County Championship Preview: Somerset v Nottinghamshire
THE MATCH
Somerset welcome Nottinghamshire to the Cooper Associates County Ground this week in Division One of the Rothesay County Championship.
Day one of this fixture is tomorrow (Friday April 3rd).
Tickets are available now and don’t forget that it is Kids for a Quid for the duration of the match:
SCHEDULED HOURS OF PLAY:
Morning session: 11am to 1pm
Afternoon session: 1:40pm to 3:40pm
Evening session: 4pm to 6pm
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 2026 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 based in the Reception of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion.
Due to the busy nature of a matchday, our telephone lines will reopen at 10am on Tuesday April 7th.
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
- for the duration of the tea interval
- at the close of play
Block 1 of the Somerset Stand will be open to the public for this fixture.
The concourse behind the Somerset will be closed due to renovation works.
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 and from additional third-party concessions in the St James Street Fan Village.
The bar in the Lord Botham Stand will be open on days one and two of this fixture.
Matchday dining is also available in the County Room. We offer breakfast, a lunch and afternoon tea, subject to availability.
More information on County Room dining can be found via the link below:
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.
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: Haseeb Hameed
Head coach: Peter Moores
2025 finish: 1st
2025 leading run-scorer: Haseeb Hameed (1,258)
2025 leading wicket-taker: Brett Hutton (38)
Key winter moves: The loss of Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas to Derbyshire was an unexpected blow. ln his place, Mohammad Ali, another experienced Pakistan quick, is set to play in the last six Rothesay County Championship rounds; Australian seamer Fergus O’Neill, who took 21 wickets in four appearances at the start of 2025, could play in the first eight. The impressive South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne returns and the early availability of England’s Ben Duckett after cancelling his IPL deal is a real boost.
What can we expect?: The battle to be the county’s No 1 spinner. After his sensational end to the 2024 season, teenage off-spinner Farhan Ahmed was in pole position last April before Liam Patterson-White, the left-armer whose career had lost direction a little, was handed a recall and subsequently made himself impossible to leave out. Leg-spinner Calvin Harrison has moved to Northamptonshire but another left-armer, Joe Pocklington, who impressed in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, adds to the competition.
Aiming to catch the Test selectors’ eye: Haseeb Hameed has had a fragmented international career so far but after 2,349 first-class runs at 58.72 over the last two seasons, including seven centuries, three of them doubles, two carrying his bat, he’s surely worth another look. A pretty good player when last selected, he remains technically sound but scores at a markedly quicker tempo.
Final thought: After two seasons nearer the bottom of the Division One table than the top, Nottinghamshire’s dethroning of Surrey still seemed a slightly fanciful notion until it happened, thanks to Josh Tongue spearheading a brilliant win at the Kia Oval in the penultimate round. Tongue may not be around often this year and it would be a good moment for Dillon Pennington to realise his full potential. Defending their title will not be easy, but confidence is high.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset will be without Tom Banton (IPL)., but Migael Pretorius returns to the squad.
The starting XI will be picked from the following squad: Lewis Gregory, Tom Kohler Cadmore, Josh Thomas, Tom Lammonby, James Rew, Tom Abell, Lewis Goldsworthy, Craig Overton, Archie Vaughan, Migael Pretorius, Jack Leach, Alfie Ogborne, Jake Ball and Josh Shaw.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “You invest a huge amount of time throughout the winter looking to improve and taking lessons from last year. Friday is the start of the opportunity to try and implement that, so there’s a huge amount of excitement in the dressing room. To start at home is great and we’re playing against last year’s champions; there’s no better way to start the year.
“Although our pre-season plans were disrupted, we’ve trained brilliantly, so we’re as ready as we’ll ever be. There’s an air of optimism and anticipation, and the nerves will be there on day one because everyone wants to start the season really well, both as a collective and individually. We’ve trained hard again this week in preparation, and we’ll give it absolutely everything on Friday.
Every team wants to start the season really well and every individual wants to get off to a flyer. So, that’s the messages we’ll be sending in the dressing room. The reality is that it’s a very long season. You’ve got 14 games and you need to be in contention come September. So, it’s obviously important how we start, but what will be more important is how we finish.
CLASSIC MATCH
We go back to 1992 for the classic First Class match between the two sides at Taunton.
It was a game that saw Somerset claim a comprehensive victory thanks to three centurions in the Somerset first innings.
Somerset Captain, Chris Tavaré won the toss and elected to field.
Graeme Archer (83 not out) and Tim Robinson (74) ensured that the visitors reached 265 all out, whilst there were three wickets apiece for Andy Caddick and Harvey Trump.
In reply, Somerset posted a huge total of 616 for seven declared.
Richard Harden top scored with 187, whilst there were also centuries for Tavaré (125) and Rob Turner (101*).
Batting for a second time, Notts were dismissed for 188, Trump taking a further four more wickets, as Somerset claimed victory by an innings and 163 runs.
MATCH SPONSOR – CITY WEST COUNTRY
City West Country Limited (CWC) is a privately-owned organisation with more than 40 years of experience in the motor industry.
CWC operate various brands spanning across the South West of England from Taunton to Truro, including fleet and retail sales of new and used cars, new and used vans sales, servicing, MOT and repair for cars and vans.
Marie Curie Day
Sunday April 5th will see Somerset County Cricket Club hosting Marie Curie Day at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
The day will see representatives from Marie Curie having a presence at the ground on the third day of the Rothesay County Championship match against Nottinghamshire raising vital awareness of their work and services.
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading ‘end of life charity’. They care for people with any illness they are likely to die from including Alzheimer’s (and other forms of dementia), heart, liver, kidney and lung disease, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s, and advanced cancer.
The charity also provides support for family members and friends of those affected by these illnesses. Marie Curie is the largest charity funder of palliative and end of life care research in the UK, and campaigns to ensure everyone has a good end of life experience. Whatever the illness, they’re with you to the end.
Special Membership Offer
Cricket returns to the Cooper Associates County Ground on Friday when we face the reigning Rothesay County Champions, Nottinghamshire.
To mark the start of the 2026 season, we have a special Membership offer for all ticket purchasers.
If you buy a ticket to any day the match, we will discount the cost of that ticket from a 2026 Membership.*
That means you could see all the action at the Cooper Associates County Ground this summer and save up to £26!
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 Rothesay County Championship cricket we are offering our Member For The Day ticket.
For just £26 (£32 on the day) 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
To experience a matchday as a Somerset County Cricket Club Member, take advantage of this special offer now!
Already a Member? Tell your friends about this offer and they could join you in the Members areas for this fixture.
*2026 Associate Membership, Somerset Women Membership, Somerset Nation Membership and Junior Membership does not qualify in this offer.
EASTER CHALLENGE
NEXT MATCH
Somerset’s next match is against Essex at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground in the Rothesay County Championship.
This four-day match begins on Friday April 10th.
Tickets for this match are available via Essex CCC.
