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My First Somerset Century: Marcus Trescothick
Some of the finest players ever to have graced the game have taken to the field for Somerset County Cricket Club over the years.
These players have created some of the most memorable moments in the history of our great Club.
Over the next few weeks we will be taking a closer look at some of Somerset’s most famous batters, with special focus falling on their first century for the Club.
Today we focus on the player who has scored more hundreds for the Club than any other.
In all formats, Marcus Trescothick scored 69 centuries for Somerset. Here we take a look back on the very first time he reached three figures for the First XI.
It is June 1994.
Tony Blair has recently become the leader of the opposition Labour Party, The Channel Tunnel has officially opened, The FIFA World Cup is underway without England’s participation following a disastrous qualifying campaign and Wet Wet Wet’s “Love Is All Around” has been at number one in the charts for what feels like an eternity.
Elsewhere, Somerset are about to take on Surrey in the County Championship at Bath’s Recreation Ground.
It had not been the best starts to the Championship season for the team from Taunton.
The first four matches of the campaign had ended in defeat but a rain affected victory over Hampshire was followed up with a draw against Yorkshire at Bradford.
Surrey on the other hand had secured four wins and a draw from their opening six matches and went into the match at Bath very much the favourites.
However, an 18-year-old from Keynsham was about to announce himself to the cricketing world.
After winning the toss, Somerset Captain, Andy Hayhurst elected to bat.
A young Marcus Trescothick walked out to the middle with Mark Lathwell and the pair shared a century opening stand before Trescothick fell for 36 with the score on 103. However, there was more to come from the 18-year-old as we will see shortly.
Lathwell was at his imperious best as his teammates struggled. Indeed, Hayhurst was the only other batter to make a half century as the hosts were dismissed for 428, of which the opener contributed a superb 206, which included 33 fours.
Joey Benjamin was the pick of the Surrey attack, claiming five for 100.
Surrey’s reply saw them post 288 all out. Ally Brown top scored with 97 whilst Graham Rose took four wickets.
Whilst his opening partner took the plaudits in the first innings, it was Marcus who dominated the Surrey attack second time around.
By the close of the second day, Somerset were 17 for one. Neil Mallender was the player who fell early having acted as night watcher.
Day three began with Marcus taking guard on 11 not out, and the young left-hander demonstrated to those present what a talent he was as he flayed the likes of Benjamin, Cameron Cuffy, Andrew Smith and Adam Hollioake to all corners of the city on his way to his maiden hundred for the Club where he would become such a legend.
He eventually fell for a fine 121 as his side declared on 329 for six.
Mallender, Andre van Troost and Mushtaq Ahmed all claimed three wickets as the visitors were dismissed for 152 as Somerset claimed a superb victory by 317 runs.
It was a memorable win for the Club and it provided a first proper glimpse of a player who was to become one of our greatest ever.
Marcus didn’t have to wait too long for his second century.
Just three days later he reached triple figures again with a Player of the Match performance in the NatWest Trophy clash against Oxfordshire at Kingston Blount.
The rest, as they say, is history.
