Some gorgeous early Autumn weather, two home Somerset T20 games, the best live stream on the county circuit. Everything looked set up for a lovely weekend of cricket. It might not have been the equal of the corresponding weekend in 1979 when the trophy drought was broken with two in two days but two wins would have seriously enhanced the chances of a quarter-final place in this year’s competition.
There is no beating about the bush though, Somerset’s hopes of progressing beyond the group stage in this season’s Vitality Blast are now hanging by a very thin thread after two poor performances on Friday and Sunday. Somerset now lie in fourth in the group four points adrift of Warwickshire and Northampton and six adrift of leaders Gloucestershire. With only three games left in the competition Somerset’s chance of hauling themselves into even third place depend on three wins and other results to go their way.
The reason for Somerset’s plight is clear two defeats over the weekend, both at home, and both games that, as margins of three runs and 11 runs evidence, could have easily been won. Add in the defeat the previous Friday at home to Warwickshire also by 4 runs and it is not easy to conceive a world in which Somerset would have 11 points and be sitting top of the group.
I wasn’t able to watch the game on Sunday but there was nothing wrong with the entertainment on Friday night, a game that epitomised all that was good about T20 cricket that went right down to the last ball. I enjoyed it, despite the result but it would have been so much sweeter if we could have got over the line in the chase.
At this stage of the competition there is nothing for it but to enjoy the remaining three games not forgetting how nice it is to have live cricket to watch, safe in the knowledge that Tom Abell’s side have a final at Lords next week to look forward to. Those of us of a certain vintage will easily recall many seasons where Somerset had little to play for from mid-summer and as a result the game rather than the result was very much the thing. For me nothing surpasses the joy of watching Somerset play but I’d just like to see a change in the direction of travel for the rest of the T20 season.
It seems sensible to use these remaining games to give as much playing time to as many of the youngsters as possible. We have seen already some really encouraging signs so why not give them three more opportunities in real game situations.
With three games left though it doesn’t seem unreasonable to throw out some thoughts on how Jason Kerr could use the last three games with one eye on the Essex game and the other on next season.
- The Captaincy, there is no doubt in my mind that Lewis seemed over-burdened in the games he has skippered this season. Gregory isn’t the first and he won’t be the last player to see his performance levels drop due to captaincy and while in the last two seasons he has been a pivotal member of the side this has not been the case in 2020 with his bowling in particular being well below his normal levels.
- The Batting Order, simply put it hasn’t worked with too many wickets being lost in the powerplays. Statistically 20 over cricket becomes much harder to win when you lose two or more wickets in the first six overs. Last season Tom Banton and Babar Azam propelled us to many excellent starts reducing the pressure on the middle and lower order. The fact that Somerset have got so close on several occasions this year is testament to Abell, Lammonby, van der Merwe and co but should not cover up the need to find a feasible replacement for Banton, who is likely to be unavailable more than available in the coming years.
- Ollie Sale has had a tough tournament. You have to feel sorry for him, especially as he is being asked to fulfil a really tough role in the side. I can’t however see any benefit in throwing him the ball again at present in the hope it might come right, another poor over or two could do irreversible damage to his confidence. I’d rest him and tell him to work on his skills over the winter and come back stronger in 2021.
- The Established Players, we’ve seen how several members of the side not thought to be white ball players have surprised us, Abell, Davey are the two most obvious, isn’t it worth seeing if Jack Leach and George Bartlett can translate their skills? They could do with some middle time before next Wednesday.
- The Up and Coming Players, I’d pick Lammonby, Smeed, Goldsworhty and Green in all of the remaining games. Just because.
- Play a Little Smarter? Unusually for Somerset there have been times this season when we’ve made pretty obvious mistakes especially in bowling changes. The margins in T20 are so fine these need to be eliminated.
- The Crowd, there is no doubt that Somerset have a huge advantage when playing at home in normal times. The faithful have been missed
One of Jason Kerr’s greatest strengths as a coach is his planning. Before seasons, competitions, games and innings you sense that there is a plan and more often than not it works. Occasionally though flexibility is needed, especially if something isn’t working, now is the time for such a shift in mindset. There isn’t a lot that is wrong with this Somerset side, a few minor tweaks in T20 can transform a middle of the table side to winners.
