Somerset
And on the Third Day" Farmer comments on Day 3 of Notts CC1
By Faarmer White et al
April 25 2024
Farmer sat through Day 3 of the Notts game which started with what looked like a victory was in the offing and then....not a lot hapened for the home side while the visitors broke records on a wicket that went ultra flat. Here is what he took from a Notts batting day in a pretty 'Nordic' wind.
County Championship 2024. Division 1. Somerset v Nottinghamshire 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd April. Taunton.
Jack Leach, (knee injury) and Tom Abell (hamstring) were unavailable.
Somerset, M.T. Renshaw, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, L.P. Goldsworthy, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M. Pretorius, S. Bashir.
Nottinghamshire. H. Hameed (c), B.T. Slater, W.A. Young, J.M. Clarke (w), M. Montgomery, J.A. Haynes, L.W. James, C.G. Harrison, B.A. Hutton, L.J. Fletcher, D. Paterson.
Overnight. Nottinghamshire 193 and 38 for 1. Somerset 454. Nottinghamshire trail by 223 runs.
Third day 20th April – A bitter wind blows
On 25th and 26th May 1903, William Gunn and his nephew, John Gunn, added 367 for Nottinghamshire’s third wicket against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge. The nephew reached 294, the uncle 139, and Nottinghamshire declared on 739 for 7. The 367 for the third wicket beat the then Nottinghamshire record. It remained the record until the third evening of this match when Will Young (156 not out) and Joe Clarke (209 not out) passed it in the last over of the day. It deadened Somerset’s chances of victory. It would also, if pitches which produce this sort of cricket in the latter parts of a match return to Taunton, risk doing the same to interest in Championship cricket. At least, that was the view of a number to whom I spoke. That said, the two Nottinghamshire batters batted with prolonged discipline, skill and immense concentration to make the most of the conditions which they were offered. The same could also be said of the Somerset bowlers. With a modicum of luck, they might have taken a wicket or two, but against such disciplined batting on such a pitch, no more than one or two.
The day had begun with hope for Somerset. In the third over, a stunning ball from Craig Overton had zipped inside Haseeb Hameed’s defensive push and knocked his middle stump askew. Nottinghamshire were 48 for 2, still 213 behind with Hameed gone for 20. They were under intense pressure, the crowd was buzzing and Somerset were pressing hard. So tight was Somerset’s hold, it was 14 overs after Hameed walked off before Nottinghamshire reached the boundary again, and only 26 runs were scored in those overs. Migael Pretorius, in his second match after getting off the plane from South Africa, was finding his feet and beating the bat to wincing gasps. He found the inside edge of Clarke’s bat too in another heart stopping moment. The expected wicket though did not come. Instead, as Clarke and Young dug deep, the runs began, if only steadily, to mount, but all too easily it seemed to a Somerset supporter. A push through cover or midwicket here, an open-faced steer to backward point there while any ball of the necessary length and favouring leg stump was turned behind square. Along the way, the fifty partnership came from a neatly controlled off drive.
Then Nottinghamshire began to find the boundary. When Clarke leaned into successive and identical on drives off Josh Davey they scythed like meteors across the grass to the Caddick Pavilion. Someone picked up on growing Somerset anxiety with, “We could do with a wicket.” Shoaib Bashir was now bowling from the River End, the traditional spinner’s end at Taunton, but an inside edge from Young apart, he showed no sign of taking that elusive wicket. He did though keep Nottinghamshire to two an over until, as lunch approached, there was an ominous indication of what might follow when he was driven firmly through the off side for four twice in an over by Clarke. Ominous too was Lewis Gregory calling on Lewis Goldsworthy and Tom Lammonby to bowl the final three overs before lunch from the other end. Nottinghamshire eased to the interval on 140 for 2, Clarke having reached his fifty in the penultimate over when he drove Bashir quietly through the on side for a single. It had been a morning in which Somerset had bowled consistently well despite the mounting evidence of a Taunton last-two-days flat top of the old type. In response, and doubtless conscious of their large first innings deficit, Nottinghamshire had played carefully within themselves to reduce their deficit to 121.
In terms of weather, it had been a bittersweet morning. Bitter in my seat in the top of the north facing Trescothick Pavilion, warm in the Hildreth and Ondaatje Stands or the Colin Atkinson Pavilion whenever the sun broke through the gradually thinning white cotton wool clouds. In terms of the crowd, it was well down on those of a few years ago and, to my eye, clearly down on 2023 Championship crowds. By my rough count, there were about 750 in the ground. Bitterly cold though my April seat was, and those around it, an old workmate joined me for the morning session and two more latterly met acquaintances joined me for the lunch interval. We talked about current cricket matters specific to Somerset, but mainly about the bitter wind that is blowing through the future of county cricket in a buffeted domestic cricket world. The conversation held us to our seats, but the wind blowing from the Quantocks was every bit as chill as the one blowing through cricket.
My afternoon began on the terrace at the top of the Trescothick Pavilion. It gives a slightly different perspective on the cricket, you stand for one thing and, because it has no roof, the sun does visit. As I stood there, limbs numbed by the fridge-like shade of the morning began to show signs of tingling life again. Someone joined me for a couple of overs and commented on the joys of looking at the sunlit Quantocks despite the northerly wind they were visiting upon us. They did provide an occasional relief from watching the bitter cricketing wind of Nottinghamshire systematically piling up runs in the middle. It was difficult not to concentrate on the cricket most of the time though because Pretorius was bowling a particularly good spell, again beating the bat several times. But, as I watched, worryingly from a Somerset perspective, Nottinghamshire began to find the boundary more often despite the efforts of the Somerset bowlers who continued to maintained their discipline against the mounting pressure.
It was particularly noticeable that Bashir, Somerset’s run-block at The Oval, was conceding more runs having been the bowler who had most held Nottinghamshire in check before lunch. Noticeable too because the batters proceeded to pass milestones with some rapidity. Each milestone caused the announcer to remind Somerset supporters of Nottinghamshire’s inexorable progress. “The one hundred partnership for Joe Clarke and Will Young,” brought a desperate gasp because it came from an edge from Clarke off Pretorius which James Rew got both hands to and dropped, the ball running far enough off his gloves for the single. “That is one hundred and fifty for Nottinghamshire,” came when Clarke drove Bashir softly through extra cover for two. “Fifty for Will Young from 135 balls,” came from a neat turn to the deep square leg boundary off Bashir and reminded of Young’s air of permanence at the wicket. Boundaries came increasingly rapidly too, mainly from Clarke and mainly off Bashir, one being lofted over long on and into the covers store for six.
I spent nine overs on the terrace. By the time I returned to my seat and that bitter north-easterly wind, Nottinghamshire had added 40 runs and immediately proceeded to add another nine in the over after I sat down, Bashir being struck for two more boundaries, one swept behind square to the Colin Atkinson Pavilion scoreboard and one lofted over straight midwicket to the Ondaatje boundary. Nottinghamshire’s deficit had now shrunk from its original 261 to 72, still only two wickets down. At the start of the day, there had been talk of the match being over by its end. There was none now.
The Somerset bowler who had shown most threat, was Pretorius. He had beaten the bat several times to gasps, had that catch dropped by Rew and been denied one or two loud leg before wicket appeals. Now Clarke struck him for three boundaries in an over. The first seemed designed to demonstrate the dominance of the Nottinghamshire batting. Pretorius bowled short and straight. Clarke pointed the bat straight down the wicket and played the perfect ramp shot back over his own head and Rew’s to the boundary in front of the Trescothick Pavilion sight screen. He followed that with two sharp cuts, one through the covers and one through backward point, each bringing four. The 14 runs which came from the over brought two more announcements, “That is Nottinghamshire’s 200,” and, “The 150 partnership,” reducing Somerset’s lead to 56 in the process. With Nottinghamshire still only two wickets down, Somerset’s advantage was fast slipping away.
Now, Clarke went to his century, cutting Gregory, who had replaced Pretorius, through backward point for four. A straight drive for four, also off Gregory, prompted a request for the ball to be changed to which the umpires acceded. With the changed ball, Gregory did force an edge from Young, but it flew, frustratingly for Somerset, through second slip when, in the modern fashion when batters are making progress, there was only a first and a fourth slip. Then, Overton beat Young to gasps to add to Somersrt’s frustration as the Nottinghamshire score continued its perpetual rise.
A further nine overs spent on the Trescothick Pavilion terrace brought a further 40 runs and had taken Nottinghamshire four runs into the lead by the time I sat down again, still with Clarke and Young marching on. While I was on the terrace, Somerset tried to exert some control with Bashir, this time at the Trescothick Pavilion End. A six back over his head into the sight screen, the flow of runs was now so persistent I didn’t notice from which batter, soon put that plan into perspective. A glance at the scoreboard revealed that Bashir’s steady two runs an over had extended beyond three, although the batters reined themselves in as tea approached. My second sojourn on the terrace looking at the Quantocks left me with the impression that a wicket was as far away as the Mendips. By then, I doubt if anyone would have bet against the Gunns’ record being passed had they known about it. Somerset’s use of Tom Lammonby in the run up to tea, with still ten overs to the new ball, suggested Gregory may have been of a similar opinion, at least until his bowlers could get their hands on that new ball.
Nottinghamshire began the evening session 20 ahead. By then I had not completed my customary anticlockwise teatime circumnavigation of the ground, too many people to talk to, too little time to talk to them in. It made no difference to what was happening in the middle. With people to talk to the cricket became the background to conversation rather than the centre of attention. Out of that background sounded one huge, extended leg before wicket appeal and an impression of bowlers gaining some control over the batters. A glance at the scoreboard when I regained my seat confirmed my impression. Nottinghamshire had added just 23 runs in 12 overs, but crucially wicket had come there none. “The Nottinghamshire 300,” announcement had passed me by too. “By this time tomorrow, we shall be hanging on,” from another Somerset supporter didn’t.
And then, back in my seat, perhaps I should stay out of it, acceleration from Nottinghamshire, “One hundred for Will Young,” the next announcement. Somerset’s fielding was a sharp as ever, and the shouts of encouragement from the field, from Matt Renshaw and Lammonby in particular, continued unabated. But the ball began to fly, straight drives for four, one for each batter off Josh Davey. An off drive for four for Clarke off Bashir, four for Young, lofted over square leg off Bashir followed immediately by a straight six into the Trescothick Pavilion sightscreen below me. That was 29 runs in four overs, Nottinghamshire on 365 for 2, over a hundred into the lead with no sign of any let up. “The 300 partnership,” announcement had come and gone along the way too.
When Goldsworthy was tried with his slow left arm spin, a lofted straight drive for four from Clarke into the River End sightscreen was followed by an inconspicuous single turned to the fielder at backward square leg. Inconspicuous except that it brought the announcement, “Two hundred in 284 balls for Joe Clarke.” The steady stream of Nottinghamshire runs which had flowed through the day had become a torrent. Then, as the end of the day approached, the batters seemed to take breath. There were no boundaries in the final eight overs, just a steady trickle of ones and twos as 28 more runs took Nottinghamshire to 418 for 2, the overthrow of the Gunns’ record and a lead of 157 with Clarke on 209 and Young on 156.
It had been an astonishing day of batting. That the wicket was made for it, that it provided not a gram of assistance to the Somerset bowlers despite their never flagging and producing their best efforts throughout the day, should not detract from the efforts of the Nottinghamshire batters. Every one of those runs had to be scored. That required no small amount of skill, a modicum of luck to be sure, but also immense, unbroken amounts of concentration. From a spectator viewpoint though, it brought memories of the Taunton featherbeds of the first decade of the current millennium on which falling wickets in the latter part of a match were as rare as Championship matches are in high summer today. Initially, it was enjoyable if your own side was batting, but recollections of those days suggest that, after a while, even that interest pales and dies.
Close. Nottinghamshire 193 and 418 for 2. Somerset 454. Nottinghamshire lead by 157 runs with eight second innings wickets standing.
For more from 'Farmer' log on to his website by clicking HERE
In relation to the game as a whole, Day 4 flattened even more than the pitch. The last gasp for Somerset was the new ball which came early on the last morning. It brought very little and after less than an hour, the expected rain arrived, an early lunch was taken and the light and drizzle continued causing an early abandonment of the game and a draw with Somerset taking 15 points.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:29:17:33:28 by Grockle.
We've had 2 away games, we've done quite well despite weather and a first innings collapse. Promising signs of a better performing batting line-up.
Will we go one better than the 2 draws? Will Andy Umeed be ready to push for a starting spot (Sean Dickson and Tom Banton may be a little worried). Tom Abell won't be pushing but Josh Davey and Jake Ball might be asking questions. Don't think Kasey Aldridge will be giving up his place.easily so it might be interesting.
Assuming we don't decide to rest him or something (!) it will be interesting to see what the "new KA," can do with the Dukes ball.
Disappointing to see that Sonny Baker bowled only 5 overs for the seconds - hope there's not another flaming problem there. Leachy opened the batting and it seems that Ned Leonard in batting at 3 (!)
Umeed next in.
I imagine management will deem two games too few to cause a change to the first XI, but if Umeed scores vs Yorks twos, then it's possible that Dickson and Banton could find themselves in a shoot-out, vs Notts, to decide who keeps their place for game four. This assumes that nobody else emerges from the twos as a battting threat, such as George Thomas or maybe even Archie Vaughan.
This is a copy of the post which I put on the Taunton Tripadvisor thread as the focus for this match is on this thread:
For Championship matches, non-members and visiting supporters may wish to note the following from a recent email to members from the CE:
1) The Brian Rose Gates will be closed.
2) Blocks 1-4 of the Somerset Stand will be closed on the first two days of the match, and the entire Somerset Stand will be closed on the final two days, although the toilets will remain open. If the pitch is towards the Somerset Stand, the Somerset Stand may be open and the Ondaatje Stand closed.
3) Catering: Minimum outlets open will be: Stragglers and County Room Bar for the whole match and The Great Catch Fish and Chip Shop on days one and two only.
4) Bag searches may be in operation.
Farmer
Ben Green has also gone to Leocestershire on loan
[somersetcountycc.co.uk]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:18:13:46:28 by Grockle.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset are still without Jack Leach and Tom Abell but Josh Davey returns to the squad.
Somerset have named the following squad for the fixture: Lewis Gregory, Sean Dickson, Matt Renshaw, Tom Lammonby, Tom Banton, James Rew, Lewis Goldsworthy, Craig Overton, Josh Davey, Migael Pretorius, Kasey Aldridge, Jake Ball and Shoaib Bashir.
That’s assuming, of course, that it’s not 100 runs in the match Vs 80 runs in the match or something viz SD Vs TB.
His form seems to have remained, except for the injury. One of the two incumbants is in the line-up because of that injury effectively.
Umeed is either a serious option or not part of whatever plan Somerset has to win the CC1. Is that the plan or just first team 'net' time for the Vitality Blast side?
Still unconvinced that we have any real aspirations about winning the Championship
I didn't think Gregory instigating the rest all the bowlers for the Hants CC game policy last year before the T20 was terribly promising viz his attitude to the CC either (well though the other bowlers did in that game) BUT he showed a ton of determination at the Oval so maybe he's a bit more ambitious in respect of winning the CC.?
Jamie Cox might have more ambition on the CC front, who knows?
Farmer
Either way, it's our club, there is a game to be won today and the dream of being champions
KA gets to do all the hard yakka with the unresponsive ball then misses out on this Duke that has already done more than we saw in the whole of the K ball stint!
Renshaw, Dickson, Lammonby, Goldsworthy, Banton, Rew, Gregory, Overton, Davey, Pretorius, Bashir
I strongly suspect that Kidderminster will be slow and low - and missing that game will not prove any kind of penalty for any of the bowlers.. so poor old Aldridge really will have drawn the short straw in terms of the game he missed.
I shall be attaching a mental asterisk to KA's bowling average for the season to reflect the fact that he's not been given the opportunity to bowl in juicy conditions this morning.
If not for these two former Notts players, in the white coats, this innings would be all but over by now.
Gordon was about at 11 AG so he's been here all day.
Good bowling from Craig, Josh and Lewis, really. Umpiring errors helped Notts quite signfiicantly.
I think batting vs Fletcher, Hutton and Paterson is likely to prove a tough proposition.
Hope those "shy," umpires don't suddenly get trigger happy when we bat.
These tickets are very easy to crumple though. Makes scanning in and out a pain. Saw a guy complaining about them.
As Peter Trego said, our batting is not sufficiently consistent to justify quite such a high percentage, but we certainly appear to be firmly in the box seat, as of right now.
Good to see Dickson get some runs under his belt.
[m.facebook.com]
Most of those commenting appear to believe they are nailed on for relegation.
As for the off the field stuff, as I understand the situation, the Somerset stand is closed, Brian Rose gates firmly shut, tea & coffee is apparently £3.50 a go, with a sausage roll costing a fiver. Oh & no alcohol allowed to be brought in unless it's in very limited quantities & decanted into plastic before entering the ground.
Really Gordon, why not just close the flippin' ground entirely, to everyone except a few Corporate sponsors ?
So hope that Jamie Cox brings a more enlightened approach.
Grizzers
More myopic "cost v convenience" service from a regime that really hasn't ever got the balance particularly right
Hopefully tea and coffee will be boycotted until the price is reasonable but then, of course, they will stop selling it altogether saying that it just wasn't selling.
Gone, for no sensible reason, are those grand days when I was able to bring a bottle of wine into the ground and enjoy it in the sunshine before lunch.
Why are so many stewards on duty all day? Five at the Richards Gate at times.
The Joel Gates have been completely covered now preventing anyone walking along the river path having a cursory look at play.
What a miserable ground it's become.
In the Cricket Paper there was a female journalist last week saying that cricket needs a peace between traditionalists and the money gougers as I see them. She mentioned the gripe of the money gougers that members come along with their sandwiches and flasks. I’d say pretty sensible at those prices.
Let’s hope Cox brings a shift in emphasis.
I hit mute as soon as it came on.
Craig has his batting mojo back again as well.
Keep it going chaps.
Grizzers
Both extortionate!
Quite often within the same day!
You wanted Sean & Dickson dropped last week 🤔
I support ALL our players. I definitely believe Banton is more suited to middle order than opening for sure. Hence my equal support to persevere with Sean as a specialist opener. And not fudge Green Davies Banton into doing it.
Anyway another quite superb day all around (bar a brain fade from Bash!) Banton Craig Migael all took responsibility and put us in a great position.
Such a shame the countless errors we are making off the field, alcohol policy, stands, gates, crazy pricing, no members discounts etc etc
You and I both know that, on various occasions when people have been suggesting the team that they think should play in a CC game, you have made comments along the lines of “Why would we pick Banton in red ball, what has he done to justify it?”
Anyway, what has become of your bestie? “Rested,” injured or not selected after his wicketless outing at the Oval?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:20:20:35:10 by AGod.
Come on SheptonPaul, where are you?
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:20:21:05:33 by Somerset LaLaLa.
They’re in ahead of Umeed, for now. The two Toms will be available at some point. Renshaw may or may not be replaced after his stint which, I believe, is 7 or 8 games?
If you can't then it may get out of hand and things might have to be taken away. Bits will start to disappear from posts
You both have valid points to make and you don't have to agree or even like each other but if you want to spend time in petty bickering please do that on the DM section where the rest of us don't have to be the unwitting audience.
Thank you 😁👍🏼
I’m not too worried about that - my ire will be raised more by Div Two teams like Yorkshire or Middlesex getting more coverage than our higher-quality and more exciting efforts today.
Anyway, as I say, I’m here - tomorrow, I shall be there, assuming I can find an open entrance gate, a reasonably priced coffee and an available seat from which to watch, I hope, a home victory.
Archie Vaughan got some time in AD. George may be a medium term middle order white ball option presently. His brother Josh is also starting to show some things.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:21:07:00:06 by Grockle.
Whilst I love my packed county summers it is not realistic for bowlers to play every game from April to September uninjured at full pace.
Surrey never DROP anyone, they have a rotation policy, a big squad & all of them buy into it.
Kasey misses this match & many on here & other platforms are up in arms. None of us know Kasey personally I assume, or what small niggles he "may" be carrying.
We have Jake & Josh fresh from last week so I have no issue at all resting in form players if it's part of a sensible bigger plan.
Hurry & Kerr have said on record we need to rest & rotate our bowlers, if they are going to do it properly & that means they are all fit & fresh still come July August September great.
As for Jamie I would imagine 2 championship medals, numerous winter franchise deals, 3 hundred contracts, (now being selected in the top bracket possible) & being strongly tipped for a world cup squad spot in a few weeks, he will be feeling pretty pleased with life and grateful for your continued interest in his career 👍
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:21:08:10:17 by Grockle.
Notts got 500+ at Taunton after following on, I think in 2018, let's hope they don't get close today
Now back to the serious issue of the day, the need to take nine wickets before close of play. I shan't be able to follow the match live for some hours (no, I am not off for a session in Surrey's bunkers or a day at the races) but hope to catch up before the day is done.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
We may all be praying for the rain to end our misery with this one sometime early tomorrow afternoon
Shall I feel sorry for Nottinghamshire tomorrow if they are robbed of victory by a brilliant Somerset fightback or by the rain? We shall see...
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Or....... something else
Clark's innings was apparently the highest ever in the CC by a wicket-keeperbatting the second innings.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Would Jack Leach likely have had any success bowling on that strip ?
Grizzers
Best part of the day was when the fielders (I think instigated by a slightly peeved Coverton) started taking the mickey out of “Barry” Banton as he rested in the dugout and Josh Thomas fielded for him.
Clarke batted really well, Young was solid and our guys couldn’t do anything about it. It was ice cold until 4pm, too.
I don't know if this is allowed to happen, I'm imaging the two captains getting together and saying “do we really want to carry on playing on a pitch like this” and going to the umpires and begging them to call it off.
I am only partly serious.
The attendance for this match was way down, it could have been the weather or something else!!
Side information – my return visit to the hospital to the Trauma department for a doctor's appointment is on the 21st May, if given the all clear to use my left arm as normal I will be able to take photos again.
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
Farmer
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