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County Championship Preview: Somerset v Essex
THE MATCH
Somerset welcome Essex to the Cooper Associates County Ground this week in Division One of the Rothesay County Championship.
Day one of this fixture is tomorrow (Friday May 2nd).
SCHEDULED HOURS OF PLAY:
Morning session: 11am to 1pm
Afternoon session: 1:40pm to 3:40pm
Evening session: 4pm to 6pm
Tickets for this match are still available.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Gates will open at 10am.
Bag searches will be in operation and spectators are reminded that no glass or sharp implements will be permitted within the Cooper Associates County Ground.
For full Ground Regulations please visit the link below:
Ticket buyers can download their online tickets via their SCCC account.
All ticket or Membership collections or queries will be managed at the Jack White Gates (St James Street).
We are aware that there have been some issues with the delivery of Membership packs ahead of the new season. If you have any queries regarding your 2025 Membership card please visit the Jack White Gates (St James Street) where a member of staff will be happy to help you.
The Club Reception Desk is now permanently based in the Reception of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion and not in the Andrew Caddick Pavilion.
Due to the busy nature of a matchday, our telephone lines will reopen at 10am on Tuesday May 6th.
Information on everything that you will need for a matchday at SCCC, including how to redeem your guest passes, how to download your e-tickets and how to use the SCCC Ticket App can all be found in our Visiting Guide.
The Brian Rose Gates will be open as follows:
- between 10am and 11:15am
- between 12.50pm and 1:50pm
- at the close of play
Block 5 of the Somerset Stand will be open to the public on all County Championship matchdays.
Scorecards will be available from Reception in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion. Completed scorecards can be downloaded after the match via the Membership section of this website.
CATERING
Matchday food and drink will be available from Stragglers Coffee House, the Lord Botham Stand, the Great Catch Fish & Chip Bar (day one, day two and day three), plus the concession unit in the lower tier of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion.
Matchday dining is also available in the County Room. We offer breakfast, a lunch and afternoon tea, subject to availability.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
Our award winning live stream is available for fans to watch via this website and our YouTube channel.
You can also keep up to date by using our dedicated matchday blog via this website’s Match Centre and on our X feed.
In association with Vertu, Somerset County Cricket Club will be providing radio ear pieces to enable Members and supporters to enjoy our live ball-by-ball match commentary. These will be available to purchase from Reception in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion at a cost of £12 and these will last all season.
A report on the day’s play will also be posted on this website.
THE OPPOSITION
Captain: Tom Westley
Director of Cricket: Chris Silverwood
2024 finish: Fourth
2024 highest run-scorer: Dean Elgar (1,144)
2024 highest wicket-taker: Jamie Porter (56)
Key winter moves: Essex plans were thrown into disarray when Indian Shardul Thaker pulled out of his intended seven-match arrangement at late notice when called up as an IPL replacement. Unless Essex can unearth another available overseas bowler to ease the burden on the pace attack, returning director of cricket Chris Silverwood will have to revive his Midas touch of yore and bring out the best from the existing squad.
What we’re looking forward to seeing: By his own extraordinary standards, Simon Harmer had a distinctly below-par campaign in 2024. For the first time in eight seasons at Chelmsford he failed to add to his tally of 35 five-fers and ten 10-wicket hauls achieved in Essex colours. He still took 45 Championship wickets with his off-spin, but at an uncharacteristically high cost and strike-rate. We’re looking forward to seeing a revitalised Harmy.
Player to watch: Jordan Cox’s summer was dogged by injury, yet he still topped the Essex averages with 918 runs at 65.57. It earned him a call to arms from England and he was all set to make his Test debut in New Zealand in the autumn before suffering another setback. Another flying start this time around would keep him firmly on the selectors’ radar – and bolster Essex’s middle-order.
Final thought: It may be seven-and-a-half years since Silverwood left Essex for England, but there could be as many as half-a-dozen familiar names in the first XI he selects on April 4. Promising opener Charlie Allison was 12 back in 2017, but such has been his rapid rise that his should be a name on Silverwood’s team sheet for the next decade and more.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset are without Tom Kohler-Cadmore (PSL) and Sean Dickson (hand).
The following squad has been announced for this match:
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “We were in a great position at the end of the second day at the Oval but obviously day three was very disappointing and we need to dust ourselves off. We’ve trained really well this week and we’ve had some honest and frank conversations. We know that the reality is that we need to deliver our skills better across the board. We’ve played brilliantly in patches but at this level you need to sustain that for the duration. We need to be doing the simple things for longer.
“The mood in the camp is still good. Obviously, we were hurting after the game at the Oval and on the way back on Sunday. There was immense disappointment and frustration, and it’s about using that now. The main aim is to focus on the next few days, train really well, put in the hard work and look to get the rewards over the four days
“We’ve had some great battles with Essex over the years and it’s going to be incredibly competitive again this weekend. Obviously, we’ll be without Sean Dickson so that will force a change at the top of the order, but hopefully Craig Overton will come through a fitness test after experiencing back spasms ahead of the Surrey game.”
CLASSIC MATCH
We head back to 2018 for the classic First Class match between the two sides at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
It was a game which saw Jack Leach inspire his side to a 45-run victory.
After winning the toss, Somerset Captain, Tom Abell elected to bat first.
By the close of play on the opening day the hosts had reached 308 for seven, Marcus Trescothick contributing 95 and Abell making 70.
Somerset were eventually dismissed for 324. Peter Siddle was the pick of the Essex attack, claiming five for 80.
In reply, Essex were dismissed for 191 with only Ryan ten Doeschate the only batter to make a half century.
Batting for a second time, Somerset were all out for 202, Eddie Byrom top scoring with 42.
Leach then took control, claiming career best figures of eight for 85 to finish with 10 wickets in the match as the visitors were dismissed for 290.
MATCH SPONSOR – CLARKE WILLMOTT LLP
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2025 MEMBERSHIP
2025 Somerset County Cricket Club Membership is still on sale.
There are lots of different Membership packages available, each one designed to ensure that everyone gets the most for their money!
2024 saw the Club challenging for silverware on all fronts, and with your support we can do so again next summer.
2025 will be a momentous year for Somerset County Cricket Club.
Not only will we be celebrating our 150th year, we also welcome the professional Somerset Women’s team into the fold.
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a Member of Somerset County Cricket Club?
Well, now you can find out!
On any day of our this Rothesay County Championship match against Worcestershire we are offering our Member For The Day ticket.
For just £24 in advance or £30 on the gate you will receive a special ticket which will provide you with Member benefits for the day.
You will receive:
- Access to our Member Stands and Member Bar
- A 10% discount at SCCC food and drink concessions
To experience a matchday as a Somerset County Cricket Club Member, take advantage of this special offer now!
WPA PREDICTIONS LEAGUE
So, you think you know your cricket do you? Here’s your chance to prove it!
Powered by WPA Health Insurance, the new game allows you to score points on every Somerset matchday.
Collect points throughout the year for correct predictions and make your way up the leaderboard to prove that you are the font of all cricketing knowledge!
The top Scorers for each competition will receive a prize.
Watch. Predict. Win!
NEXT MATCH
Somerset’s next match in the Rothesay County Championship begins on Friday May 16th when we take on Sussex at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Tickets for this match are still available:
