed Right arm medium pace Club captain Captain (cricket)The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...3 Nick Compton Nick ComptonNick Compton is a South African-born English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm off-spin bowler. He is the grandson of Denis Compton and the great-nephew of Leslie Compton, and his father Richard Compton played seven first-class games for Natal...
*26 June 1983 (age 28) Right-handed Right arm off break Off breakOff break is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It is the attacking delivery of an off spin bowler. Off breaks are known as off spinners....
14 Chris Jones Chris Jones (cricketer)Christopher Robert Jones is an English cricketer for Somerset in who debuted in 2010 as a substitute for Craig Kieswetter in the County Championship. He was born in Harold Wood in Essex but moved to Dorset at a young age....
5 November 1990 (age 21) Right-handed — 18 Alex Barrow Alex BarrowAlexander William R Barrow is an English cricketer who plays for Somerset County Cricket Club. He made his debut for the county in the 2011 County Championship against Hampshire....
6 May 1992 (age 19) Right-handed Right arm off break Off breakOff break is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It is the attacking delivery of an off spin bowler. Off breaks are known as off spinners....
25 James Hildreth James HildrethJames Charles Hildreth is an English cricketer who plays for Somerset County Cricket Club. He attended Millfield School, Somerset. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm medium pace bowler. Hildreth represented England at all youth levels including the 2003-04 Under-19 World cup...
*9 September 1984 (age 27) Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Fast bowlingFast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
26 Craig Meschede Craig MeschedeCraig Anthony Joseph Meschede is a South African born cricketer who plays for Somerset County Cricket Club. An all-rounder, he bowls right-arm medium-fast, and bats right-handed. He made his debut for the Somerset in the 2011 Caribbean Twenty20, and played regular Twenty20 cricket for the county...
21 November 1991 (age 20) Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Fast bowlingFast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
All-rounders 7 Peter Trego Peter TregoPeter David Trego is an English cricketer who plays for Somerset. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler...
*12 June 1981 (age 30) Right-handed Right arm medium pace 8 Alfonso Thomas Alfonso ThomasAlfonso Clive Thomas is a South African cricketer who has represented his country in one Twenty20 International. He is a right arm fast-medium bowler and a big hitting lower-order batsman...
*9 February 1977 (age 34) Right-handed Right arm fast-medium Fast bowlingFast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
Kolpak registration; vice-captain 12 Roelof van der Merwe Roelof van der MerweRoelof Erasmus van der Merwe is a South African cricketer who plays domestically for Titans and has represented South Africa in Limited overs cricket. He is currently signed by the Delhi Daredevils for the Indian Premier League...
31 December 1984 (age 27) Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Left-arm orthodox spinLeft-arm orthodox spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket.Left-arm orthodox spin is bowled by a left arm bowler using the fingers to spin the ball from right to left of the cricket pitch...
Overseas player 19 Calum Haggett Calum HaggettCalum John Haggett is an English cricketer who plays for Somerset County Cricket Club. He made his debut for the county in the 2011 Caribbean Twenty20 against Guyana, claiming a wicket.-External links:...
30 October 1990 (age 21) Left-handed Right arm medium pace 23 Arul Suppiah Arul SuppiahArul Vivasvan Suppiah is an English/Malaysian cricketer. A right-handed batsman and left-arm orthodox spin bowler, he has played for the Malaysia national cricket team since 1999, and currently plays county cricket in England for Somerset....
*30 August 1983 (age 28) Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Left-arm orthodox spinLeft-arm orthodox spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket.Left-arm orthodox spin is bowled by a left arm bowler using the fingers to spin the ball from right to left of the cricket pitch...
24 Lewis Gregory Lewis GregoryLewis Gregory is an English cricketer who plays for Somerset County Cricket Club. A right-handed batsman and right-arm seam bowler, Gregory made his major cricket debut in 2010, representing Somerset against the touring Pakistanis....
24 May 1992 (age 19) Right-handed Right arm fast-medium Fast bowlingFast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
55 Kieron Pollard Kieron PollardKieron Adrian Pollard is an international cricketer who plays for the West Indies. An aggressive all-rounder, Pollard provides medium-fast pace bowling and big-hitting from the middle-order. After shining during the 2009 Champions League Twenty20, he was signed by both the Southern Redbacks and...
12 May 1987 (age 24) Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Fast bowlingFast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
Overseas player (FLt20 2011 Friends Life t20The 2011 Friends Life t20 was the second season of the Friends Life t20, England's premier domestic Twenty20 competition. The season ran from June 1 to August 27 2011. The teams in the tournament remained the same as the previous season....
only)58 James Burke 25 January 1991 (age 21) Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Fast bowlingFast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
Wicket-keepers 15 Jos Buttler Jos ButtlerJoseph Charles Buttler, commonly known as Jos Buttler, is an English cricketer who plays for Somerset County Cricket Club. He is a right-handed batsman who also plays as a wicket-keeper...
8 September 1990 (age 21) Right-handed — 17 Steve Snell Steve SnellStephen David Snell is an English cricketer who plays for minor county side Hertfordshire and Somerset as third choice wicket keeper. He is a right-handed batsman....
27 February 1983 (age 28) Right-handed — 22 Craig Kieswetter Craig KieswetterCraig Kieswetter is an England cricketer of South African and Scottish heritage. He is a wicket-keeper batsman. An aggressive batsman, he began his career with the South Africa Under-19s, before stating that he wished to play international cricket for England. He began playing county cricket for...
*28 November 1987 (age 24) Right-handed — Bowlers 4 James Hayman 22 November 1986 (age 25) Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Fast bowlingFast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
9 Steve Kirby Steven KirbySteven Paul Kirby is an English first-class cricketer who plays for Somerset and England A....
4 October 1977 (age 34) Right-handed Right arm fast-medium Fast bowlingFast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...10 Max Waller Max WallerMax Thomas Charles Waller is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a leg break bowler...
3 March 1988 (age 23) Right-handed Right arm leg break Leg breakA leg break is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. A delivery of a right-handed leg spin bowler. Leg breaks are also colloquially known as leggies or wrist spinners, as the wrist is the body part which is primarily used to impart spin on the ball, as opposed to the fingers in the case of...
16 Adam Dibble Adam DibbleAdam John Dibble is an English cricketer who plays for Somerset County Cricket Club. He made his debut for the county in the 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40 against the Unicorns, taking a wicket.-External Links:...
9 March 1991 (age 20) Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Fast bowlingFast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
20 George Dockrell George DockrellGeorge Henry Dockrell is an Irish cricketer. Dockrell is right-handed batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler who plays international cricket for Ireland after learning his cricket at Leinster Cricket Club, Dublin. He was a member of the class of 2010 in Gonzaga College, DublinDockrell has...
22 July 1992 (age 19) Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Left-arm orthodox spinLeft-arm orthodox spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket.Left-arm orthodox spin is bowled by a left arm bowler using the fingers to spin the ball from right to left of the cricket pitch...
27 Gemaal Hussain Gemaal HussainGemaal Maqsood Hussain is an English cricketer who plays for Somerset County Cricket Club. A right-arm fast-medium paced bowler, he moved to Somerset from neighbouring county Gloucestershire at the close of the 2010 season....
10 October 1983 (age 28) Right-handed Right arm medium Fast bowlingFast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
Former players
Committee
- President: Roy KerslakeRoy KerslakeRoy Cosmo Kerslake, born at Paignton, Devon on 26 December 1942, played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and Somerset, and captained Somerset for one season in 1968...
- Chairman: Andy Nash
- Vice-Chairman: David Gabbitass
- Honorary Treasurer: Alex Tetley
- Chief Executive: Guy Lavender
- Director of Cricket: Brian RoseBrian Rose (cricketer)Brian Charles Rose is an English former cricketer, who played in nine Tests and two ODIs for England from 1977 to 1981.-Life and career:...
- Co-opted: Nick Engert, Vic MarksVic MarksVic Marks is a former Somerset and England cricketer, who played in six Tests and thirty four ODIs....
, Charles Clark
Presidents
Those who have held the office of Somerset President are:| Dates | Name |
|---|---|
| 1891–1915 | Hon. Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Fane Spencer Ponsonby-Fane Sir Spencer Cecil Brabazon Ponsonby, later Ponsonby-Fane, GCB ISO was an English cricketer and civil servant.He was born in 1824 in Mayfair, the sixth son of John Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough.-Cricket:... |
| 1916–1922 | H.E. Murray Anderdon |
| 1923 | Arthur Newton Arthur Newton (cricketer) Arthur Edward Newton, born at Barton Grange, Corfe, Taunton, Somerset on 12 September 1862 and died at Dipford House, Trull, Somerset on 15 September 1952, played cricket for Somerset in the county's pre-first-class days and then for more than 20 years after the team entered the County Championship... |
| 1924 | The Marquis of Bath Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath Thomas Henry Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath KG, CB, PC, JP , styled Viscount Weymouth until 1896, was a British landowner and Conservative politician. He held ministerial office as Under-Secretary of State for India in 1905 and Master of the Horse between 1922 and 1924... |
| 1925 | Lt-Col. Sir Dennis F. Boles Sir Dennis Boles, 1st Baronet Sir Dennis Fortescue Boles, 1st Baronet CBE, DL , was a British Conservative politician.Boles was the son of Reverend James Thomas Boles of Ryll Court, Exmouth, Devon. He was educated at Bradfield School and Exeter College, Oxford... |
| 1926 | Col. H.M. Ridley |
| 1927 | Rev. Archie Wickham Archie Wickham Archdale Palmer Wickham was a first-class cricketer who played 82 matches for Somerset County Cricket Club between 1891 and 1907. He also played for a number of representative teams and for Oxford University, and played second-class cricket for Norfolk County Cricket Club from 1881 to 1890... |
| 1928 | Col. H.M. Ridley |
| 1929 | Lionel Palairet Lionel Palairet Lionel Charles Hamilton Palairet was a famous cricketer of the so-called "Golden Age" of English cricket before the First World War... |
| 1930 | Vernon Hill Vernon Hill (cricketer) Vernon Tickell Hill was a cricketer who made 140 first-class appearances for Somerset and Oxford University between 1891 and 1912. He first played for Somerset during their successful 1890 season. He made his top-score of 116 against Kent in 1898, sharing a seventh wicket partnership of 240 with... |
| 1931–1932 | Major A.G. Barrett |
| 1933 | Lt-Col. W.O. Gibbs |
| 1934–1935 | Lt-Col. Sir Dennis F. Boles Sir Dennis Boles, 1st Baronet Sir Dennis Fortescue Boles, 1st Baronet CBE, DL , was a British Conservative politician.Boles was the son of Reverend James Thomas Boles of Ryll Court, Exmouth, Devon. He was educated at Bradfield School and Exeter College, Oxford... |
| 1936 | The Duke of Somerset Evelyn Seymour, 17th Duke of Somerset Evelyn Francis Edward Seymour, 17th Duke of Somerset, etc. KStJ DSO OBE was a British Army officer, landowner, peer, and for eight years Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire. He was also a baronet.-Early life:... |
| 1937–1946 | Richard Palairet Richard Palairet Richard Cameron North Palairet, born 25 June 1871 at Grange-over-Sands, then in Lancashire and died 11 February 1955 at Budleigh Salterton, Devon was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Oxford University and Somerset... |
| 1946–1949 | John Daniell John Daniell (cricketer) John Daniell, was an international rugby union player for England and a first-class cricketer for Somerset and Cambridge University Cricket Club.... |
| 1950–1953 | Major G.E. Longrigg |
| 1954–1960 | The Bishop of Bath & Wells |
| 1961 | Jack White Jack White (cricketer) John Cornish White, known as "Farmer" or "Jack", was an English cricketer who played for Somerset and England. White was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1929... |
| 1962–1965 | Bill Greswell Bill Greswell William Territt Greswell, born at Cuddalore, Madras, India on 15 October 1889 and died at Bicknoller, Somerset, England on 12 February 1971, played first-class cricket for Somerset from 1908 to 1930... |
| 1966–1967 | Lord Hylton William Jolliffe, 4th Baron Hylton William George Hervey Jolliffe, 4th Baron Hylton , was a British peer and soldier.Hylton was the son of Hylton Jolliffe, 3rd Baron Hylton, and Lady Alice Adeliza Hervey. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Coldstream Guards and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Somerset from 1949 to... |
| 1968–1971 | Bunty Longrigg Bunty Longrigg Edmund Fallowfield Longrigg, usually known as "Bunty", born at Batheaston, Somerset on 16 April 1906 and died at Bath, Somerset on 23 July 1974, played cricket for Somerset and Cambridge University... |
| 1971–1976 | R.V. Showering |
| 1976–1991 | Colin Atkinson Colin Atkinson Colin Ronald Michael Atkinson CBE - Cricketer, schoolmaster and headmaster of Millfield School.... |
| 1991–1996 | J. Luff |
| 1996–2003 | M.F. Hill |
| 2004–present | Roy Kerslake Roy Kerslake Roy Cosmo Kerslake, born at Paignton, Devon on 26 December 1942, played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and Somerset, and captained Somerset for one season in 1968... |
First XI honours
- County ChampionshipCounty ChampionshipThe County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
: 0 - Sunday/Pro 40/National League: 1
- 19791979 John Player LeagueThe 1979 John Player League was the eleventh competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Somerset County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
- 1979
- Gillette/NatWest/C&G/Friends Provident Trophy: 3
- 19791979 Gillette CupThe 1979 Gillette Cup was the seventeenth Gillette Cup, an English limited overs county cricket tournament. It was held between 27 June and 8 September 1979...
, 19831983 NatWest TrophyThe 1983 NatWest Trophy was the 3rd NatWest Trophy. It was an English limited overs county cricket tournament which was held between 29 June and 3 September 1983. The tournament was won by Somerset County Cricket Club who defeated Kent County Cricket Club by 24 runs in the final at...
, 20012001 Cheltenham & Gloucester TrophyThe 2001 Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy was the 1st Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy following its change of name from the NatWest Trophy. It was an English limited overs county cricket tournament which was held between 1 May and 1 September 2001...
- 1979
- Twenty20 CupTwenty20 CupThe Twenty20 Cup was a cricket competition for English and Welsh county clubs.In 2010, it has been replaced by Friends Provident t20 as the domestic Twenty20 competition.-History:...
: 1- 20052005 Twenty20 Cup-Semi-Finals:-----Final:-See also:*Twenty20 Cup...
- 2005
- Benson & Hedges CupBenson & Hedges CupThe Benson & Hedges Cup was a one-day cricket competition for first-class counties in England and Wales that was held from 1972 to 2002, one of cricket's longest sponsorship deals....
: 2- 1981, 1982
Second XI honours
- Second XI Championship: 2
- 1994, 2004
- Minor Counties Championship: 2
- 1961, 1965
Records
For more details on this topic, see List of Somerset first-class cricket records, List of Somerset List A cricket records, List of Somerset Twenty20 cricket records.Further reading
- H S AlthamHarry AlthamHarry Surtees Altham, CBE, DSO, MC was an English cricketer who became an important figure in the game as an administrator, historian and coach. His Wisden obituary described him as "among the best known personalities in the world of cricket"...
, A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914), George Allen & Unwin, 1962 - Derek BirleyDerek BirleySir Derek Birley was an English educator and writer who had a strong interest in sport, especially cricket.He was educated at grammar school in Hemsworth, West Yorkshire, and at Queens' College, Cambridge University....
, A Social History of English Cricket, Aurum, 1999 - Rowland BowenRowland BowenMajor Rowland Francis Bowen was a cricket researcher, historian and writer....
, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970 - Roy WebberRoy WebberRoy Webber was a British cricket scorer and statistician. After World War II, in which he served with the Royal Air Force, he decided to turn what had been his hobby into his profession. He had the necessary proficiency with figures, having previously been an accountant. He was the scorer for BBC...
, The Playfair Book of Cricket Records, Playfair Books, 1951 - Playfair Cricket AnnualPlayfair Cricket AnnualPlayfair Cricket Annual is a compact annual about cricket that is published in the United Kingdom each April, just before the English cricket season is due to begin. Its main purposes are to review the previous English season and to provide detailed career records and potted biographies of current...
– various editions - Wisden Cricketers Almanack – various editions
External links
- Somerset CCC Official Site
- Centre of Excellence
- Somerset First-Class Records at cricketarchive.com