“It was very special” – Tom looks back on career-best score
2026 was a mixed season for Tom Lammonby. After missing much of the summer with an elbow injury, the 26-year-old scored 876 County Championship runs at an average of 46.10 with a career best of 229, and 556 Metro Bank One Day Cup runs at an average of 68.37 with a career best of 114.
We sat down with Tom at the Cooper Associates County Ground this week to look back on his season.
We started off by discussing that incredible First Class double century against Surrey.
“Initially, it was amazing to be able to get past 100 because I had a lot of opportunities this year,” he explained. “It was especially pleasing after the struggle I had earlier in the year with my elbow injury. It was really pleasing to be able to get past three-figures and turn it into a big score as well.
“There’d been a bit of outside noise about getting out in the 90s but I think I was playing pretty well, and it was just the odd mistake here and there which was causing the narrative. I feel like after I came back from the injury, my confidence began to grow and that carried on through to the end of the season. I think the pleasing thing was being able to put in a solid half season of good runs, rather than just one or two scores, and hopefully that will put me in a good place going into the winter and then hopefully next summer as well.”
As his innings progressed, did Tom realise that he was closing in on his career-best score?
“The only thing that was going through my mind was having to buy a round of drinks for everyone, which is what happens here when you get a career-best,” he joked. “I don’t think a particular score was on my mind out there. We were still in the hunt for the County Championship, I was out there with Abes, and the game was in the balance. We knew we needed to get a big score, so I think that was at the forefront of my mind and that kept us focused and kept us yearning for that big score that we could then bowl at.”
How did it feel to make a double century for Somerset?
“That was a very special moment. When I got there, I sort of looked up at the scoreboard for a brief moment and I saw the two churches in the background. For me, this is such an incredible place to be, and to see your name on that scoreboard at a ground that’s had so many historic games and so many amazing players was special. That was a pinch me moment and really made me appreciate what I’d achieved over the last day or so. It was very special.”
Did it make it more special that it was here at Taunton rather than an away ground?
“Definitely! As I said, sometimes you have to almost pinch yourself when you’re out there because you’re so focused on trying to get the job done for the team. It was nice to have that moment of realisation out there with Abes at the other end. It was very special to do it at Taunton in front of a home crowd, family and teammates. It was amazing.”
What was it like batting with Tom Abell during that partnership of 334 which set a record for Somerset’s highest ever fourth wicket stand in First Class cricket?
“In the early stages, we were trying to build a foundation to then be able to push on and get a big score. I think when Abes came out there it was a little bit up in the air. A couple of wickets either way and we could have been struggling.
“At the start we were pretty assured and just trying to create that platform. Then the momentum started to shift our way and it was about making sure we really knuckled down and got a big partnership. At the back end of it I think there was an appreciation that what we were doing was very special. To bat for a long time with Abes and to put our names in the record books for Somerset is something we’re really proud of. To do it with someone that’s such a good friend was even better.”
How would you sum up your season?
“The start of the season was really tricky and sometimes it’s hard dealing with an injury. One goal I set myself was to make up for the lost time that I had at the start when everything felt so difficult. Cricket’s an up and down game sometimes and when you have an injury it can really play on your mind or affect your performance. You have to deal with that, which can be quite a hard and difficult place to be. I spent some time with the physio staff and missed all the T20s but I was determined to make up for lost time towards the back end of the season.
“I think I can be proud of the way I approached that and the way I executed that as well. I felt like I had a really good One Day Cup campaign and then managed to take that form into the last six Championship games. There’s always more runs to be had and you want to do as well as you can, but I think I can look back with pride, especially coming from the place I was in at the start of the summer.”
What is Tom up to this winter?
“To be honest, I’ve not really got too many plans up until we go back to training. So, I’ll be staying here and rehabbing a little bit on that elbow. It’s been a lot better, but I think it just needs a bit of rest and recuperation to hopefully try and avoid the situation that happened this summer.
“There may be an opportunity to go away at some point during the second half of the winter to hone some skills on grass, but there’s nothing official in the pipelines at the minute. If there’s an opportunity to do that then I’d be very, very chuffed.”
What does he hope to achieve in 2027?
“Hopefully, I can carry on the form I showed in the second half of this summer. The aim is to win the Championship. I think that’s at the forefront of my mind and everyone else’s. That’ll be our main goal.
“Personally, it’ll be about trying to find a way to perform more consistently and push for higher honours, whether that be in the Lions or with the main England team. That’s always the goal and that’s always what I’m looking to achieve. As a team though, we’ll definitely be looking to win the Championship in 2027.”
