
Somerset v Hampshire, County Championship Group 2, The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, June 3rd to 6th 2021
Back in early May I began my preview of Somerset’s trip to Southampton by saying, “A week is a long time in the County Championship.” Hampshire had gone to the Oval as clear leaders in the group and been trounced by a previously underperforming Surrey allowing Somerset to close the gap at the top of the table from 16 points to 1.
The same can be said today, leaders Gloucestershire suffered a similar fate in Kennington meaning that the gap at the top is now only three points with three games to go. Hampshire like ourselves had a week off last week and saw their third place usurped by 7 points although crucially they have their game in hand.
I went on to say, “What these results don’t change is that Hampshire remain one of the favourites in this group” and I still believe this to be the case. Hampshire have the toughest run-in still to play the three teams currently above them in the group, but as the wise man says, their destiny is in their own hands.
It is a credit to this format that with us now three-quarters of the way through the group stage there are still four teams in with a chance of finishing in the top two. I’m going to assume that there is no Machiavellian management of results over the remaining games and that all four will be playing to win each game and worry about where that leaves them in division one once they get there. To be honest I think it is too difficult and too risky to go down the route of scheming a result against a particular opponent in the hope that they finish in the top two spots with you and provide an advantage in points carried forward.
While slightly off-message for this preview I have come to the conclusion that, if this format is to continue, the points carry-forward needs to be eliminated and room found in the schedule for the additional game in the “divisions” later in the season. This would provide a level playing field and remove the possibility of any result manipulation in the group stage.
Having said all of that, there is no doubt that a high scoring draw would suit Somerset and Hampshire. While a win in a game universally agreed on last night’s Somerset Podcast as a “mustn’t lose” would make Tom Abell’s side strong favourites to qualify, the lure of going through with Hampshire and carrying through a healthy points total to division one is considerable. A defeat for Hampshire would mean they would almost certainly have to win both their remaining games to have any chance of reaching the top group.
Hampshire should be at full strength, injuries permitting, whereas Somerset will in all probability be without Craig Overton and Jack Leach otherwise unemployed currently at Lord’s. Hopes that either or both would be released to play tomorrow were dashed when the squad of 13 was announced ….. but don’t completely rule it out. You never know.
It is obvious to say that both will be missed especially if the glorious weather continues and Tom Abell finds himself at some stage in need of quality pace and spin. Time for Marchant de Lange, who for the first time should have a surface that is more suited to his style of bowling to show us what he is really capable of.

As far a selection is concerned I anticipate Jason Kerr will do straight swaps for the England two with De Lange and Roelof. The school of thought which was circulating earlier in the week suggesting the of resting Tom Lammonby came to fruition. I didn’t expect to see Banton return given his presence in the 2nd XI yesterday for a T20 friendly. But Jason Kerr was yet again showing how good a poker player he is. I don’t want to see Tom Banton open tomorrow though. And I have precedent to back me.
If you go back to late June, early July 2019, the last time the two teams met at Taunton in the Championship, Banton scored 79 and 70 batting at four in a 313 run win. A game interestingly which Craig Overton missed. Tom Abell should (Anthony Gibson has broken me in this regard) open and George Bartlett move up to 3.

I expect Jack Brooks and Casey Aldridge to be the two of the thirteen to miss out.
Somerset have played Hampshire 73 times in the County Championship in my Somerset supporting lifetime (since 1970), probably one of the highest numbers of contests in that time augmented by Hampshire’s consistency of, like Somerset, being in division one. The draw has been far and away the dominant result in that sequence with 42 while Hampshire edge the wins 16-15.
I can’t apply any logic to this view but I have a good feeling about this game. Whether Tom Abell continues his great form, James Hildreth gets another start and converts it into something big or Tom Banton repays the coach’s faith in him and turns his white-ball talent into red-ball runs, I’m confident that the bowlers (including Tom Abell) will step up.
But the biggest factor, which I am sure the players can’t wait for, is that at long last the Taunton crowd will be back. For a club which has such a beautiful ground and great supporters the difference for Somerset will be much greater than most other counties. The crowd will play a part and that extra 10% (?) that will give the boys will, I believe be a decisive factor.
I’m going for a Somerset win sometime on Sunday afternoon and a 21-point haul. We will wait and see where that leaves us in the group 2 table compared to our near neighbours who travel to a Leicestershire buoyed by their win last week over Middlesex.
If you are lucky enough to be going to the CACG over the next four days, enjoy and remember you have a big part to play in helping Somerset take a big step towards reaching division one.


#WeAreSomerset