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County Championship Preview: Somerset v Sussex
THE MATCH
Somerset welcome Sussex 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 16th).
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 20th.
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.
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.
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: John Simpson
Head Coach: Paul Fabrace
2024 finish: Champions (Division Two)
2024 highest run-scorer: John Simpson (1197)
2024 highest wicket-taker: Jack Carson (50)
What we’re looking forward to seeing: Once again Paul Farbrace has recruited a group of solid, proven overseas players with Dan Hughes, Jayden Seales, Nathan McAndrew and Jaydev Unadkat all returning for a second – and in Unadkat’s case third – season while Australian seamer Gurinder Sandhu arrives during June and July. Their contributions will be pivotal to hopes of staying up and having another good run in the Blast, where they were semi-finalists last year.
Player to watch: Opener Tom Haines, who signed a new three-year deal in the winter, averages 37.60 and has made 4,588 first-class runs but none of them against Division One attacks. If he can flourish against better bowlers – and there’s never been any doubt about his technique or temperament – then it will help Sussex’s chances of establishing themselves in Division One a lot and perhaps enhance his claims for a Test place as well.
Final thought: Sussex return to Division One after a ten-year absence and Paul Farbrace has targeted a top-four finish. He’ll have a better idea of whether that’s achievable after the first month when Sussex face Warwickshire, Surrey, Somerset and Nottinghamshire – all established top-flight counties. There shouldn’t be many concerns about their bowling attack, but can Sussex score enough runs? Contributions from skipper John Simpson and a strong middle order may be crucial again.
TEAM NEWS
New Zealand seamer Matt Henry is included in the squad but Somerset are without Tom Kohler-Cadmore (PSL) and Sean Dickson (hand), whilst Jake Ball and Alfie Ogborne are currently on loan at Kent.
The following squad has been announced for this match:
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “It was an incredible performance against Essex last time out and it was a much-needed win. The nature of that win has brought confidence to the group.
“The guys have had a break and have come back refreshed and are looking forward to this game against Sussex which starts tomorrow. Training has been outstanding this week and there’s a great energy about the place.
“Matt Henry comes into the squad and he’s familiar with most of the group. He was outstanding for us the last time he was here. He’s a great character and he understands the Club and the environment. He’s brought a natural energy due to the person who he is and I know that our Members an supporters will be looking forward to seeing the skills that he brings on the field.
“We were outplayed at Hove and there’s no hiding from that and now we have the opportunity to right a few wrongs. We know what Sussex are bringing and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
CLASSIC MATCH
We go back to 2014 for today’s classic match between the two sides at Taunton.
It was a match that saw Somerset claim a six-wicket win thanks in no small part to a sensational performance with the ball from Alfonso Thomas.
Sussex skipper, Ed Joyce won the toss and elected to bat first but the visitors slipped to 25 for three.
However, Joyce led the fightback, eventually making 103, but only three other batters made double figures as Sussex were dismissed for 214. Thomas and Peter Trego both claimed three wickets.
The home side also found batting tricky and were reduced to 39 for five before Craig Kieswetter (65) and Craig Overton (86) ensured that Somerset secured a first innings lead of 75.
Batting for a second time, Sussex had reached 33 without loss when Thomas made history.
The 4th ball of the 17th over saw James Anyon bowled for 18. The next delivery trapped Rory Hamilton-Brown lbw for 0, and the final ball of the over saw Thomas claim his hat trick when Joyce was caught behind. It was an incredible feat, but there was more still to come.
Trego accounted for Chris Nash in the next over to leave the visitors on 33 for four before Thomas had the ball in hand again.
With the opening deliver of the 19th over, Matt Machan was bowled and Alfonso had four wickets in four deliveries!
Thomas finished with five for 40 as Sussex were dismissed for 178.
Somerset reached their required total for the loss of four wickets to claim the victory in a match that will be remembered for Alfonso’s incredible performance.
MATCH SPONSOR – VERTU
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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!
MEMBER FORUM
Somerset County Cricket Club will be hosting a Member forum at the Cooper Associates County Ground on Saturday May 17th.
The event will take place in the County Room 20 minutes after the close of play on day two of our Rothesay County Championship Division One match against Sussex.
Jamie Cox (SCCC CEO), Sir Michael Barber (SCCC Chair) and Andy Hurry (SCCC Director of Cricket) will be bringing Members up to date on the latest from the CACG and answering questions from the floor.
2025 Membership cards will be required to gain entry to the Member forum.
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 23rd when we take on Durham at Banks Homes Riverside.
Tickets for this match are still available:
