Disappointments will not taint a very enjoyable summer – Harry Everett on Somerset’s September
Somerset came into the Indian Summer of 2024 without any of the previous sub-continent signings of Imam Ul Haq, Sajid Khan or Murali Vijay, but instead a Kiwi seamer from Central Districts in the shape of Brett Randell, who actually proceeded to play (when selected) on more Indian-style tracks favouring spin throughout the last month of the season.
August into September saw the coming of Archie Vaughan, with both bat and ball, the off-spinner sharing all 20 wickets with Jack Leach against Surrey and cementing his place at the top of the order after Somerset had earlier dabbled with Andy Umeed, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Lewis Goldsworthy, Sean Dickson and even the successful number three and four batters Tom Abell and Tom Lammonby at different stages of the summer.
Somerset came into the final throes of the season so full of confidence that I committed to travel to every single away day in September, even though I only usually commentate on home game days.
Fresh from the thrilling Championship victory over Surrey, to another victory over Surrey at Edgbaston’s Finals Day, then onto Old Trafford for Lancashire away and Trent Bridge for the One Day Cup final.
Three away trips, three losses, just the semi-final Vitality Blast win over Surrey to make it a two-day two-win double over the most successful team in the English professional game in recent years.
That double success brought us delight after the successful August in the One Day Cup and Durham at home in the Championship.
The Surrey finale saw my life peak (a fortnight before I got married so I cannot get in trouble for that statement!) Calling the Dan Worrall wicket before the umpire gave it is not something I think I have done on commentary previously, but it was so obvious and just naturally came out.
Somehow, I managed to keep myself together and talk over the incredible pictures whilst my comrade on comms Sophie Luff’s backing vocals of thrilled screams alongside me made it even more incredible. Then the third member of our triumvirate, Stephen Lamb, not officially due on air for the final 30 minutes, could not be left out, his David Attenborough style dulcet tones adding to one of the most special moments in the Club’s history.
This may sound a bit dramatic regarding a game that did not win us any silverware, but even Richard Latham, a regular in the Taunton press box, who has endured decades of watching Somerset come close to winning silverware but rarely deliver, stated that this was the best game of red ball cricket he had seen in over 30 years.
A national newspaper reinforced his view saying this was the best red ball game of the entire summer, including all Test matches.
Throw in the Tom Curran drama with the crowd and the money spent on Shakib Al Hasan for four days of work. He came straight from Rawalpindi to Taunton, where he went wicketless for 129 runs across both innings. Many, including me, were particularly excited to see the legendary allrounder back in action here, and his inclusion made Somerset’s win even sweeter.
Losing the One Day Cup was a damp squib of a hastily arranged T20 game, Glamorgan were fair winners on the day, but this really did rub salt into our wounds having lost the other two competitions in a depressing nine days in mid-September after the highs of the two Surrey wins.
However, these disappointments will not taint a still productive and very enjoyable summer of covering the lads in all three formats. I am still here helping out the Club working in the office and coaching for the Foundation or Pathway throughout the winter. And come the start of the 2025 season I will be back here excited as ever podcasting and commentating in our 150th year. The script writers are ready, surely the perfect year to win our first Championship title?!