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County Championship Preview: Somerset v Worcestershire
THE MATCH
Somerset welcome Worcestershire 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 4th).
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 April 8th.
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 and day two), 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 carvery 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: Brett D’Oliveira
Head Coach: Alan Richardson
2024 finish: Sixth
2024 highest run-scorer: Kashif Ali (767)
2024 highest wicket-taker: Tom Taylor, Joe Leach, Nathan Smith (all 27 wickets)
Key winter moves: All-rounder, Ben Allison, and spinner, Fateh Singh, have signed three-year deals after moving from Essex and Nottinghamshire respectively following successful loan spells at Visit Worcestershire New Road. Pace bowler, Jacob Duffy, is the latest in a lengthy line of New Zealanders to enjoy a spell with Worcestershire. He is available for Rothesay County Championship and Vitality Blast cricket throughout the first half of the summer until the end of June.
What we’re looking forward to seeing: Worcestershire were the bookies favourites last summer to make an instant return to Division Two but achieved their highest finish since the competition was split into two divisions in 2000. They aimed from pre-season for a top six spot rather than just survive and the positive attitude and never-say-die spirit demanded by club captain Brett D’Oliveira, despite several key injuries, will again be at the fore in 2025 and there is more depth to the squad to give genuine hope of securing a third successive year in the top flight.
Final thought: Worcestershire know they will have to again perform well to have a realistic chance of maintaining Division One status with newly-promoted Yorkshire and Sussex both looking strong. But, despite go-to pace bowler Joe Leach retiring, there is genuine belief they will not be whipping boys especially if they avoid what was at times a shockingly lengthy injury list in 2024, particularly in the bowling department. The likes of Jake Libby, Gareth Roderick and Kashif Ali are capable of providing ample runs at the top of the order but they also have a posse of all-rounders like Matthew Waite, Tom Taylor and Ben Allison which mean they bat very deep.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset are without Will Smeed (foot) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (PSL).
The following squad has been announced for this match:
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
On the eve of the new season, Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “We’re all incredibly excited. The squad have prepared brilliantly, they’re in a really good place and everyone is looking forward to the opportunity that Friday presents.
“The reason we do what we do is so that we can be in contention to challenge for the title come September. The end of the season is a long way off, so we will concentrate on the elements that we can control within the process and try to deliver our skills exceptionally and see where that leaves us.
“The growth of numerous individuals over the winter has made selection incredibly difficult and that reflects well on the depth and strength of the squad. There’s a calmness, a confidence and an assuredness within the group and the guys are looking forward to playing some cricket.
“Division One is getting stronger every year and you underestimate anyone at your peril and we certainly won’t be doing that. We are well aware of what Worcestershire’s strengths are and we will try to negate those.”
CLASSIC MATCH
We head back to 1982 for the classic First Class match between to the two sides.
Worcestershire arrived in Taunton in September of that year for this three-day fixture.
It was a game that saw two of Somerset’s greatest ever players excel.
Brian Rose won the toss and elected to field and within minutes the visitors batting line up was in tatters.
Joel Garner claimed a hat trick when he removed Alan Ormrod, Younis Ahmed and Phil Neale as Worcestershire slumped to seven for four.
Tim Curtis made 47 but the visitors were dismissed for 120 from just 34.1 overs. Garner finished with six for 42 whilst Ian Botham claimed three for 29.
Viv Richards made 77 before Botham blitzed his way to a stunning 98 in just 60 minutes as Somerset declared on 307 for nine. Steve Perryman was the pick of the Worcestershire attack, claiming five for 74.
Having impressed with the bat, it was Botham’s turn to impress with the ball in Worcestershire’s second innings as he ran through the visiting batters, taking five for 50.
Garner also took three for 32 as the team from New Road were dismissed for 169 as Somerset triumphed by an innings and 18 runs.
MATCH SPONSOR – EVERYONE ACTIVE
With more than 230 centres nationwide with a wide range of activities and facilities, you’re sure to find an Everyone Active site near to you.
Part of Sports and Leisure Management Ltd, Everyone Active are the longest-established leisure contractor in the UK, having been founded in 1987.
Everyone Active are passionate about being active and staying healthy, and they want their members to be too. Whether it is state-of-the art gym equipment, excellent sports facilities, Swim England-accredited swimming programmes or fun activities for children, their centres aim to offer something for the entire community to enjoy.
SOMERSET v WORCESTERSHIRE: MEMBERSHIP OFFER
To mark the start of the new season, we have a special offer for ticket purchasers.
If you buy a ticket to any day the opening match against Worcestershire, we will discount the cost of that ticket from a 2025 Club or Platinum Membership.
That means you could see all the action at the Cooper Associates County Ground this summer and save up to £25!
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 is against Sussex in the Rothesay County Championship Division One when we take on Sussex at the 1st Central County Ground, Hove.
Play is due to begin on Friday April 11th.
