Somerset
All the Way to Chelmsford - Essex CC1
By Grockle
April 10 2026
Welcome to Chelmsford - a good crowd in for the second game of the Championship and Somerset's first away fixture of 2026. Craig Overton captains gain as Lewis Gregory is still not fit enough to be on the pitch. Josh Shaw makes his debut for Somerset coming in for the unlucky Alfie Ogborne and that is the only change to the side from Notts. We have wont the toss and will bowl first as we start on time.
CC1 v ESSEX @ Chelmsford Friday 10 April 2026
The second game of the 2026 Championship. Somerset have won the toss and will bowl first at Chelmsford. The side is;
TKC, Josh Thomas, James Rew, Tom Lammonby, Tom Abell, Lewis Goldsworthy, Craig Overton, Migael Pretorius, Josh Shaw, Jake Ball, Jack Leach
No Lewis Gregory as captain, bowler and bat yet this season and Alfie Ogborne must feel unlucky to be the seamer who loses his place to give Josh Shaw his first game for his new county. That is the only change. Craig wins the toss and puts his bowling attack in the forefront as he decides to bowl first.
The initial BBC commentary 'team' of Anthony Gibson and Don Topley is interestingly 'barbed' but courteous in the early sparrings. Bodes well for some 'banter' during the course of this game.
We start at 11 am with Dean Elgar and Paul Walter opening against Overton first and his opening partner Ball. They take 8 off the first and are at 11 by the end of the second in front of a very decent crowd in Essex.
Walter is a towering man (6 foot 8ish) and makes an interesting pairing with Elgar - nothing like as tall. Lots of playing and missing in the first 5 overs but no luck presently at 14 for 0 at the end the 5th. Craig is 0 for 9 off 2 and Ball 0 for 5 off his 3. The Essex man on the BBC suggests the pitch may quicken on Day 2 and may take spin on Day 4.
Luck does come to Jake as he has Walter LBW for 2 in the middle of the 6th courtesy of Umpire Gough. 14 for 1 brings Mulder the South African to the crease. His second delivery rears and takes an edge to Tom Kohler-Cadmore who snaffles the ball and send Mulder on his way without scoring. 14 for 2. TKC has to go off to get his finger 'relocated' as Charlie Allison comes out - a young man in his second season. Ball has 2 for 5 - good tight attacking bowling. As Anthony says. It IS probably the best bowling we've seen from Jake in a CC1 game. Looks like the skipper made a good toss decision/
Archie seems to be on for TKC and given the new rules regarding injury substitutions, he may stay on the pitch as Tom's replacement. If that was the case, he probably would not be allowed to bowl however as it is supposed to be 'like for like' replacements. Alfie Ogborne is also on for someone early in the game - maybe a bathroom break.
Migael comes on for the 10th and goes for 1 off his first. There is a discussion about why Alfie Ogborne is not playing and there are decent cases for both sides of the argument. Do you keep a young guy going if he did well in his first game to give him confidence? Do you rota him to manage his workload in a demanding first team season that he is new to? We'll have to re-assess once we've seen Josh's first spell. Ball is obviously getting something as he has continued beyond the usual 5 over first spell and is still bowling in the 14th.
Josh Shaw is on for the 15th over of the game replacing Jake Ball. He nearly gets Allison with his first ball and then has the young man mistakenly taking a sharp single off his second where Tom Lammonby is closeto running him out. Not really a sensible single there. Josh has not had a great deal of CC1 bowling with both of his latter counties because both Gloucestershire and Yorkshire both spent most of his time with them in the second division so this is all new to the Somerset debutant. 35 for 2 after 16 and a decent first six balls from Josh.
Craig replaces Miggy for a spell before the lunch break - we may see some of Jack before the break just to see what is going on. He went for 8 off his first but has only gone for 4 in his overs since then. Essex have passed 50 but they have not had a strong first session presently. Allison gets a thick edge past the slips to go for four, there was an earlier edge which did not carry and all four bowlers have been asking questions this morning.
A 50 partnership between Allison 23 (51) and Elgar 37 (78) at 64 for 2. The commentators are wondering whether the assumed 'dislocation' of TKC's finger may be a break instead which would mean a substitution. Will Smeed has made over 300 in the Seconds game - a big century and a not out double hundred - wonder if they'll call him up for a go? He'd be a more 'like for like' sub though it's a bit of a trip for him. However, as a bat only sub he wouldn't be needed until at the earliest, in the darkest of scenarios for Essex, tomorrow afternoon.
The Essex live feed dies just before the lunch break and by the time I'm back on Tom Lammonby is on bowling the 30th at 77 for 2. Elgar top edges a shortish ball straight to Jake Ball at 77 for 41 for 94. It was a long hop he hoped to send for six but he was caught on the long leg boundary. Tom has 1 for 5. In comes Matt Critchley with the best CC1 batting average in April since the 1990s. Before the end of the over, Rew catches him behind and he goes for 0 at 77. Tom now has 2 for 5 in his second over. Benkenstein is now the man in with only 2 first class games in his career. Overton takes the last over before lunch and they leave the field at 80 for 4 with Benkenstein yet to score from 3 balls and Allison on 25 from 62. Jake Ball and Tom Lammonby have taken 2 wickets each and that was a good session for all the bowlers.
The second session starts on time at 1:40. Though the livestream does not seem to be having the same prompt start and may be a bit glitchy for the first part of this afternoon's play I'm afraid. It seems that you have to keep renewing the stream from scratch each session. Pretorius and Ball restart the game after the break. Miggy starts the 35th over at 0 for 19 from his 7 and Essex at 85 for 4.
The 100 arrives with a four run down to the boundary at the start of the 39th with Charlie Allison moving to 49 from 83 with that shot. That is followed by the first no ball of Somerset's season as Miggy gets it slightly wrong. Allison is looking for a 50 but a low edge to Tom Abell sends him on his way at 49 (84 balls) from Pretorius at 105 for 5. The bowler got the ball to move away and the slip fielder did really well to catch that one.
Presently TKC is off for an X-ray to see what the issue is. Then the medical people decide if he can't take part any more. If they decide that is the case then they announce the sub. So... more to come.
Micheal Pepper - the Essex keeper is the new man in and the livestream once again glitches. We are very lucky that we have working to minimise the glitches on our coverage at Taunton. Craig is on first change and he appears to get an inside edge from Benkenstein. The ball seems to divert but the umpire seems to believe it was not touched by the bat. looked like he got an edge to me but not given at 121 for 5. Benkenstein survives the shout at 18 from 44.
Overton deserves a wicket and he gets it by bowling Ppper in his next over 16 from 22 at 130 for 6. In comes Simon Harmer and he lasts 2 balls before Overton has him plumb in front and he is out LBW - Craig is the third bowler in the 46 overs to take 2 wickets in an over and it is 130 for 7. We start to wonder who will be opening with Josh Thomas in this first innings as it is highly doubtful that TKC will open however his finger is by the time he returns. In comes Snater as the next bat.
Josh Shaw is back on to bowl to the new partnership and he bowls Benkenstein (chopped on). His first wicket for the county. Benkenstein leaves for 18 from 49 at 134 for 8. The 47th over see Cook and Snater facing without a run between them. A wicket maiden to start his wicket total for Somerset. The initial info is that TKC has broken his finger so there will be a sub.
Shane Snater is looking to push the score along as he goes for consecutive boundaries against Overton. But as the live feed dies again it seems he tries once too often as Essex are 147 for 9 and Porter is in. Shaw took Snater (bowled) and then finishes the side by havioing Porter caught behind to complete at 3 for 30. This is folowed by the announcement that Will Smeed will replace TKC in the Somerset batting line-up though it is very very unlikely that he will open unless he has developed teleport technology as he has to get to Chelmsford from Abergavenny.
Another bit to add to this eventful game's start is that Craig Overton did not finish his last over. Jake Ball had to take the last 4 balls of it as he left the field. It's all happening in Chelmsford. Now the question is, did Will start his trip to Essex as soon as TKC left the field (as the 2nds innnings was over) in which caase he may be nearly there anyway. Though bloody knackered one would imagine.
So eleven over before Tea and Josh Thomas walks out with a different opener Jack Leach!!!! To open the Somerset innings!! The 53rd opening partnership since 2007!! JackThe feed dies just before Jack does after scoring 6 quickly before being bowled by Porter!! Tom Lammonby is the next man in at 8 for 1 but at 11 he snicks on from Cook to Dean Elgar at first slip and he goes for 2 at the end of the 4th. Somerset are 11 for 2 and James Rew is coming in at number 4. Rew passed 3000 runs in the last game against Notts.
Josh Thomas does not last much longer as he is caught behind off Cook for 4 (19 balls) at 16 for 3. A very good ball which bounced a lot. Tom Abell comes out before the Tea interval. There are a number of fraught overs before Tea as the Somerset men look to stabalise this innings from it's nervous start. Porter and Cook are asking an awful lot of questions so it is solild defence with little concern for scoring until after the interval. Lots of stuff up to the bat on a very straight line from all the bowlers today.
The Tea interval arrives at 35 for 3 with Tom Abell on 18 from 22 with James Rew with 1 from his 12.
Back after Tea with Cook and Snater taking the bowling and we pass 50 at the end of the 13th with Rew on 16 from 21 and Abell on 19 from 25. Cook has done something to an ankle or Achilles and he is taking himself off for some treatment at the end of the 14th at 64 for 3. There will therefore be a change of bowling at the end of Snater's 15th. During that over the two Somerset men reach a 50 run partnership at 66 for 3. Mulder takes over for the 16th.
In the 19th Snater gets Abell to nibble at one and he is caught behind at 73 for 4. The end of a partnership of 57. Tom goes for a 41 ball 29. Out comes Lewis Goldsworthy with 25 overs left in the day to see out a Snater wicket maiden. The update is that Will is in England! He may even get to Essex for a bat - but it is not certain by any means at the moment.
Harmer arrives at the crease for the 27th over with Somerset on 98 for 4 with Rew ib 43 from 59 with his partner Goldsworthy with 4 from 24. A swept boundary from the keeper takes Somerset over 100 to 102. Porter returns to replace Mulder for the 30th and partner Harmer at the other end. It's slow going with 13 overs left after this one. After 30 overs the visitors have 114 for 4. But James doesn't get his 50 as Harmer gets him to sniff at one and he is snaffled by Pepper at 114 for 5. Bad to see him go but good to see Craig Overton coming out to bat after leaving the field before the end of the Essex innings. Goldsworthy has moved to 15.
With 10 overs to go we have 124 without any more loss. They'd love to get to the end of the day without losing another wicket and may very well try and block this out with that aas their aim. Then Will would be next man in tomorrow morning with the job of giving his county a first innings lead.
Cook is back at the end of the day in the hope of making a difference. Craig has moved to a run a ball 20 with 5 to go (It seems it is his 32nd birthday today - so it must be Jamie's as well). Harmer continues from the other end at 143 for 5 and Lewis will face on 22 from 69.
Craig can't resist taking the lead with an up the wicket six to Harmer to bring up the 150 at 154 for 5 and a 5 run lead as well. He also damages the ball and it has to be replaced with 1 ball of the 39th left. He puts it to the boundary again and messes harmer's figures with 14 off the over. The skipper moves to 34 from 24 - not figures we've seen much of on this day.
Cook thinks he has the Somerset captain LBW but Gough is immovable. It did look high to be honest though Cook is inconsolable of course. The skipper whacks the next one for four as is always the way and the Somerset move to 51 together with Goldsworthy contributing 11 and COve has put on 40 at 165 for 5. Harmer is hit for another four by the captain in his penultimate over of the day and he puts a straight six into the commentary box to go to 50 off 33 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes. He's the only one who has looked in control of his innings today and has put Essex to the sword in the last few overs. He's in some good form with the bat at the moment which makes up for his lack of luck with the ball.
We reach the last over after a Cook maiden. Harmer takes the last with Somerset on a lead of 30. If they lose a wicket now they will go off so Will Smeed will bat tomorrow whichever way it goes. Craig ends on from 36 and Lewis ends on 28 from 83. A maiden leaves the score on 179 for 5. It has to be a Somerset day on that basis and we will look forward to tomorrow more than our hosts will.
Tomorrow will be a double day as this game carreies on and the women welcome Yoprkshire to the County ground at the same time so I have to hope that the Essex feed is a little more predicatble tomorrow so I can keep track of both at the same time.
178 for 5 as Cook bowls his last on Day 1. He bowls a maiden and we leave the field 30 runs ahead with the prospect of Will Smeed batting tomorrow morning (he arrived at 6pm still in his whites!!)
Day 2
The covers are on just before play starts in the second but they get them off and the teams are on the pitch on time and cricket starts. Tom Kohler-Cadmore has NOT broken his thumb but has injured the joint. It's a slow start with Lewis Goldsworthy having Tom Lammonby on as a runner as he has got a hamstring injury.
They start again at 43 overs. By 49 overs they have moved to 192 for 5 with Craig on 56 and Lewis on 33. The 200 arrives in the 53rd as the skipper moves to 60. The solid support of Lewis Goldsworthy finally ends as he feathers one from Porter and departs for 42 from 127 deliveries caught behind at 212 for 6. Out comes Will Smeed for his first ever first team red ball game! He hasn't got off the mark when Dean Elgar drops a fairly straight and easy slip catch in the 58th. A second chance in his first game!!
He finally gets off the mark after 18 balls with a two through mid wicket at 217 for 6. His partner and skipper is on 70 from his 92. Harmer comes on for the 67 in a snood with sunglasses - it does look cold out there. Craig has moved into the 80s and Will is on to 5.
It is slow movement but as Craig moves into the 90's, Will takes on Harmer and hits him for four to bring up the Somerset 250. He's looking to find some spaces now as his skipper eyes his second 100 at 95.
In the 74th, just before lunch Critchley is bowling with Craig on 97 and then 98 after a single. They leave for lunch with the captain on 98 from 132 and Smeed on 17 for 46 at 264 for 6.
They return with Overton 2 runs from another landmark. Harmer has the job of looking to stop him doing that and they keep him away until the 4th ball of the 76th when he takes a quick single to move to 100 from 136 balls with 14 fours and 3 sixes. His second century of his career at 265 for 6.
The 300 arrives for Somerset with 4 wickets still in hand and Craig must be eyeing his highest score at 128. Meanwhile there have been 2 back to back boundaries for his partner who seems to be getting the feel of this game. The 100 partnership comes up with Smeedy providing less than 25% of it but he is getting into his stride. Overton moves to a new career best score at 329 with the move to 141 - excellent innings. That is it for the man at 330 as he is LBW to Snater. Miggy P arrives as Craig leaves to very good applause for his innings.
Before the score changes, Will is given out caught behind - not sure who thought that was out. He goes for 39. It did divert off something though it looked very much like a thigh pad. However he is out now and Shaw is the next man in.
At 347 Miggy drives at a ball and thick edges to Walter at first slip 3 points from a bonus point. In comes Jake Ball needing 3 for the bonus. Porter gets him nearly chopping on but he misses and gets a single. But that gives him the strike again. Snater bowls to Ball and he drives but gets no run. The second ball he goes at it and is caught the same way as the Notts game and we miss another bonus point for the second game in a row. We're all out for 348 with a lead of 199.
The second phase of the game starts with Ball and Overton bowling to Walter and Elgar and they make a solid start on a pretty lifeless pitch. They reach 29 from the first 6 with Ball going for 18 from his half with Craig having 10 from his 3. Elgar has 7 and Walter has 21.
Jack is introduced for the 9th over just before Tea and he gets Dean Elgar to hit one up the high splice of the bat which means it spoons up and is caught by Tom Abell diving in to where the Mid on fielder would have been. Elgar goes for 7 (33 balls) at 29 for 1. Benkenstein is the next man in instead of Mulder.
The Tea interval arrives at 36 for 1 with Walter on 24 and Benkenstein on 4 at the end of the 12th over of the Essex second innings.
After Tea we get an early wicket as Benkenstein feathers on to Rew who takes a diving ball in front of first slip (probably would not have carried) 40 for 2 off Miggy P. He goes for 4 and Allison takes his place. But he doesn't stay as he is caught by Abell for 0 off Ball at 45 for 3. In comes Critchley to help Walter try and build towards a valid second innings score that keeps his county in the game. They spend most of the rest of the evening session dodgin the rain and moving the score on. They leave the field just after 5 for rain at 94 for 2 and are off for most of the last hour. But they do get back on after 6 and move the score to 131 for 3, 68 runs runs from making Somerset bat again on a very flat pitch.
Day 3
We move into the second half of this game with Essex looking to bat all day and create a viabkle Day 4 where they face a Somerset with something in a second innings that they can work with. They are 68 runs behind with 7 wickets in hand. Both Paul Walter (63) and Matt Critchley (53) have a base to work with but must stay there because after them it is Pepper and Harmer and then into the bowlers. Craig Overton has been a true captain in this game with an excellent, if unlucky bowling performance and a storming excellent 141 in the first innings to set up this situation for his county. Good bowling support has come from all his men and solid batting from James Rew (48), Lewis Goldsworthy (42) and latterly the drafted in Will Smeed (39) on red ball debut has put the visitors in a very strong position going into this day.
The first hour is going to be crucial as this pitch may very well only have life in it during that first section. The prediction is that is may take spin on Day 4 but that may be too late if Somerset let Essex dig in today and make something valuable from their remaining 7 wickets.
We start on time and the skipper starts with a maiden as the 39th pver of the innings. Jake Ball opens his Day 3 account with the 40th having gone for 50 for 1 off his previous 11. It is the captina however who has Critchley caught by Archie Vaughan (on for Lewis Goldsworthy) at second slip. 4 short of a 100 partnership he goes for 59 from 87 at 141 for 4. Mulder had a niggle yesterday but he comes out after a night's sleep one position below his usual ad he face Overton who had 1 for 22 from his 9 and a bit overs.
Archie is the sub for Lewis (though he can't bowl it seems) so neither TKC or Lewis Junior will be availabel next week in Southampton.
The 150 arrives with Walter on 70 and Mulder on 6. But before they reduce the deficit from the present 49 Overton gets Walter to play a false shot and he is on his way back to the dressing room for 70 from 118 having popped the ball back to the Somerset skipper to be caught and bowled. In comes Pepper to face COve on 2 for 27. He passes that task but can't keep Jake Ball down as 1 run later without scoring he snicks the last ball of the 46th low to Overton at second slip and returns without scoring at 151 for 6. In comes Harmer looking to keep his county in the game up until the lunch break!! Essex are still 48 behind with only 4 wickets left.
Shaw replaces Overton for the 49th at 160 for 6. Pretorius makes it a double change as he replaces Ball. Hope he has a better morning as he did get some tap in the last half hour last night from Critchley particularly. Essex get much closer but 7 runs before they pass Somerset's first innings, Pretorius gets Mulder to top edge to the keeper at 192 for 6. He doesn't seem convinced that he got that but the umpire is and he goes. In comes Snater as Miggy moves to 2 for 51 and the new bat's arrival prompts Overton to return to the attack.
Harmer and Snater level the scores 1 run short of the Essex 200 in the 59th and pass 200 off the last ball of Craig's over. The 62nd over sees Josh Shaw back in the attack and he nips one back into the pads of Simon Harmer catching him in front at 203 for 8. 1 for 36 for the bowler. Harmer goes for 20 from 44 LBW. Out comes Sam Cook with about 25 minutes to the Lunch interval. After him it is only Porter to come while they presently lead by 4.
Lunch arrives at the end of the 68th over from Shaw (1 for 52 from 11) with Essex on for 231 for 8 a lead of 32. Cook has 13 from 22 and Snater has 18 from 69. They started at 131 for 3 and have lost 100 for 5 this morning.
Pretorius and Ball open the attack after the break. 4 overs in and Ball gets Cook with steepling bounce nicked to Rew. They've moved to a lead of 42 as the Essex man goes for 17 off 38 balls. Out comes the last man Porter. He sees out the wicket maiden from the Somerset man who moves to 3 for 67 from his 19 overs. Miggy bounces Snater in the next over, he top edges and goes caught by Archie for 27 from his 45 balls. Pretorius finishes with 3 for 64 from his 19.4 while seeing Essex all out for 245 just 46 runs ahead.
So...who will open? Josh Thomas comes out with Archie Vaughan for the second knock. They will face Cook first up. He put a maiden on and gives the ball to Simon Harmer at the other end. They think there is something in this then. But the Somerset men are not impressed as they hit 27 off 2 overs and go into the second Harmer over at 27 for 0. Archie sends his third ball for six to move his side into the 30s. They have 34 at the end of the 4th and Matt Critchley is in with leg spin. Vaughan hits him for four off his first. At the end of the over they need 8. Archie waits 2 balls and then hits the Essex spinner for a straight six and a four to go to 49 and the win. Essex take 3 points. Archie takes 41 from 25 balls. They win by 10 wickets and take the 21 points. They also win at Chelmsford for the first time in 19 years and beat Essex for the first time in 16. Josh Thomas finishes on 8 from 9 balls. A really good confidence making win and on to Southampton.
If you want Farmer White's view of the last day of the first game he has written about then the link HERE will take you to it.
Neither TKC or Lewis Goldsworthy is available for the next game at the Utilita but the skipper Lewis Gregory may be ready by then. Excellent performances in the two innings from all the main bowlers. Jack got a look in and a wicket but not a lot of balls. Craig performed like a skipper with the bat and the ball and Jake, Josh and Miggy all came to the game with wickets. Both Archie and Will will be available for consideration so we will have to see what the plan is for the game against Hampshire.
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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:15:12:20:00 by Grockle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:10:10:48:49 by Grockle.
The squad for this one has not exactly altered all that much - instead there is just one addition
TKC, Josh Thomas, James Rew, Tom Lammonby, Tom Abell, Lewis Goldsworthy, Lewis Gregory, Archie Vaughan, Pretorius, Overton, Leach, Ogborne, Shaw, Ball
With a decent set of scores from the front end you would imagine that the only questions will be whether the younger Lewis and Archie will trade places and/or whether we will change the seam setup as the skipper will probably be returning.
We'll find out tomorrow. As alreadty mentioned elsewhere Tom Westley (my Somerset waking brain is in full operational mode), the first person to use the sub system, will automatically be out of this game as the next one for Essex. Any other thoughts on the team we will face can be found in the Club preview linked below;
Essex Preview
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:10:10:48:00 by Grockle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:10:12:22:47 by Grockle.
Advance adult tickets for Championship matches at Chelmsford are priced at £18 per day. That is £72 for all four days or £54 for three days. I bought a four day ticket this afternoon for £50. I did mention that I was a Somerset member but don't know if that produced an extra discount. Four-day tickets are not advertised on the Essex website as far as I could see, and there is no facility to buy them on line that I could find.
I phoned their ticket office on 01245 254010 this afternoon and bought a four-day ticket as above. A bit of a wait and several options. Press 1. They offered a choice of sending the ticket(s) (I think they issue a separate ticket for each day) to my phone or collection at the gate.
I didn't ask if there is any refund if the match fails to reach four days because if they are prepared to offer a big discount if the match lasts four days I am prepared to take the risk that it might only last three (or even two).
Once again my apologies for posting this so late in the day, but for anyone intending to attend all four days and who has not already bought a ticket, it might be worth ringing them in the morning.
Farmer
That said, he does have something to prove (to pretty much everybody here at least!) so I'm guessing he won't be holding back...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:10:10:16:56 by sfwithers.
TKC, Thomas J, Rew J, Lammonby, Abell, Goldsworthy, Pretorius, Overton, Ball, Shaw Leach
Not floating my boat but it's early in the season. No Gregory at a time when we need him as captain, bat and bowler. No Alfie but they have to give Shaw a look under fire so....
Chelsmford is usually a draw at best so that's where we start expectations I suppose.
And Overton looks like he might be regretting the choice...
Unusual to watch a live stream without Trego and Marks.
The BBC commentary is worth listening to - I'd call it 'barbed' with courtesy. Anthony and the Essex commentator (don't know who it is) - sort of 'get on' I think. As the game goes on it'll be fun.
Ahh it's Don Topley that makes more sense.
Forget my comments about Jake Ball I have massive amounts of faith in him taking wickets!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:10:11:04:59 by Grockle.
Though it looks as if Tom K-C may have injured his finger taking the catch. Hope it's not a dislocation, which the commentator has suggested...
I personally do not think we managed Kasey well in this aspect on 2 different occasions - though I may be wrong. Hopefully we will have learned from that and are working with Alfie in a different way. Many believe Kasey is bowling for Durham because of a lack of faith he received at Taunton? I can't say I am one of them but I hope we are showing more faith in the left armer as I do think, presently, he is a bowler of some potential.
For those who will have to return after lunch, Tom Lammonby came on to bowl a couple before lunch and too TWO wickets for 5 runs by the end of his second. Dean Elgar top edged a long hop to Jake Ball on the Long Leg boundary for 41 at 77 for 3 and then Matt Critchley coming off a career best at Hampshire snicked a good ball to Rew for 0 off Lammer's last ball without scoring from his 3.
Essex go in at 80 for 4 with Benkenstein yet to bother the scorers and Allison in the 30s.
A good spell from all the bowlers. Ball got movement and wickets. Overton was tight and unlucky once again. Miggy P and Shaw were both very tidy indeed and Lammonby as the 'mystery' bowler came on and did the job.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:10:12:44:25 by Grockle.
There is certainly something there for Ball who bowled the best red ball spell I've seen him bowl for the county. The Lammonby wickets were an Elgar mistake to a long hop which he top edged straight to the aforementioned Ball in the field. the second was a good ball.
The others have all looked decent, though Craig was distinctly unlucky once again.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:10:13:27:51 by Grockle.
The second was a much better ball that took the outside edge, though the batter didn't want to walk.
No live stream since lunch and refreshing doesn't seem to do the job - at least not for me.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:10:14:03:41 by Grockle.
(Oooops, that's why I'm a more-or-less* retired sub-editor and not a cricket captain...)
Essex are now 134/8 and the non-dismissal of Benkenstein fortunately didn't have much effect; the slips were convinced it was a catch.
(* I'm writing a bike review today, so I'm not quite quite fully retired!)
The way things are going Somerset could be batting before tea. If Somerset are going to use Smeed they'd have to open with, I'd guess, either Lammonby of even Lewis. And theres always the risk Essex's attack marmalises Somerset, meaning the sub is needed to bat today.
The sensible thing is to use Archie as the sub if needed; apart from anything else, it's not great for Archie's confidence if he's overlooked, even though he was named in the squad.
It's much more frustrating than Somerset's.
I'm watching it on YouTube on our smart TV and it's annoying having to go back again and again (yes, I know, it's a first world problem, if ever there was.)
Bowled out for 149 Shaw took the last one and Snater's so he went for 3 for 30. A damn better start that many would have expected.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:10:14:43:20 by Grockle.
Will Smeed is in as substitute & presumably racing up the M4 at this very moment. A slightly difficult moment for Archie Vaughan though.
Watch out for the Smeed speed camera's Will !
Grizzers
Assuming he legged it as soon as TKC was injured he's not going to be in Chelmsford anytime soon, unless Caddick is available with his helicopter!
Still, the bowlers out performed expectations.
People will curse me for saying this, but can anything you write here really have such an effect ; of course not. I have a really good feeling about this team very similar to what I had in 2011 with Lancashire when I said so on the Lancs Forum all the way through the season. I normally am critical of negative declarations but I actually thought it was quite right against Notts. A lot of momentum could’ve been lost by losing that game and in no way was it comparable to the Worcestershire game last season. I’m pretty sure Notts will be in the contenders and it isn’t so much the points you get for drawing as the points Notts don’t get by not winning . It’s rather like the last few seasons in Premier League football when it’s hardly worth getting a point unless it’s against one of the championship contenders when it is the two that they don’t get.
Agree wholeheartedly with Des re Craig’s massive contributions. Add to that the collective bowling effort, another impressive innings by James Rew and Lewis Goldsworthy’s nuggety knock.
All in all a very pleasing day.
Grizzers
That certainly looked like title-winning cricket being played by Somerset at Chelmsford today. It's a very deep squad which can impose itself on a game like that without the benefit of Gregory, Vaughan, Ogborne, Smeed or Rew, T.
It was clearly an excellent day for Somerset and I am particularly pleased that Captain Cove is enjoying such a hot batting streak this season (including in the friendly against Glamorgan).
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Oh dear.
Correction - runner is on for Lewis Goldsworthy.
Grizzers
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:11:10:38:02 by Grizzers.
A relief that it's not Overton (unless you're LG, of course!), but that's two of our batters injured/unfit this week. I can see Smeed and Vaughan Junior playing the next match at this rate!
Hope it's not too serious, though he just hooked the ball and looked very uncomfortable. I don't think he'll play that shot again!
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Can't think it will be easy to dislodge Essex tomorrow, but we have every opportunity.
As for bp's, I just hope they don't come back to haunt us at the end of the season.
Grizzers
Great performance from Overton and I'm surprised this is only his second first-class century.
If we get two full days Somerset are clearly in the driving seat, but having watched sport forever, I'm not totting up the fowls until the large soprano has belted out her stuff, to mix more than one metaphor...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:11:23:33:08 by Scrumper.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
TKC will most definitely be missing and the hamstring of Goldsworthy may not be sorted.
Against Sonny Baker who has taken 3 wickets in an over for Hampshire in the present game.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:12:10:54:16 by Grockle.
It is possible that Lewis Gregory may be fit enough by Friday to start v Hampshire, if so he might come in as a straight Lewis swap.
Hope we can wrap this up well before we start getting a little nervous.
As some of us may be already !
Grizzers
Early in the season to get over excited, but a better start than certainly I had expected.
That Surrey?
The day panned out exactly as I expected. I thought Craig would get a couple of early wickets just like Glen Chapple used to do at such times in Lancashire‘s championship winning season. I also thought there would be a frustrating spell.
There really are a lot of similarities in the lack of real star players in both teams. It should be remembered that Lancashire did not have a real overseas player that season although Maharoof put in some very good early performances including hitting Somerset’s mystery spinner and fellow countryman , Ajantha Mendis around Aigburth. (The only mystery about Mendis was that he didn’t spin the ball at all). Indeed, Chapple and Overton are comparable as are Keedy and Leach ; Keedy was the best uncapped spinner I ever saw by a significant way. The team spirit at Somerset is clearly very high as it was at Lancashire that season and somebody came up with a performance whenever it was needed; even Chilton had a good start to that season just as Ball and to a lesser extent Shaw have already surprised us this . Somerset have brilliant fielders , the equal of Tom Smith, Paul Horton , and Stephen Croft who caught everything that season.
Luck is needed with injuries and weather of course. The one thing Somerset is unlikely to have this season is result pitches at home which Lancashire had in 2011 by not playing at its dreadful headquarters . I hope that handicap can be overcome.
So glad we finished it off with ease. That’s quite the statement of intent we’ve made.
Terrific team effort, exemplified by Craig’s immense performance.
On to the Bowl !
Grizzers
It's taken a while, but Jake Ball looks back to being the wicket-taking threat which made him a Test player all those years ago.. Yet another pace bowler to re-find his form, or improve upon it, when he comes to Taunton: it's happening with Josh Shaw too.
Quote:Wiltshire55
Maybe I’m a bit slow, but no. 57 since 2008 ??
Yep it started with Neil Edwards and John Francis in 2008 and since then 31 different bats have paired up in 56 different combinations to open our CC1 first innings.
Will Smeed will be the 32nd individual and create the 57th combination should he walk out against Hampshire - though I think that may be unlikely given the choice in the second innings today.
it's possible I might be out by 1 or 2 but I've checked through it but I can't see any errors. Though doing it is enough to make anyone 'stats blind'
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:12:17:21:51 by Grockle.
Would've put this on match thread but its closed.
One interesting point - he was asked about the decision to leave Alfie Ogborne out of the starting XI, and said it was purely tactical. They didn't really want a left arm over bowler making footmarks to assist the offspin of Simon Harmer.
I hope we don't regret it at the end of the season!
(A) the players DO know about them and would have loved to have got them
(
maybe Jake Ball was doing his best, but bats at 11 for a reason
(C) as with everything else that happens in a game, there is an opposition team trying to STOP us getting those runs / points and who want to win the games and finish higher up the table too
(D) every other county misses points by occasionally only getting to 299 or 347 or 8 wickets taken in 110 overs - sometimes it’s US that stop them - and their supporters moan about it too.
Grrrr…
A different team
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
It was a stunning performance, especially if you were an Essex player I imagine.
Farmer
Sometimes they are easy, sometimes not, but at times in the past we have appeared indifferent to batting bp's. Which is playing russian roulette with what happens at the end of the season.
It doesn't detract from our superb early season form, especially at Essex.
But that doesn't mean we can't improve still further. 330/6 to 348 all out, in less than fve overs, was one of the very few mild disappointments, especially as we had done so much hard work to get there.
Grizzers
Quote:Shepton Paul 2:
Please can people stop banging on about missed bonus points! ... Yes it would’ve been good to get them, but sometimes it's US that stop them
Is there no end to Trump's vindictiveness?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:14:21:56:33 by Grockle.
Really I think this angst over just-missed points is overdone.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
May the celebratory table-topping continue for at least six months, missed bonus points notwithstanding 🥳
I keep reminding myself it's only a number, it is still welcome.
At the very least he should have defended the next over as a maiden and allowed in-form Shaw another opportunity; instead he slashed wildly and straight to third slip. Not entirely Ball`s fault though - even with his 15 years of experience, he should have been guidance what to do before going out to bat when the ninth wicket fell.
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