Somerset
CC1 v Sussex at Hove
By Grockle
August 27 2026
Sussex have won the toss and will bowl first and we are startying on time. No Jake Ball today. Josh Shaw comes in as the third seam bowler and Lewis Gregory will captain. Not sure yet whether he will bowl but one would assume he will. Craig Overton also comes back and Lewis Goldsworthy misses out from the eleven. There was a predicted thunderstorm in the early morning today but the rain has gone away and though it might be a bit moist it is a sunny morning in Hove.
CC1 v Sussex @ Hove Thursday 27 August 2026
The rain arrived last night and so it's a dampish morning but we start on time in sunny conditions. Sussex have won the toss and will bowl first.
Somerset have made 2 changes, one expected and 1 not so much. The side is;
Thomas, Lammonby, Abell, Nicholls, Rew (w), Vaughan, Gregory (c), Overton, Pretorius, Leach, Shaw
No Lewis Goldsworthy in that extra batting place, Craig Overton returns in that bowling allrounder place and no Jake Ball as Josh Shaw comes in as the third main seamer. Dan Kingdom reminds me that Jake did go off with a groin niggle at the end of the Essex game so that explains that change I would expect. We will see how that pans out though we have to hope it's a better game for Josh who had a nightmaere in the field as a sub fielder during the game at Taunton.
Jaydev Unadkat starts the bowling for the home side against Thomas and Lammonby. 6 for 1 with the first boundary from Thomas in the over. Sean Hunt takes the second over and he tempts Tom to hit it into the air straight to Unadkat on the boundary rope who works the rope very well (catching in front of it, stepping over it with the ball in the air and re-catching the ball with both feet in play) and takes the catch so he goes for 1 and we are 6 for 1 at the start of the second over.
In comes Archie very early and he is off the mark with a boundary to the very short Clocktower side of the ground. That's the only scoring shot in the over and it is 10 for 1 after 2. After 5 overs the early nervousness starts to settle a little hopefully at 16 for 1. The first bowling change happens early as we see Henry Crocombe (good old Somerset name) - the Sussex leading wicket taker come on for the 7th to replace Hunt.
By the 10th over we have moved to 34 for 1 and we lose Josh Thomas as he edges to the keeper trying to leave a ball on about 4/5th stump coming in on him and he goes for 26 from 34 with 5 fours at 48 for 2. In comes Nicholls the 'non nonsense' Kiwi. But he is not there long as he becomes Crocombe's second victim in the over as he is bowled through the gate while Henry is groping in mid air for contact withhis second ball. 48 for 3 as Tom Abell strides out. That one moved in a considerable amount as it looked like an inside edge on to the wicket but it wasn't it just shot through the gap between bat and pad. Abell puts a juicy leg stump half volley to the boundary to get off the mark and bring up the Somerset 50 moving to 52 for 2 in the 13th.
After 15 overs with no Robinson available at 55 for 3, we see the return of Hunt. Their Sussex international bowler has been sat on his backside at Lord's as they haven't started yet in the Test. Hunt's return over is a maiden. Unadkat has bowled through and goes into his 8th but it is in the 19th that he is on the catching end of a ball from Hunt that Vaughan pulls straight to him once again on the boundary to go at 59 for 4 with a score of 20 from 53 deliveries. The second Somerset man to send the ball through the air to the Sussex man on the boundary rope!!
That brings James Rew to the middle who finishes the 19th over with a single to get his score going. Tom has 10 from his 16. We see the first couple of overs from Joey Evison the new bowler from Kent for the home side and we reach luinch with no more wickets down at 93 for 4 with Tom Abell on 34 from 46 and James Rew on 10 from 33. Carson got a spin over in before the break - he went for 3
Sussex's morning helped by the conditions and some dubious shot selection. Jaydev Undakat won't be complaining as he had little to do except catch the shots sent to him on the boundary and we will have some hard work to do in the afternoon session to get this first innings score to something that generates batting bonus points AND worries Sussex in their first innings
The second session of the day starts with the 30th over from Hunt and a discussion about whether Rew was dropped before lunch - didn't see it personally, the one I did see was short of the fielder. Heavy cloud around the ground at the start of the afternoon and the floodlights are on as Crocombe comes on at the other end to get the game moving again. Unfortunately for the visitors we lose James Rew to one that moves away from Hunt and he is caught behind for 12 from 40 at 96 for 5. In comes Craig Overton to face Hunt who presently has 3 for 17 from his 10 and a bit overs. His 11th is not a wicket maiden as Overton starts with a couple of runs.
The batting doesn't get better but we are lucky as Charlie Tier drops Tom Abell on 35 at first slip from Crocombe- a regulation catch to be honest but the pair survive and take two from the next ball to move Somerset to 100 for 5 in the 33rd over.
Joey Evison returns to the attack for the 38th and he is pulled by Abell to the short boundary for his second six to take the Somerset man to a 71 ball 50 at 134 for 5 (5 fours and 2 sixes). Unadkat returns for the 40th and we reach 136 for 5 halfway to the new ball. A 40 run partnership between the Somerset pair with 52 to Tom A and 19 to Craig O.
The 150 arrives without fuirther loss from Evison in the 43rd via a four from Overton which takes him to 34 from 42 and the score to 153 for 5. Scoring is not quick but steady and by the 45th Somerset have moved into the 160s with Abell into the 60s himself as Sussex introduce their second spinner James Coles and then the pace of Tom Clark for the first time.
By the 50th over from Clark Somerset have moved to 187 for 5 and Craig is 2 runs from a 50 while Tom has moved into the 70s. The partnership has moved to 91 as Hunt returns to the crease. COve moves to a 50 in the 52nd over from Clark . It comes from 67 deliveries with 7 fours and a six at 191 for 5. But the last ball of that over ends the partnership at 95 runs as Abell drives Clark, edges him and is caught at first slip by Charlie Tear for 72 from 109 balls (7 fours and 2 sixes) 191 for 6.
This brings the Somerset skipper to the middle but he is on his way back after one ball as Clarke catches the ball driven back to him loosely. He goes to 2 for 12 and Gregory goes back to the drressing room with a zero by his name.
The hat-trick ball is faced by Josh Shaw and he leaves the wide delivery he sees to finish the 52nd over. We then are scrabbling to score runs as Crocombe is reintroduced and we have only added 3 runs in 3 overs with Shaw still not off the mark.
It takes until the 5th ball of the 57th over before we have the next blow of any aggression when Josh Shaw hits Carson over his head and over the boundary rope for six to bring up the Somerset 200 (202 for 7). It moves the new bat to 7 with his partner on 54. In the next over Crocombe gets Overton strangled down the leg side for 54 from 86 at 202 for 8. That brings in Migael Pretorius and we now wonder which Miggy we are going to get as he made 48 last time out. We get the wafter. He drives at the first ball and it fires out to Haynes at Third slip. A big outside edge and it is 202 for 9. That will bring Jack Leach out to face another hat-trick ball this time for Crocombe. This time it works and he gets a hat-trick and 5-fer as Leach nicks behind. From 191 for 6 to 202 all out. Oh Dear and well done Henry Crocombe... someone many thought we ought to have looked at when he was looking to move. He is not staying at Sussex - think he is moving to Surrey (don't they all) and will now do it with a Championship hat-trick to his name - the first for Sussex for 25 years it seems. 14 overs 5 for 56.
So we are 202 ahead. They have taken an early Tea and then we return to the game with 38 overs left in the day as Hughes and Haines come out to face Lewis Gregory with the new ball. He delivers a maiden first up and gives the ball to his new ball partner Josh Shaw who will come in around the wicket to the pair of left handers. There are a couple of leg byes in his first one and so Sussex are 2 for 0 after 2. The skipper's next is also frugal and he still has not conceded a run after his first 2.
The Sussex pair finally get a scoring shot as Haines drives the first ball of the fourth back past Shaw to the Third boundary for the first four of the innings and by the end of the over he has added a more fortunate second four off the edge. 10 for 0 after 4. Lewis also gives a four from the first of his next but he gets his revenge as Haines gets confused about pulling or flicking it. In the end he does niether just balloons the ball one handed to Tom Lammonby for 8 from 13 at 15 for 1.
The new man is Clark and he survives to move the score to 16 for 1 after 5. Shaw keeps the pressure up with a maiden for the 6th followed by another by the captain in the 7th. They get two consecutive fours from Shaw's next to move the score to 26 for 1 and the 10 off that one prompts a change in the 10th as Overton comes into the attack. He goes for 11 off his first!! 39 for 1 off 10 overs with 23 to new man Clark. nearly all the runs have come from the other end to the Cromwell Road. It continues as it moves to 43 for 1 (Gregory 6/3/11/1) after 11.
The Sussex 50 comes from the bat of Daniel Hughes with a driven four off Lewis at the start of the 13th moving the score to 52 and Hughes to 10 (from 28) while his partner has 31 (from 32). Overton gives way to Pretorius for the 14th at 56 for 1. He turns it into 57 for 2, 4 balls in, as Hughes is taken on the pad and is LBW for 11 from 32.
Charlie Tear is the next man to the middle for the home side and with the weather deteriorating it is doubtful we will stay one. However we reach the end of the 15th over with Craig changing ends and making the ball talk in the 14th. It is 58 for 2 and they have moved the score to 77 for 2 when the umpires decide the light is just not good enough and take the players off 2 balls into the 18th over. Tear has 10 from 17 and Clark has got 45 from his 42. Migael Pretorius has 1 for 11 from the 14 balls he has bowled while Craig is not at his best with 0 for 26 from the 4 he has bowled. Sussex are 125 runs behind though I don't think the light will improve any time soon and that might be it for the day.
Day 2
That was all she wrote yesterday as there was no more play. It means we have 104 overs to go today after the 4 balls left of the 17th over of the innings from last night which will be delivered by Migael Pretorius bowling to Charlie Tear. There's no change to the score after it as Lewis Gregory starts the days bowling quota to Clark who adds the first run of the day.
The first target for Sussex is Clark passing 50 which he does with a pulled four through the onside off Pretorius in the 22nd over to go to 52 at 94 for 2 from 51 deliveries with 8 fours and a six. The next target is the Sussex 100 and that arrives in the next over from Lewis off the bat of Tear steering the ball through backward point to the boundary to go to 24 moving the home side to 102 Immediately followed by the thing that was very rare until this season, a slip catch dropped by Craig Overton. He went too hard at this one and it was pretty regulation once again, it is not the first he's dropped this season but that may be costly on a pretty sparse morning so far. It is made worse by the bat bringing up the 50 partnership for this pair as well in the same over as they move to 107. All at once!!
There was no overnight rain despite the heavy clouds last evening. That means the piptch is more friendly this morning and Sussex are working well with it as they have added nearly 50 in the first half hour moving the deficit from 125 to 81 by the end of the 26th. Craig Overton is on for the 27 probably desperate to get something after dropping the catch, Clark edges through a vacant third slip gap between the two slips and a gully! When it rains it pours. Josh Shaw returns for the 28th making it a double change.
At the 30th over Sussex are 143 for 2 so no success for the visitors this morning as the deficit drops below 60. Jack Leach is introduced next to see what spin may offer. Finally something happens as the deficit falls towards 50 when at 149 for 2 with Clark on strike with 85 from the 82 balls he has faced, Craig finds the edge and Nicholls takes the catch at first slip. The next man in is Coles, he gets the single that brings up the 150 but he also survives a pretty good LBW shout in COve's next over when he is on 3. But the next breakthrough comes very soon as he get Tear with a very definite LBW decision (another case of possibly resetting the decisions?) It was Tear that he put down in the slips so he is up for that one!! 154 for4 in the 37th as John Simpson arrives at the crease.
Pretorius returns for Craig and then Gregory comes back in place of Leach before the lunch break and we get another break as the skipper dispopses the scratchy James Coles on 10. He goes to pull the bowler off the front foorand is comprehensively bowled of an inside edge at 172 for 5 in the 44th. Sussex are still 30 behind with 5 wickets in hand. The man who went for a huge fee in the franchise goes for a huge heave and leaves the field of play. Loanee (only until the end of the season when he becomes a permanent Sussex player) Joey Evison is the next man in.
In the 47th, that thing that used to be rare happens again as Craig drops another catch at second slip - it was not difficult. This time it is off Gregory and it is Simpson on 14 from 32 at 175 for 5. The pressure has been put on and it has been released unfortunately just before Lunch. He is not happy and neither are we I'm afraid. Simpson gets off strike with a single and a life and Evison hits a boundary to compound the error. However, Lewis brings the smiles back as the very next ballhe has Evison caught behind at 180 for 4 from 17. That means they go off for Lunch with 1 ball to go before the break.
180 for 6, 22 behind with Simpson still there with 15 from 33 and Carson to come out to face after the interval. Somerset's morning one would think to get Susses from 149 for 2 to 180 for 6 though that last wicket gets them a second bowling bonus point. Gregory has 3 for 47 from his nearly 14, Craig has 3 for 40 from his 11 while Migal has the other 1 for 37 from the same number of overs. Jack;s 6 have gone for 11 and Josh's 6 have resulted in 34.
There will be 74 overs to go when the sides return to the middle - losing two if there is an innings change of course (and 4 if there sare two of them!!)
2pm sees day 2 re-commences with Gregory finishing the 48th and then Overton bowls the first full over of the afternoon. Carson has come out as the new man and he looks to support Simpson as Sussex look to pass 200 and turn the deficit into a second innings lead but runs are hard to come by as the two Somerset bowlers aere tight for the first 5 overs. In the 7th and before either of the targets are reached by the pair Craig gets a ball to move away and take the edge of Carson's bat and Tom Abell at second slip dives across and takes the catch to dismiss the new man for 3 at 193 for 7. It gets better as Henry Crocombe lasts only two balls before going in the same over LBW to the same bowler at the same score. With 9 runs still to get to neutralise the first innings scores, Craig has gone to 5 for 51 from his 14 and a half overs and Sussex may struggle to get an first innings lead of any significance.
Hunt comes to the middle and he is still there when the 200 is breached with the first ball of the 58th over from the Somerset skipper as Simpson pushes a single to go to 32 while Hunt is still to get off his nought.
A two to Simpson in the 59th levels the score and a single then moves them into a lead and gets Hunt off the mark as we move into the 60s over-wise. Pretorius bowls the 62nd and he gets Hunt driving to backward point where Tom Lammonby takes the catch Hunt goes at 210 for 9 for 6 from 30. In comes Unadkat as the last man.
Sussex are 8 ahead and they would like to add to that before the innings ends. Unadkat seems to be a pretty solid tailender. One would expect Simpson to push on now given the situation when it is possible with 59 overs in the day still to bowl. Undakat gets off the mark with a pulled six off his 5th ball and his second scoring shiot is also a six. Shaw is brought back into the attack for the 67th and Simpson gets in on the act punching the ball to the short boundary for another six to bring up his half century, moving to 52 from 90 with 6 fours and that six at 238 for 9. The batting bonus point is looking on at the moment as both the bats look to give it the long handle.
We bring Jack Leach back to tempt the pair and see if we can end this but Simpson seems to like Josh and punches him for another six to take the score to the 250 mark in 69th over. The batting point is achieved as Simpson reaches 64 but that is all there is as Leach ties Unadkat down and he is LBW looking to sweep for 12 from 20 and it is 250 all out. A lead of 48. Leach ends with 1 for 12 from his 7.4 overs.
We lose 2 overs for the changeover and some 10 minutes later Thomas and Lammonby are out in the middle again to face Unadkat again in the reverse scenarion aas the Sussex man now haas the ball. There are 50 overs left in the day.
The first over generates 4 runs. Sean Hunt comes in down the hill for the second. His first one is a maiden. Sussex manage 9 overs before the Tea interval at 4 when Somoerset go in without losing a wicket with Josh Thomas on 11 from 22 and Tom Lammonby on 13 from 32. There are 41 overs left in the day's play so it willbe a late one if the light holds. Sussex have only used 3 bowlers so far with Jaydev Unadkat bowling 3 for 12 and DSean Hunt 4 for 10. The other two came from Carson just before the break who gave us 2 overs of spin for 2 runs.
After the break the partnership continues as both bats work hard to keep the score moving while not taking chances. Crocombe is introduced into the attack and by the 20th over The score has moved on to 76 without loss with the pair passing a 50 partnership and Thomas moving on to 39 from 59 and Lammonby reaching 34 from 62. The first breakthough comes from Hunt who moves one away from Josh which is caught by Tear, diving away at first slip and holding on. Thomas goes for 48 from 66 when he looked in little danger and had batted well. He is annoyed with himself because he seemed settled into his work. But it happens 92 for 1 as Archie comes out to join Tom L on 41 in the 23rd over. The 100 arrives in the 28th over bowled by Jack Carson with Vaughan on to 2 from the 13 balls he has faced while his partner is into the 40s at 43 from 87.
The scoring is slow and Archie is still struggling for some kind of form and finding it difficult to get the ball off the cut strip. It isn't until the 24th over from Carson that Lammonby gets a sweep away for four to take him over the 50 run score to 53 from 98 balls at 117 for 1. Vaughan has reached a 9 from 37 by that time as Carson and Coles have put the brakes on with a double spin attack. They have reached 120 by the end of the 35th over but runs are not exactly flowing freely!!
Archie struggles on and is just looking like he might be finding his feet when he drives at a ball from Unadkat in the 41st over, get an inside edge and Simpson takes a very good low leg side catch to send him back to the hutch with 24 to his name from 61 balls. He never really looked fully comfortable but was seeming to be starting to find his feet a little. However, he is gone and Somerset are 141 for 2 with a little over 9 overs remaining in the day's play.
Henry Nicholls must be hoping for a better second innings after being bowled out without any real influence yesterday. Crocombe returns to the attack before the end of play as Somerset move towards the 150 which arrives off the last ball of the 44th over courtesy of a Lammonby single.
The last six overs are pretty uneventful and by the end of the 50th and the close of play, the visitors have moved to 167 for 2 with Nicholls on 12 from 32 and Lammonby on 74 from 143. A satisfactory day for them after a wobbly start. The 119 run lead with 8 wickets remaining puts them in a position they proabbly thought was a long way away after the first hour this morning but they came back well and have the chance of really getting to grips with this game tomorrow IF the weather lets them. There is a prediction of considerable rain tomorrow but there was predicted afternoon rain today and it did not materialise so we can but hope. For Sussex, Undakat and Hunt gor the wickets while the spioinners and Crocombe bowled tightly but not with any real consistent menace. The wicket does seem to have flattened out today but again, IF the weather arrives that may mean nothing for the second half of the game. We shall see tomorrow.
No play is possible because of heavy rain on Day 3 and so we go into the final day
Day 4
We start on time with 167 for 2 and a change in the Somerset side as Josh Shaw's partner has given birth in the space between Day 2 and now so he is back home and Jake Ball comes in as a 'Life Event Replacement' under the rules.
Tom Lammonby and Henry Nicholls come out with 50 overs of the innings gone and 96 available today. Unadkat bowls the first and a boundary to Nicholls (16 from 37) is the only scoring shot. Hunt takes the next to Lammonby (74 from 143) and he only gives away 1 to the bat. The weather prognosis is doubtful. The rain could stay away or finish the game. One would assume Somerset will plan to bat as long as possible and make sure this game is NOT a loss given the results that may result in other parts of the country (mostly also draws predicted). But we have play presently. The only CC1 game delayed this morning is Yorkshire v Leicestershire in Leeds. With the ending of all the first innings this morning Warwickshire failed to get all three of their bonus bowling points and that means Somerset are now the only county to have maximum bowling points this season up to this game
As Tom moves into the mid 80s, he beats his best CC1 score of the season and he is the leading bat this morning as the pair move past a 50 run partnership and Henry Crocombe comes on as fiorst change today for the 59th over at 198 for 2. He gets Tom Lammonby LBW with his first ball coming in and crashing into his back pad. The Somerset man goes for 93 from 171 with 12 fours. Still his highest CC1 score of the season but tantalisingly 7 short of a century.
Out comes Tom Abell with the lead at 150 presently and he helps his county past the 200 run mark which comes from a Nicholl's single in the 61st. Abell gets off the mark with his 13th ball in the 62nd over.
We move towards the lunch break with few problems and no more wickets. Evison is used before the break and then Carson comes on, as he has most days with Sussex bowling just before the interval and these two are bowling when Abell flips a four down the legside off Evison to move him onto 27 - the 17th consecutive innings where Tom has passed 25. It also brings up the 250 for 3 with his partner on 44 from 114. The 77th over ends thre and so does the morning session and the teams troop off for Lunch. The last four also moves the lead on past 200 to 202 - the game is almost safe from a Somerset point of view one would imagine.
There seems to be a more aggressive aspect to Somerset's batting after the interval with Henry Nicholls eyeing a second 50 for his new county but he is being chased to that personal milestone by Abell who is catching him quickly. Unadkat and Hunt will move us past the new ball at 80 overs. Hunt actually puts down a possible caught and bolwed chance very early with the new pill. He got a hand to a poor drive back but could not hold on with the Somerset bat at 37 and the score on 268 for 3. It doesn't matter much because he bowls the same man with a very good one as the 3rd ball of the 80th. Abell goes for 37 from 66 balls at 268 for 4. It brings in James Rew with a lead of 220.
Nicholls is being more expansive than before Lunch but it still takes him a number of overs to pass the 50 because Rew keeps stealing the strike. Carson takes over from the Cromwell Road for the 84th (did they take the new ball one wonders) and Henry finally gets to 50 from 128 balls at 281 for 4 (4 fours in that knock).
Joey Evison returns for the 85th and he gets Nicholls looking send the bowler to the boundary. He gets it too near the boundary fielder (Coles) and departs for 50 at 283. That is Evison's first wicket for his new county.
In comes Overton and he is loking to get on with it. He hits a six and then dies with his second attempt caught on the boundary by Carson. He goes for 8 from 11 at 295 for 6 and is Evison's second wicket in quick succession. The Somerset captain is the next bat to the crease. He helps his side to 298 for 6 - a lead of 250 and then on to 300 in the 89th over with Gregory on 3 from 8 and Rew on 15 from 26.
There seems to be some kind of declaration coming as James looks to push on and is caught in the deep by Carson going BIG at 334 for 7. He goes for a pretty scratchy 27 from 44 off the bowling of Clark.
Migael Pretorius strides out as our last batting option that could take anything but a support role. He is off the mark with a single while Carson continues with the 96th at 336 for 7 a lead of 288 with 47 overs remaining (taking into acocunt the two for the changeover). Lewis seems be keen to get on strike at every opportunity so there is something in the skipper's head for the rest of this day. The present theoretical declaration options are a lead of 300 or 45 overs left to have a dig at Sussex, both of which are coming into view. Miggy goes for a big hit which he top edges and is caught by a running Simpson behind the stumps. He goes for 2 from 5 at 243 for 8 and Clark has 2 for 10.
Jack Leach is the next man in and he takes a single. Gregory smacks a six off the last ball of the 97th moving Somerset to a lead of 302 at 350 for 8. Jack Leach tries a slog sweep and is caught off Carson by Hunt for 1 from his 3. The skipper declares and finishes on 32 not out from 34. Somerset are 350 for 9 302 ahead with 44 overs left in the day.
Sussex will need 303 and it is highly unlikely that they will chase this unless they get off to a real start.
The last innings starts with Hughes and Haines versus Gregory and its 1 for 0 after that. Craig opens at the other end and Hughes edges past fourth slip for a streaky boundary. He does the same at trhe end of the over and it's 9 after two. After 5 there has been no wickets and the score has moved on to 19 while adding 1 in the next brings up the Tea interval at 20 for 0 with Hughes on 12 and Haines on 6. The runs required for a Sussex victory have moved dow to 283 and there are 38 overs possible to get them in.
Archie takes the first after the break with Pretorius from the sea end taking the ball at the other end and most money expects a handshake at about 4:45pm. Migael gets one to spit in the 8th wicket and it takes the top of the bat and goes straight to Tom Abell at 23 for 1 with Hughes gone for 13 from 27. It's good but too late as Clark walks out to join his teammate. By the 10th over the score has moved to 34 for 1 with Pretorius bowling very nicely.
The weather takes a role in the game as with the lights on the light starts to fail over by over. Archie has 5 close fielders in for the 13th over and a misfield by Jack goes for four to take Sussex to 49 for 1. A drive by Clark takes two and they move to 51 for 1. At the end of the 14th at 62 for 1, the umpires have a chat about the light and there is rain spitting as well. They then take the players off for bad light at 62 for 1 with Clark on 15 from 22 and Haines on 30 from 37 with 14 overs gone. There should be 30 overs left but it's highly likely that the game is now over. Sussex will take 12 points and Somerset will take 11. That will take Somerset to 144 points to fill in with all the other results.
The covers come on and the rain comes in and that is your lot ladies and gentlemen for any result but an agreed draw in this one. Sussex need 241 ioiff 30 overs and Somerset need 9 wicket in the same space of time. we started losing over the moment they went off and so that will change drastically if they ever come back on. They won't as the game is called at 5pm and we move on to Glamorgan at Taunton on Thursday
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Stumbleupon27/08/2026 11:05
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As there were 3000 views of the threads for the game in Taunton last week, I'll close this one and keep the comment thread open as usual for this game.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:01:11:29:29 by Grockle.
The squad named for this one is;
Thomas, Lammonby, Abell, Nicholls, Rew, Goldsworthy, Gregory, Overton, Vaughan, Pretorius, Leach, Shaw, Ball
The questions are
Can Gregory bowl?
If so he plays if not does he? News today is that he thinks he's fine but we've been there before and we may have to wait until tomorrow.
Is Craig back from Paternity Leave?
Yes and so he WILL play
Will we bowl Jake Ball through or rest one of the seamers? In which case who will it be and who will replace them?
Our strongest seam bowling attack includes Jake and Miggy P but they is getting on a bit and may need to be managed. We have 5 games left and may need to marshall our resources because of the absence of Alfie Ogborne. The loan of JT Langridge to Gloucestershire suggests we do not yet see him as a CC1 replacement and therefore we are working with the seam bowlers we have in this squad with some help from the left arem of Tom Lammonby So when and how do we bite the Josh Shaw bullet and who do we pair him with?
Will we go with a heavy spin option for the last few games? Will we keep support bowlers for Leach in Vauighan and/or Goldsworthy or will we use Josh Thomas more than we have so far instead?
If we rely on Jack Leach as a weapon, do we need to provide support and/or a dual spin option. If we do, will we include another of the spinning bats in Archie (who is struggline for batting form but is bowling well) or Lewis who is batting well but may be less of a bowling partner. The other option is we use those two spaces to bolster other aspects fo the side and use Josh Thomas (who surely must play as a bat) in a spinning role. All options. It will be interesting to see what will occur.
What is the weather prediction?
Thunderstorm Warning tonight into early Thursday morning
Thursday - Early morning rain done by 9am Rest of the day cloudy but dry
Friday - Cloudy with rain about 1pm for the early afternoon but done by 3pm
Saturday 93% chance of dain in the day
Sunday 40% chance of rain in the day
Sussex can be a dangerous side to play; avoiding losing whilst amassing as many bonus points as possible might be a good tactical approach at least for the first day. With another four matches to go after this week there is unlikely to be any cheeky declarations happening up the road at Edgbaston.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:27:11:18:04 by Grockle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:27:12:19:19 by Devonboy70.
Sussex have won the toss twice, opted to bowl first, and won both of these matches (against Leicestershire, in May, and Glamorgsn - by an innings, in June).
In the two matches where the visiting teams won the toss, both chose to bat first. Sussex beat Warwickshire back in April, despite conceding a 63 runs first innings deficit. But in June Hampshire came out on top in a low-scoring game by 118 runs.
First innings totals at Hove this season (earliest first)
267 (Warks) 328 (Leics) 155 (Glam) 191 (Hants).
I have no idea what all this means in the context of the current match!
Grizzers
Tom & Craig aside, we were just unfocused with the bat .Lammers, Nicholls, Lewis, Jack and Miggy were out for an aggregate of one solitary run..
That is simply poor as the pitch certainly wasn’t a minefield, deapite some good bowling
Nor were we any anything like our best with the ball.
Hope tomorrow brings better.
NB: I see JTL has already taken two Durham wickets. It is somewhat mystifying as to why are we persisting with Josh Shaw..
Grizzers
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:27:17:47:31 by Grizzers.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:27:18:51:48 by Devonboy70.
I think they use Josh early to see what they've got each session.
No doubt the man works hard, no one has ever said anything less than that but I am really not sure how much more there is to come from the bowler over the next 2 years.
I don’t often quote Boycott or Vaughan, but both of them have said recently “always start with your best bowlers each session”.
Oh Craig ! Bring him on now ; he’ll be fuming.
Sorry to go on. I just can’t tell you how desperate I am like you all to see Somerset win the championship.
A friend made me a splendid hat recently with the crest of my club team on the front and with a Lancashire crest on the side. I was thrilled but it could have been improved with a Somerset crest on the other side.
I honestly think we should just eat the contract.
He is, by some distance, the least gifted veteran pace bowler that I have ever seen operate for Somerset.
There is absolutely no earthly point in him taking up opportunities that could be given to Langridge or, by next season, Ogborne.
Not sure that Yorkshire rule is the one you follow when you are not sure who your best bowlers are at the start of a game.
Craig had not bowled last week (and was rusty when he started), Lewis was injured in the game (and I'm not even sure he was certain where he stood after bowling in the second innings last week and going for 18 before being sidelined after 2). Migael has not been consistent at the start of innings and Josh is ....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:28:12:31:20 by Grockle.
If Alfie was available it is highly unlikely that Josh would be playing in this game and if Langrdige does come through in 2027 he probably won't be playing much next season either.
Taking Shaw on was always going to be questioned. Taking him on for 3 years seems daft when they picked up Ball on two years with an extension option.
But it's here, it's done and we live with it for now.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:28:12:41:26 by Devonboy70.
For example, if you are Australia, occasionally opening up with Dizzy Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz, leaving the batters to fret about the imminent onslaught of Pigeon and Warnie might be worth doing - apart from anything else, the batters might feel under pressure to score before the two biggest guns come on, and do something daft vs the two that have opened the session.
For the avoidance of doubt though, any such idea emphatically does NOT apply if the bowler you propose to bowl instead of your big guns is a million times worse than said big guns!!
Therefore, yesterday's decision to open with Shaw in preference to Craig O, was asinine!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:28:12:40:34 by AGod.
Lewis showing determination and guts to persist and pick up three wickets to date.
Grizzers
I suspect he had dropped only 5 or 6 across the past 3 seasons combined.
I know it’s easy from here, but Jack Leach was brought on the 20 minutes after I wanted him on.
Am I right in thinking that before his injury there was talk of Abell possibly breaking some kind of record for consecutive scores of 25+? Does that still apply?
I misread Sussex's No 11 as Undakat and wondered if that made Overton Topdog.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
That is the longest such streak since Murray Goodwin, for today's opponents. Goodwin's streak, I believe, happened 15 years or so ago.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:28:22:12:22 by AGod.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Haven't followed this thread but I'm guessing that Shaw was the object of some criticism, or the decision to open with him...!
Then some very sensible batting to put us in about as strong a position as you could hope for at the start of play.
The forecast doesn't look good for the remainder of the match, so hopefully we are able to get enough of a lead and then enough time to bowl Sussex out.
Things weren't great initially in the first session this morning, but they stuck at it well with the ball and batted very sensibly second time around. Very pleased for Tom Lammonby & Josh Thomas was impressive once again.
Keeping eight wickets intact overnight is a huge plus and a good platform, which we very much need to build upon.
Whatever the skies throw at us tomorrow, today was a good one.
Grizzers
Whether that's a "rain has blown through, how long will it take to be dry enough for resumption" inspection, or a "is the ground too soggy for any hope of play today so we may as well call it now" inspection, who knows.
a) Will Notts & Warks agree to play on, for up to 18 overs, to allow both teams to go for more bonus points ?
b) Will they each agree to forfeit an innings & make a game of it ?
c) If (b), will this be done before or after (a) ?
Grizzers
Of course, by declaring at 300-7 they would be preventing Warks getting that third bowling point- though sacrificing a 3rd and 4th (probably not a 5th) batting point themselves. But once Notts are bowling and Warks are batting, it is advantage Notts as far as bonus points are concerned. It would take at least two sessions for Warwickshire to get to the point where they achieve their next bonus point - and that's is assuming their batters rollock along as something a bit over 4rpo - Notts, meanwhile, could get more points at any time and, dare I say, likely would.
Do I think there would be a discussion between the captains and a cheeky declaration and innings forfeited? Personally I don't. There are still four matches to play - that's over a quarter of the season. Warwickshire have - on paper, ftom results so far this season - the slightly easier run-in, but three of the four are on the road, whilst Notts have three home games. The only thing that <might> make them more bullish could be if the match down at Hove looked like it was going pear-shaped for Somerset, which would need them to get on the park this evening.
And...they won't be playing at Hove today. Called off.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:29:16:53:26 by Bagpuss.
Though I can't help wondering if Notts might be tempted to bat on to get to 400 in the remaining 28 overs (not 18 as I daftly said) available to them though, then declare. They'd still have plenty of time to get max bowling points, albeit effectively foregoing the chance to win (which must be pretty unlikely anyway).
Hopefully the weather won't further mess up both games.
Grizzers
The pitch will have changed after a day's rain - asssuming the rain does not stay and make the decision for the teams.
Will the strip have some demons in it and can we bat on it long enough to keep this as a game with a result in it? We'd rather win than draw I am sure but we will NOT want to lose.
Interesting day.
It's one of those situations where Somerset's best chance if winning is probably if Sussex roll them over. Which would cost me a fair few mm off the fingernails.
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
Farmer
I did the same thing. The sea had clearly lost it's temper yesterday afternoon. There was only going to be one winner. I stood there desparately holding on to my hat and in that moment I realised then that must be how opposition batters feel like when facing Overton and Gregory in tandem this season.
The livestream is active and once the ads are all done There are no covers on the ground and we seem to be starting on time.
Not sure that it will make much of a difference but we will have to see how the day develops.
So those who were asking in April - "Where will the 20 wickets come from with this bowling attack"? The answer is that 9 of them came in every first innings of every game within 110 overs.
*twelveses
Perhaps I shouldn’t say that I will be there for Somerset’s last game of the season at home to Surrey and may well go for a couple of days at the Yorkshire game too.
There's nothing that we can do about yesterday, which was a shame, but it's gone. The chance of Somerset winning is very, very small, but it is just about still there, though a draw has to be a very big favourite!
Bat carefully until the loss is all-but impossible and then get in Overton and Gregory. Simple as...
Three wickets for just thirty runs, though Overton hit a six which suggests he was trying to speed things along.
Presently 250 runs lead and 55 overs remaining. Gulp!
Not sure if we can realistically expect to bowl Sussex out in 45-50 overs, but sincerely hope we can prevent them from scoring at five an over or thereabouts, if we set them a target.
A little surprised Notts declared at 325, just 25 runs short of another batting point, but with Warks. collapsing to 108/6, no doubt they’ll feel vindicated.
Grizzers
Just a shame we didn't get any batting bonus points. On the other hand, once again we got max. bowling points.
Notts. remain at the top, with a lead of just four points.
Next week would be an excellent time to nail Glamorgan (including you know who).
Grizzers
Current state of play in 2026. Nottinghamshire and Somerset four wins each.
However, the second CC tie-breaker, invoked where numbers of points and the first tie-breaker, numbers of wins, are equal is fewest losses. Current losses in 2026: Nottinghamshire 1 Somerset 2.
Just a thought ...
Farmer
It's a while ago and the urban myths do appear in later years.
As for the matches between the two sides, Nottinghamshire beat Somerset at Trent Bridge, but Somerset won their fixture at Taunton.
The facts on the regulation determining the winner of the 2010 County Championship in which Somerset and Nottinghamshire each finished on 214 points are found in the regulations for the Championship of that year:
The relevant regulation regulation was:
"21.1.7 The side which has the highest aggregate of points gained at the end of the season shall be the Champion County of their respective Division. Should any sides in the Championship table be equal on points, the following tie-breakers will be applied in the order stated: most wins, fewest losses, team achieving most points in contests between teams level on points, most wickets taken, most runs scored."
For reference see: [www.espn.com]
Curiously, I have not been able to find the relevant regulation for 2026. Of course, whatever it is, the 2026 regulation will not say, "In the event of Somerset being one of two or more counties finishing equal on points, Somerset will be deducted 24 points." I state this only to avoid the spreading of another urban myth.
For the record, in April 2010 Nottinghamshire beat Somerset by two wickets in the second match of the 2010 season after Chris Broad removed five of Somerset's top seven batsmen for 14 runs in their second innings leaving them on 43 for 6, leaving them with a lead of 75 with four wickets standing. Broad's victims were Arul Suppiah, James Hildreth, Zander de Bruyn, Craig Kieswetter and Peter Trego, no mean fivefer. The sixth batsmen in that top seven was Nick Compton, out for 1. Only Marcus Trescothick (98), survived the mayhem, and with Damien Wright (78 from 71 balls), batting at eight, added 136 for the eighth wicket, Somerset eventually set Nottinghamshire 249 to win. At 171 for 3 in the fourth innings, Nottinghamshire were cruising. Two wickets each for Charl Willoughby and Alfonso Thomas plus one for Zander de Bruyn nearly pulled the match back for Somerset.
Those final two, untaken, Nottinghamshire wickets in April were to have a huge influence on both Nottinghamshire's and Somerset's fortunes at the end of the season when many of us ended the final afternoon of the season in the Durham Members Lounge at Chester le Street watching the match at Old Trafford while Somerset drew outside of the window behind us. Fact not myth. I have never lost my admiration for the Durham members who virtually gave over their members balcony to Somerset supporters for that match.
Reference for the facts of that match:
[www.cricinfo.com]
If it comes to watching Nottinghamshire again in 2026, at least we will be in our own Stragglers bar. It might be quite a crush.
Now, what was it that Hamlet said?
"Perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub ..."
Farmer
1) Total points,
2) If equal points, then most matches won
3) If equal matches won, then fewest losses
Farmer
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