Somerset, at long last, open their Championship campaign on Friday at home to Worcestershire. It has been a long wait since those nerve-tingling four days against Middlesex which sealed our survival in the top division and condemned the previous season's champions to relegation. Although of course, being Middlesex, losing that last game had to be argued, contested, the pitch … [Read more...] about Somerset v Worcestershire (April 20-23), preview by Steve Tancock
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Hildy happy to be one of the old blokes
It is hard to think of James Hildreth as one of the elder statesmen of Somerset. The fresh face and boyish good looks remain but this is actually his 16th pre-season being a professional cricketer for the cider county having made his debut in 2003. And the 33-year-old batsman still looks forward to spring and a new campaign. “I still get excited at this time of year mainly … [Read more...] about Hildy happy to be one of the old blokes
Smiles in the grey skies on Media Day
As the press gathered at the Cooper Associates County Ground for the 2018 Media Day they were met with drizzling rain, grey skies and a pitch waterlogged in several places. Far from the spring conditions one would expect so close to the start of a new cricket season. But a new season is indeed near and this spells renewed hopes and ambitions for all Somerset players and … [Read more...] about Smiles in the grey skies on Media Day
Stop the chatting, stop the cheating!
A few years ago a highly esteemed cricket journalist, who writes for some national newspapers and famous cricket titles, called me an old granny. Yes, an old granny. This writer, who I readily acknowledge has far greater understanding of the game than I, and writing abilities than I could only ever dream of possessing, was not passing this observation based on my age or any … [Read more...] about Stop the chatting, stop the cheating!
Should Somerset terminate Bancroft’s contract?
Well we didn’t need that, did we? Just a couple weeks on from Lee Cooper’s announcement that he’s stepping down, Somerset’s new overseas signing has been accused of ball tampering. Cue the outrage and the calls for him to be sacked, banned, thrown in the gulag etc. It’s pretty clear that Bancroft has done a bad thing – he broke the laws of cricket. Not only that, but … [Read more...] about Should Somerset terminate Bancroft’s contract?
