Vitality Blast Preview: Essex v Somerset

Vitality Blast Preview: Essex v Somerset

THE MATCH

Somerset take on Essex at the Cloud County Ground in the Vitality Blast tomorrow (July 7th).

Play is due to start at 7pm.

Tickets for this match are still available.

Somerset are currently third in the table with 10 points from eight matches whilst Essex are fourth with the same number of points from the same number of games. Run rate currently separates the sides.

HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?

You can keep up to date with a live blog via our dedicated Match Centre and also on our X feed.

MATCH CENTRE

There will also be a live stream of the game provided by Essex CCC.

In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.

THE OPPOSITION

Captain: Simon Harmer

Overseas players: Simon Harmer (South Africa), Daniel Sams (Australia).

Finals Day appearances: Six (2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2019, 2023)

Titles: One (2019)

2023 finish: Finalists

2023 leading run-scorer: Daniel Sams (419)

2023 leading wicket-taker: Daniel Sams (25)

Key winter moves: Essex reacted cannily to the loss of Dan Lawrence. They replaced him with Kent’s livewire Jordan Cox, who outperformed the Oval-bound defector in the Blast last season (averaging 52.50 against 29.69 with a superior strike-rate of 165.78 compared to 153.17).

The big question: Will Essex make their passage through the group stage a little less stressful for all concerned? They were rightly being written off when losing their penultimate group match to last season’s whipping boys Middlesex only to pull off a shock win against Surrey two days later and qualify.

Wildcard watch: The Hundred selectors have swept up the majority of those eligible from the Essex camp. However, Feroze Khushi has been Bazball-ing in the Championship and will forever be remembered for the last-ball six at the Kia Oval that carried Essex to a quarter-final place enroute to last season’s final.

Final thought: The return of the Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams for a third successive overseas stint could be key. Sams won the tournament’s MVP last year after topping both Essex’s batting and bowling lists with 419 runs and 25 wickets (he also held 13 catches). A whole heap of expectation rests on his shoulders.

TEAM NEWS

Craig Overton is rested but Alfie Ogborne has been added to the squad for this fixture.

Somerset have named the following squad for this fixture: Lewis Gregory, Will Smeed, Tom Banton, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Abell, Sean Dickson, Tom Lammonby, Roelof van der Merwe, Ben Green, Josh Davey, Riley Meredith, Jake Ball, Jack Leach and Alfie Ogborne.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Ahead of the match, Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “Our last outing in the Blast was a disappointing result up the road at Bristol and we want to bounce back from that. We’ll be going to Essex with the objective of getting back to winning ways.

“Essex are a really good white-ball side and we’ve had some fantastic contests over the years. It will be a really challenging game for us, but it’s one that we’re looking forward to. Regardless of what’s happened in the past, they’ll be looking to win the game and so will we.

“Craig will be rested for this game after putting in a tremendous shift against Warwickshire this week, but Jake Ball and Alfie Ogborne come into the squad.”