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My First Somerset Five-For: Joel Garner
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 bowlers, with special focus falling on their first five-wicket haul for the Club.
We travel back to June 1977 today to remember Joel Garner’s first Somerset five-for.
It was the year of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and cinema goers were being introduced to Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Princess Leia for the first time courtesy of the original Star Wars film.
Elsewhere in the galaxy a West Indian pace bowler had arrived in Taunton and was about help change the fortunes of Somerset County Cricket Club for ever.
Joel Garner had made his Somerset debut against Australia at Bath in May, making an immediate impact by taking four wickets in the tourists first innings and a further two in the second innings as Somerset claimed a memorable victory.
His second First Class match saw him claim four wickets in each innings as Somerset overcame Warwickshire.
His first five-wicket haul came in just his third First Class match for the County against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.
Glamorgan skipper, Alan Jones won the toss and elected to bat first.
No play was possible on the opening day of the match, but when the game finally got underway the hosts were blown away by the big West Indian.
Joel claimed a sensational eight wickets for just 31 runs as Glamorgan were dismissed for just 113 in 36.2 overs.
In reply, Somerset posted 203 all out.
Glamorgan made 223 in their second innings. Although Garner only claimed one scalp, there were three wickets each for Ian Botham, Colin Dredge and Keith Jennings.
Somerset reached eight without loss in their second innings as the match ended in a draw.
Joel went on to feature in a total of 94 First Class matches and and 128 List A matches for the County.
During his time with Somerset, he claimed 338 First Class wickets at an average of 18.10 with a best of eight for 31. He was equally destructive in List A cricket, taking 206 wickets at 15.15 with a best of six for 29 against Northamptonshire in the 1979 Gillette Cup final.
The West Indian pace bowler was an integral element of the Somerset “Glory Years” side of the late 70s and early 80s which dominated the domestic one-day game.
