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Men’s Vitality Blast Preview: Somerset v Middlesex
THE MATCH
Somerset take on Middlesex in the Vitality Blast at the Cooper Associates County Ground tomorrow (Thursday June 12th).
Gates open at 4:30pm, with play due to get underway at 6:30pm.
Tickets for this match are still available, so book them now before it’s too late!
Somerset are currently unbeaten in the competition and sit third in the South Group table with 12 points from three matches whilst Middlesex are seventh with six points from four fixtures.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please note that there will be no re-admittance once you have entered the venue.
Information on everything that you will need for a matchday at SCCC, including how to download your e-tickets and how to use the SCCC Ticket App can all be found in our Visiting Guide.
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).
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 Monday June 16th.
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.
FAN VILLAGE & CATERING
We will once again be hosting our fan village in the St James Street side of the Cooper Associates County Ground.
The fan village features a wide range of food and drink plus live music from Haus Band before the match and during the interval.
Matchday food and drink will also be available from the SCCC concessions and bars around the ground.
There will be 20% off food and drink at SCCC owned concessions from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.
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
MIDDLESEX
Captain: Stephen Eskinazi
Overseas players: Kane Williamson (New Zealand, full competition) and Josh Little (Ireland, full competition)
Finals Day appearances: One (2008)
Titles: One (2008)
2024 finish: Eighth (South Group)
2024 leading runscorer: Martin Andersson (282)
2024 leading wicket taker: Luke Hollman (23)
Key winter moves: The signings of a world-class batter in Kane Williamson and left-arm seamer Josh Little, a man with stacks of experience of franchise cricket, is a statement of intent. Last year’s leading run-scorer Martin Andersson has left for Derbyshire and it remains to be seen if another new arrival, Zafar Gohar will form a two-pronged spin attack alongside Luke Hollman.
The big question: Can Middlesex live up to head coach Richard Johnson’s great expectations? Johnson declared pre-season it was time to move from ‘developing to winning’. Williamson and Little’s presences will help, but youngsters invested in over recent years need to emulate Hollman’s feats from 2024 if the Seaxes are to improve on their record since lifting the trophy in 2008.
Wildcard watch: Joe Cracknell. The 25-year-old regressed a little last season, when shifted around the order and unable to settle into a specific role. However, whether in the powerplay or as a finisher he’s shown his ability as a big-hitter and a return to his best could see him add to the three appearances made for London Spirit in the inaugural Hundred of 2021.
Final thought: The only way is up for Middlesex, but their long-suffering supporters have heard that before. Andersson was 41stamong tournament runscorers last season while Max Holden’s strike-rate of 160 was strong but he rarely batted long enough. Williamson’s presence should help the pace the innings, which had some good starts but too many collapses. Hollman, fifth in last season’s list of wicket-takers can shine again, while Little’s experience in the powerplay and death overs will be key to any improvement.
TEAM NEWS
Tom Banton is back in the squad following his recent involvement in the England v West Indies IT20 series, whilst Sean Dickson also returns after recovering from his hand injury.
Somerset have named the following squad:
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “It’s been a great start to the campaign and we’ve played some really good cricket. The players have been exceptional with both bat and ball and I couldn’t be prouder of the group. It’s important that we now continue in a similar vein as we move forward. Confidence in the group is high and we’ll be concentrating on the here and now and preparing well for Middlesex.
“They’re coming into the game on the back of a win and they’ve got some really dangerous players. We’ve done our homework and we’ll make sure that we prepare in the right way.
“There was a great atmosphere for the home game against Surrey and we know that there will be more of the same on Thursday and Sunday. We love playing in front of our own Members and supporters because there’s no better place to play cricket.”
TRADE NATION STATS
CLASSIC MATCH
We go back to 2018 for our classic T20 clash between the two sides at Taunton.
It was a match which saw Somerset’s Lewis Gregory star with both bat and ball as the home side won by 38 runs (D/L method).
Lewis contributed 62 runs from just 26 balls and then claimed for for 28.
Peter Trego also made a rapid half century as Somerset secured the win.
MATCH SPONSOR – KINGS COLLEGE, TAUNTON
One of the region’s most highly regarded education providers, King’s College is also a designated Centre of Cricketing Excellence and has produced a number of Somerset players over the years including Jos Buttler, Tom Banton, Will Smeed, James Rew, Eddie Byrom and Erin Vukusic.
THE VERTU CROWD CATCH!
As well as enjoying the spectacular action of this season’s Blast, you can be a part of it with the Vertu Crowd Catch!
If you take a clean catch in the crowd during any of our Home Vitality Blast matches, you will win hospitality for two to our Metro Bank One Day Cup match against Durham on Friday August 8th.
In order to qualify for the prize, the official in-play match ball must be caught by the winner straight from the air without having touched any object or person before being caught by the winner. Evidence of identity, ticket and age may be required.
NEXT MATCH
Somerset’s next match is on Friday when we take on Gloucestershire in the Vitality Blast at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.
Tickets for this match are still available:
