CC1 Returns Essex at Home

By Grockles
August 20 2026

We welcome Henry Nicholls to the squad for 6 games hot off a Test series and with a record we'd like to see him extend in Late August and September.  He will not beomce our 60th opening bat in the CC1 as he is booked to enter at number 3 but we'd like to see a lot of him today as Essex have won the toss and decided to bowl first

CC1 v ESSEX @ Taunton Thursday 20 August 2026

Somerset return home and lose the toss.  They have been asked by Essex to bat first/ Pretorius, Leach, Ball

Henry Nicholls is welcomed to the batting line-up as both TKC (still not right it seems) and Craig Overton (on 'daddy' duties - congrat and hope everyone is well) are not present for this game.  The last time Somerset won a CC1 game without COve was in 2019 against Yorkshire at Taunton!!!
 
We are off and running on a greyish but warm day here and Jamie Porter opens the bowling against Josh Thomas and Tom Lammonby.  Sam Cook takes the other opening new ball spot from the MT.
 
After 5 overs we have not sen Nicholls (a feat in itself) and have reached 34 with Lammonby on 20.  As I type that he is bowled  by Cook around his legs off his thigh pad (freak dismissal) and he departs for 20 at 34 for 1.  We still do not see the Kiwi however as Lewis Goldsworthy is the next man in.
 
They settle in and after 15 overs and a bit of bowling from Snater we have moved on to 85 for 1 with Thomas on 38 (47) and Goldsworthy on 16 (27).  We see Harmer early as he brings spin into the equation in the 17th. Porter finally wins the battle against Lewis however as he has his caught behind by Pepper at 94 for 2.  He leaves with 16 to his name and we finally welcome Henry Nicholls to the crease (the opening partnership of Josh and Tom was our 59th first innings opening partnership since entering CC1 in 2008).
 
The new man is finally off the mark from his 9th ball taking a couple as Josh goes back into his shell after the loss of his previous partner.  Harmer is getting a little of something from the pitch as one spits prodigiously.  However Josh warily pushes the score past 100 to 101 for 2 at the end of the 23rd and finally goes to 50 with a straight drive of his 75th ball to take him to 8 fours.
 
At lunch the home side have reached 134 for 2 with Thomas on 65 from 91 and Nicholls on 20 from 44. 
 
The afternoon session is started by Cook and his first ball is straight driven by Thomas for four. Somerset pass 150 in the 37th as Henry starts to warm to his task.  The contest between Josh and Harmer continues as the spinner continues to get the occasional one to bounce off a length.  Thomas is dealing with it well as the moment.  Porter comes back on at the MT as we move towards the 40th over. 
 
Nicholls at the end of the 43rd, looks like he gets an edge and is dropped by the keeper giving him a life on 43 at 186 for 2.  The body language suggests he got something on that.  Nevertheless, the contest between bats and spinner continues.  A flashing cut for four off Porter in the 46th moves Josh to 97 at 191 for 2.
The 100 partnership arrives at 194 from 185 balls with Josh on 99 and Henry on 44.  
 
Snater returns for the 50th over but it is in the 51st that Thomas cuts Harmer for his 15th four to go to 103 off 148 balls and to his second first class hundred in some style.  198 for 2 but progress is slow and it is not until the 53rd over that Somerset move past 200 off the bowling of Thain (his first) with a Nicholls single to take him to 46.  In the 55th over Henry hits his eight four to take him to 52 from 120 balls at 213.  
 
After the targets are all hit the pressure is off to some extent and after a stand of 119 Josh is bowled by Snater for an excellent 110 at 213 for 3.  In comes the returning Tom Abell after a considerable time away from the middle.  He is straight off the mark with a couple from his first ball. 
 
Essex move their other spinner into the fray just before Tea and he takes them to 248 for 3 with Abell on 26 (35) and Nicholls is still there with 60 from (136).  There are 32 overs left in the day and we've bowled 64.  A good afternoon for the home side one would say. 
 
The final session of Day 1 starts with the spin of Harmer (his 19th over of the day) from the River to Tom Abell. They move past the first batting bonus score at 250 in the 65th over.    The visitors employ the double spin option as Critchley continues to wheel in from the Pavilion while luck still evades Harmer who has bowled at least an over of wicket taking balls without a whiff of one.  Meanwhile Henry shows us why he has played 60 Tests for New Zealand and what an organised, unflappable and competent bat he is as he moves into the 80s.  
 
Somerset pass 300 in the 77th as the new man moves into the 90s which prompts Essex to turn to their third spinner is the skipper to try and change things.  But it does not stop Tom Abell passing 50 from 85 balls at 308 for 3 in the 79th just before the new ball is taken and the visitors return to pace.
 
At 312 for 4 in the 82nd Henry chops on from Cook and is out for an excellent but unfortunate 96 on debut at 312 for 4 .  He finishes 4 short of his hundred after a stand of 99 with Tom A.  In comes James Rew with 15 overs left in the day.  If he makes more than 40 in this game he will pass 4000 career First Class runs at the age of 22!!
 
After the new ball the batting becomes much more circumspect and we move towards the end of play in the hope of starting tomorrow with an established pair but that hope is dashed by Satner who bowls Tom Abell  for 65 with a mere 9 balls left in the day for 65 from 124 balls with 10 fours.  Jake Ball comes in to hold one end and we get to the end of the day with James Rew on 21 from the 45 he has faced and Ball still to add a run in anger from his 3.  We go into Day 2 with a lead of 348 for 5.
 
 
Day 2 
 
The weather is still a variable as it seems to waft between grey overcast, windy and cool and then spots of blue sky with nice August sunshine.  Somerset could do with pushing this into the 400s.  The bonus points run out in 14 overs as we start on the 96th with 96 to come in the day.  Getting into Essex early in their innings could be the deciding factor in this game and we may struggle with that given that Craig Overton is not in our new ball bowling attack.  It may come down to the performance of our spinners with Jack Leach, Archie Vaughan and possibly even Lewis Goldsworthy and Josh Thomas earning their corn.  Given Josh's excellent batting performance I'd at least try him with the ball... it could be his game!!
 
At 11:02 the first target is achieved as Jake takes two runs to bring up the first batting point at 350 also getting him off the mark against Porter.  Cook finish's him off though by bowling him for 3 at 352 to bring Archie to the crease but he is found out early when he doesn't move his feet to Porter and is LBW for 0 3 balls later - he really is scratching about at the moment and as someone mentioned he is presently a 'bowling all rounder' in the side.  Lewis comes in at number 9 and we have about 6 overs to get the 47 we need for the 400 run bonus point in the 10 overs left until the cut off.  But the Essex bowlers are not giving runs easliy and we still need 18 runs with 2 overs left when Snater gets the skipper for 11 at 382 for 8.  James Rew does pass his 4000 runs in first class cricket when he passes 40 runs and he passes 50 off 89 balls at 397 for 8.  We miss the 400 score by 10 overs at 110 overs and there are questions about why Jack Leach did not take the 'Nightwatch' role last night so we could attack that score this morning rather than Jake  who did his job but was not going to push on immediately today.  Jack loops one up to Porter off Cook at 397 for 9 which brings in last man Pretorius who immediately sends the ball to the rope and his county past 400.  
 
Miggy continues to go on to his best batting score of the season.  As we move towards the lunch break with the possibility of a change in innings, Essex engage in all kinds of ways to waste time to ensure they don't possibly face a new ball both sides ot the interval, they are looking at run ups and having glove inner changes and discussing bowling options.  The umpires have a bit of double 'teapot' waiting but do not make them get on with it as we move towards 12:50.  Harmer is back in the bowling attack for the period just before the lunch break and Pretorius replies to all this by doubling his best score of 2026 moving to 30 from 28 balls.  The Essex spinner has not had much luck to be fair.  In his 30 overs in the first innings he is still wicketless having given up 114 runs.
 
The 50 partnership (58 balls with runs mostly from the number 11) arrives at 447 before the break with the 450 following it.  It looks like they are taking the extra half hour with 9 down as Critchley takes over the spin role for Essex from the MT end.  They last unti 469 when Miggy totally misjudges the Googly and walks straight in front with his back leg.  LBW for a very good 48 from 48.  James is not out 74 from 127.  Lunch will be taking and platy will start again just before 2pm.
 
Essex start with Elgar and Walter facing Gregory after the lunch break and the skipper has Elgar second ball  after the ball squares him up and has him LBW for 0.  In comes the skipper to face the skipper and he wafts at the second ball he should have left .  Westlet is gone caught behind.  Essex are 0 for 2.  Allison walks out at number 4 still in the first over.   A double wicket maiden for the Somerset captain at the start of an innings is not bad. 
 
Jake starts from the River and Walter gets a run off the bat and Allison follows him with a single.  But at the start of the next one Lewis bowls Allison through the gate with one that comes back and he has 3 for 0 in 7 balls.  Critchley is in at number 5.  He dabs one down to take 2 and doubles the Essex score.  He then doubles it again with a classic straight drive. 
 
After that little flurry the ball is going arond the park a bit as the visitors settle into some kind oif rhythm. Migael is introduced early but the runs keep coming at 6 an over and it is expected that spin may appear early in this session to stem the tide as Essex move towards 50. 
 
The 50 arrives in the 11th as Lewis is looking to need a rest, he finishes the over with a couple of fours that also brings up the 50 partnership from 52 balls.  56 for 3 after 11 and that is probably the end of the skipper for the moment as he finishes his first spell of 6 with 3 for 29. Migael has put in 3 overs for 7 at the River and we now see Ball changing ends to the MT
 
After 17 overs the umpires are looking to change the ball with the score moving on to 76 for 3.  Crictchley is set up by Ball.  He gives him the short ball, he takes the bait and hooks it straight to Lewis Goldsworthy who sets himself and drops a real sitter that lands in his bread basket and rolls out.  He is still in at 34 and we may rue that. 
 
Jack is on at the MT in the 18th with the score on 77 for 3.  Critchley is on 36 from 48 and Walter also has 36 on 47.   At the other end they are putting people on the boundary and it seems Jake is going to try and bounce Walter out.
 
Lewis looks to save a drive and rolls over as the ball catches in the outfield and he is injured somewhere around the hip.  Lots of people looking around but he is up and back in the field so initial worries seem to be unfounded though he does not look fully mobile.  The initial hope of the 3 wickets has developed into a more attritional game with both the present Essex bats well established and nearing 50s.
 
It all looks a little turgid and then Walter simpkly gives it away just after they have passed 100.  At 104 he hits a loose shot to Jack off Jake and is livid with himself as he goes for 48 at 104 for 4.  In comes Thain.  In the 28th Critchley moves to 50 from 72 at 117 for 4 and the next ball Thain is plumb in front of a ball that skids on and is out for 10.  117 for 5 Thain LBW Leach.  In comes Pepper.
 
Tea arrives at 129 for 5 - and sort of 'black and white' session with wickets either side of pretty much buffet bowling from many.  Critchley has not moved from 50 and Pepper has moved to 10.  3 at the start to Gregory 1 for Leach and Ball with 8 overs for 21 from Pretorius.  We have had 32 overs and we have 32 overs to go in the day
 
Back out at 4:40 means it is going to be a late finish tonight as Archie Vaughan starts the third session of Day 2 bowling to Critchley.  He looks to sweep him and he is plumb LBW at 129 for 6..  Harmer says goodbye after 4 as he is caught by Lewis Goldsworthy off Leach at 134 for 7.   Snater tries to fire one over Jack and fails and the next ball he seems to have no idea what to do with it and he edges it up and into the gloves of Rew.   138 for 8 after 36 overs.  
 
At 146 Jack bowls Cook for 0 and has moved to 4 for 32 from his 10 and a bit.    The 150 arrives halfway through the 39th as Pepper puts Archie into the Trade Nation stand.  At 158 Pepper smacks the ball straight to Nicholls and is caught so they are all out.  He goes for 35 and Essex are 311 behind.  So do we enforce the follow on or not?
 
Essex will face 19 overs this evening if they do enforce or we bat for them.  The arguments have been put for both options.  Lewis Gregory is probably not fit enough to bowl much tonight but not enforcing would mean us facing Harmer on this last. 
 
The initial impression is that we will enforce. and that has been confirmed.  Though there is some debate about the pros and cons.  If Lewis Gregory is unable to bowl it was impossible to replace him anyway because of the change in the pilot 'substitution' scheme.  You can now only 'sub' in the first innings.  If he can bowl then surely it was the 'right decision to ask them to follow on 311 ahead with 19 overs to come before the end of play and two days left?  The counter-argument was that the only way Essex could get back into this is if they made a good punt of the second innings and then we faced Simon Harmer on this pitch on the 4th Day.  that is certainly a possible scenario  - can't imagine Essex will bat as badly in their second innings - but they will have to score well south of 500 to give us a difficult target and if they do that it willprobably be because the pitch has flattened out considerably and in that situation a win by either side would be really doubtful anyway.
 
So Dean Elgar and Paul Walter come out in the last afternoon to start the task of getting back to par from 3111 behind.  We open with the pace of Pretorius and Ball and the scoreboard ticked along healthily for 8 over before we turned to the 'Spin Twins' of Vaughan and Leach who took us to the close except for one over from Josh Thomas at the end.  Migael was a little expensive at 18 from his 3.  Josh's one over went for 7 and the other 3 bowlers put in shifts that went at around 2 to 2 and a half.  There were no wickets in the evening as both the openers are experienced and understand they need to stay there for a very very long time. Dean ended with 30 from 56, 20 of those coming from 5 shots and his massive partner Walter went in with 29 from 58 wth 3 boundaries.  Essex took 59 runs off the total and so need to clear 252 more runs today to make Somerset bat again.
 
Day 3
No rain at all is predicted for the next two days  and we watched Tom Abell turn his arm over this morning.  There were also rumours that we did initiate Craig Overton as an injury replacement before the innings cut off and COve has been seen this morning at the ground (though he may have just popped out of parental mayhem to get a bit of cricket peace :-)  It seems the rumour was just that and COve is only here for a little bit of early bowling 'turn the arm over' in prep for a return in the next game in Hove.
 
 
We start at 11 and immediately turn to Archie from the River this time and he starts the day's proceedings to Paul Walter.  James is captain however as Lewis has not taken the field - Josh Shaw is on as 12 man NOT as sub.
 
Jake takes the first Day 3 over from the MT as they add 4 to the score from the first.  We see Migael  bowling early at the River as well so we seem to be checking out our early options  to make a kind of decision of what our morning attack should be.  Pretorius gets a little something but not enough to cause an appeal, especially as Walter is a mountain of an opening bat!!
 
Walter does the same thing as he did in the first innings.  In the 27th he seems to lose focus, wafts at a ball, misses it and is bowled through the gate by Ball for 43 at 82 for 1.  In comes Westley to make up for his two ball duck in the first innings and move his side on to something a little more substantial.
 
Essex pass 100 in the 32nd over followed almost immediately by a Dean Elgar 50 from 91 balls.  Tom Lammonby comes on with some left arm for the 33rd over.  He is followed by the first appearance of Jack Leach for the 36th over after the first hour of the day.  He starts with a maiden and the score stays at 117 for
1
 
At 127 Migael from the MT gets a bit of movement to Dean Elgar and he feathers one to Rew and off he goes for 56.  In comes Allison who also has a need for something after a misreable and short first innings stint.  Essex need another 187 to make us bat again in this game.  Westley will not watch any more progress from the middle as he plays a poor shot to Tom Abell at midwicket and he drops very little.  He departs at 127 for 3 from the bowling of Jack Leach who presently has 1 for 13 from the 8 and a half overs of this innings.  Critchley is in to try and hold this second innings together after doing that job in the first one to some extent. 
 
Archie returns but at the MT this time just before the lunch break at 133 for 3.  Allison still hasn't got off the mark and one would assume Somerset are keen to keep it that way.  He gets 1 to make it a little easier jjust before the teams return to the Caddyshack for lunch with the score at 135 for 3 still some 176 runs behind with 7 wickets in hand.  A good first session for the home side and they will probably be very satisfied with that position.
 
Jack opens session 2 from the River to Critchley and they add 2 runs to the total from the first of the afternoon (50th over).  We have 65 left in the day as the spinner's first post-Lunch partner from the MT is Jake Ball.  They move towards the halfway point in their run chase and in the 56th the ball spins ouit of the rough twice with the second going for four byes to move Essex past 150 to 152.  Both of the last two deliveries moved so much that people thought Allison had been dropped because the both looked like they had come off the bat.
 
Archie doubles up the spin from the MT in the 61st as the visitors do move to needing only 150 to make us go out with bats again. Somerset keep moving the bowlers about but there is little happening in terms of scoring or chances but there is definitely something in the wicket for the spinners and Rew keeps rolling the dice with variations.  He moves Archie to the River end and Jack to the MT to see if they can make some kind of breakthrough but early on it only results in an Allison six to the Ondaatje car park to take Essex into the 190s.  The 50 partnership arrives from 169 balls and then the 200 arrives at the end of the 71st over with Critchley on 29 from 85 and Allison on to 38 also from 84.  It may need another re-assesment after Vaughan goes for consecutive fours at the start of the next from the bat of Allison.
 
A third four from the over takes Allison to an 88 ball 50 at 212 for 3 as the runs required to clear the deficit goes below 100.  That prompts the arrival of Lewis Goldsworthy to the bowling crease for the 73rd as a third spin option - it may not be the last one as we may also see Josh Thomas before the end of this session.  In fact he appears for the 79th over to take his second of the innings but his first of the day.  After his attempt we return to Jake for the 81st who takes the new ball straight away.  The 100 .  run partnership arrives at 227 and we could do with a wicket to reset this innings as they seem far too settled at the moment.
 
Tea is taken with 31 overs left in the day.  No wickets from the session.  They have decreased the deficit to 79 with Critchley taking the support role at 39 from 126 while Allison has made something of his second visit to the middle with 60 from 121.
 
The last session starts with Pretorius and Ball looking to make some progress through these bats.  Lewis is back on the pitch though hobbling still.  Miggy's 90th over is full of good length balls going away from Critchley which he seems incapable of getting an edge to and so we continue.
 
Tom Lammonby comes back at the MT to try the left arm version on this pair as they move towards and then over the 250 mark with a scrappy single in the 93rd over.  This is followed by a straight six into the MT from Allison and the situation is looking to need a re-assessment as the number of runs to play with decreases over by over. 
 
The amount of runs required has gone below 50 but we continue with the seam attack that do not seem to be worrying the Essex pair at all.  Run making is slow but it is persistent and the boundaries do continue to come.  Both the attng pair are looking at innings milestones presently as Critchley has started to move past 40 again and Allison is 11 runs from a century.
 
At 269 for 3 in the 98th over Somerset move back to Jack Leach at the River with 18 overs left in the day's play and the possibility that Essex will have a lead by the end of Day 3.   They continue with Lammonby at the other end for the moment as only a single is added from the spinner's return over. 
 
Matt Critchley goes to 50 off a scrambled single from 170 balls at 276 for 3 and we bring Archie back at the MT to double up the spin attack.  It does not stop Allison moving to 100 from 185 balls at 287 for 3 - part of a partnership of 160 for the 4th wicket.   
 
Effectively that was all she wrote for the day except we continues until 115 overs of the innings had been concluded.  There were no wickets and at the end the Essex pair had moved the score on to 314 for 3 - a first innings lead of 3.  (There was a dolly of dropped catch we have to mention from the skipper at slip when Critchley was in the mid 60's.  A ball straight into his midriff that he did not hang on to - just about summing up Somerset's luck in the day to be honest).  By the close Charlie Allison had moved on to 105 from 263 balls and 13 fours while his partner Matt Critchley had amassed 76 from 214 balls faced and including 8 fours.
 
The bowling was surprisingly tight for a day in the field with only Tom Lammonby and Josh Thomas (who both bowled sparse spells really) breaking the 4 runs an over barrier.  Lewis Goldsworthy bowqled a couple of tight ones as well.  All the main guys used who all bowled at least 20 overs were pretty sparse on a dead pitch so credit to them all.  Jack Leach who took the lion's share with 36 overs went for a very frugal 1.6 runs per 6 balls.  So we go into the last day with the win predictor saying 'ITS A DRAW' quite loudly and few of us expecting anything else given the lifelessness of the pitch and the absence of Craig Overton for the first hour of the last day if there is any life in the surface after an over night rest.
 
Day 4
 
Jack starts the day from the River to centurion Allison under a cloudless sky - it won't rain today.  At the other end we welcome back Lewis Gregory with the ball after having a day hobbling about yesterday.  The 200 run partnership arrives in the 119th from 451 balls!!  228 for 3 with 93 balls left in the day - we won't get all of those one would imagine - unless something very interesting things happen.
 
The one thing that comes from the early overs this morning is that Gregory is probably not fully fit to bowl and may have to accept that he ought to rest that aspect until the next game. - He has bowled 2 overs for 18 and may not bowl again.  Migael comes on for the third from the MT.
 
Jack finally gets one to move away and Critchley edges to Tom Abell at second slip.  He goes for 94 from 236 and Essex are 339 for 4 as Thain comes out after probably sitting in pads for 5 or 6 hours yesterday.  Tom had two goes at it to be fair but held on.  A final reward to the spinner after yesterday's shift with the ball. 
 
He strikes again in the 128th as he has Allison caught behind for 114 from 254 at 346 for 5.  A very good ball which the Essex man did not think he hit - but the umpire disagreed and Somerset fans don't really care.  Essex are 35 ahead with 5 wickets to go.
 
The 350 arrives and so does the 6th wicket as Tom dives to his left at second slip and takes another one and Pepper goes back for 4 and Jack moves to 4 for 61 in his 44th.
 
Archie joins the fight from the MT with the 133rd over and Simon Harmer is the next man in for the visitors.
 
The Leach/Abell partnership continues however because in the 140th Essex go to 7 down as Leach gets Thain for 11 courtesy of the Abell hands.  367 for 7, a lead of 56 as Snater arrives at the crease with Harmer on 9.
 
Jake Ball gets a go before Lunch for the 147th over - the first bowling for him of the day.  It shows that kind of 'reverse' Day 4 thinking.  Bowl the spinners all the way through and put the seamers on for a couple just before the interval.  (Jack Leach has presently bowled 52 overs with 20 maidens and 5 for 77 in this innings).
 
Lunch sees Essex at 394 for 7 some 83 rtuns ahead with Harmer on 22 from 64 and Snater on 14 from 27.
 
After the break, Archie has a spell at the River and sends Snater backm in early not playing a a fourth stump ball that comes into the third stump and bowls him for 14 at 395 bringing Cook into the fray and giving Vaughan his first wicket after 34 overs and 117 runs before this one.  This game moves on another step.
 
The next step happens quickly as Archie gets another one to spin in from the other side as a ball grips, comes in and takes Harmer's leg stump.  People don't think he got bat on it but Harmer goes for 24 at 396 for 9.  The Essex spinner stood there with his bat raised for a while seemingly thinking 'What the hell happened there' - a testament to the skill of Mr Vaughan perhaps.
 
Ball is providing seam from the other end until he seems to have some kind of strain and leaves the field with 4 balls bowled in an over, Jack takes over at the MT to face Porter and Cook as Essex' last pair at 398 for 9.  The fourth Josh Shaw sub misfield in this game (not picking on him they have all been significant errors in the field including one where he went to stop a four, tripped up and threw the ball over the rope) gives them a double to take them to 400.  There have been other fielding errors but he has been significant in his involvement in the poor fielding in this innings.
 
Migael returns at the MT and a four from him takes the lead to 100 - one would assume this is to allow Jack to come on at the other end.  But that is not the case, they stay with Archie  and he has Porter LBW with his first ball of the 162nd over for 7 to finish with 123 for 3 off his 40.1 overs.  Somerset need 102 to win the game as Essex end on 412.
 
There are back on 10 minutes later and Cook opens the bowling to Thomas and Lammonby and they take the total below 100 with the second ball.  The first boundary comes from the fourth off the Lammonby bat.  the over ends with 8 to the total. 
 
By the 5th over the score has moved on to 36 against the bolwing of Harmer (who must come to the game if they are to hold us) and Critchley (the other spinner in the side)  Thomas has 13 from 12 while Lammonby has moved to 20 from 19.
 
The 50 arrives in 6.5 overs with both players in the 20s.  They do get a bit over confident and Josh dies to a top edged slog sweep off Harmer.  He is caught by Critchley for 31 at 59 for 1 and in comes Lewis Goldsworthy and there is a BIG shout for caught and bowled off his first.  The camera says it came off his pad EVERY Essex player would argue with that I believe but one we go.  Lewis is off the mark and we finish the 10th over on 60 for 1.
 
Lewis takes the daft route as he goes up the wicket to Harmer and smacks it straight into the hands of Snater at midwicket to return to the dressing room for 6 at 65 for 2.  In comes Nicholls who has a no nonsense attitude to these games.  He doesn't seem interested in the 'suprise' shots to get his runs.  He just waits for the bad ball and hammers it straight or at right angles and then waits for the next.  There is no time pressure on this game so there is no need to push the score along.  They will bowl bad balls and he will dispatch them until then he seems happy to wait and frustrate them into bowling the way he requires.  He seems a good addition to a side that needs that patience at times.
 
The Essex skipper brings himself on to give Critchley a breather for the 17th over at 82 for 2.  He gets Lammonby to slog sweep which sends it out to Snater on the Somerset Stand side of the ground, the ball goes through his hands, onto his knee and off at 45 degrees to te Hildreth boundary for four.  That about put the lid on this game as Somerset move to needing 14 to win. 
 
After 18 overs we need 7 to win and with Tea coming we may have a 20 minute wait.  At 4:20 it is 99 for 2 at the start of the 20th.  Tom Lammonby smacks a four to the Hildreth to go to 39 from 54 while Henry Nicholls wins his first game with us with 18 from 25.  103 for 2 and we win by 8 wickets.  We get 22 points and they have 2.  IT is still on people.  Book your places for the home fixture against Surrey.  it m,ay be worth turning up for.  But on to Hove.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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CC1 Returns Essex at Home
Discussion started by Grockles.com , 20/08/2026 11:04
Grockles.com
20/08/2026 11:04
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Back to the normal procedure with the 4 day games as we'll close the report thread but keep updating while the other thread is the comment one and we'll merge the two at the end of the game.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:26:22:23:41 by Grockle.

Reply Quote Report
Grockle
18/08/2026 11:00
We are back to the 4 day game on Thursday with some speculations about the content of the squad.

Some speculations before we get some kind of preview and in front of the 12 pm announcement about International signings.

Met [b[Tom Abell/b] in Taunton's LIDL and eh is looking forward to the return of CC1 again.

Not expectinig any movement on Sav Perera as he is starting in the Second XI game against Notts today at 11am - captained by Will Smeed so don't expect him either - these both might suggest a batting arrival today though we all hope the new name will be someone who also bowls at least. An Allrounder perhaps?

There is little to no chance that either Alfie Ogborne or (slightly more chane?) Thomas Rew will be invovled in the end of our season.

That leaves;
Tom Lammonby, Josh Thomas, TKC, Tom Abell, Archie Vaughan, Lewis Goldsworthy, Lewis Gregory, James Rew, Craig Overton, Jake Ball, Jack Leach, Josh Shaw, Migael Pretorius as the main people involved in Thursday PLUS ONE

(Sm72)

Reply Quote Report
Grizzers
18/08/2026 11:29
Guessing:

1) A N Other
2) Thomas
3) Lammers
4) JR
5) Abell
6) Vaughan/Goldsworthy
7) Craig (if available)
8) Lewis
9) MP
10) Leach
11) Ball

Grizzers

Reply Quote Report
Grockle
18/08/2026 11:58
One 'A Nother' will be Henry Nicholls it seems.

(Sm72)

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MisterMurph
19/08/2026 12:45
And he’ll be facing Sam Cook…

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Grockle
19/08/2026 17:31
The 13 player squad is listed for tomorrow;
Thomas, Nicolls, Abell, Rew, Lammonby, Gregory, Goldsworthy, Overton, Vaughan, Pretorius, Leach, Shaw Ball

If we take into account that the Overton's are expecting any day now so Craig being named may be an 'outside chance' of hi playing. It's a choice between Archie and Josh S I would think.

(Sm72)

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Bagpuss
19/08/2026 19:05
Craig could start the match; the injury sub rule also includes 'life events' and the tightening of rules to restrict it to (iirc) first innings only, this doesn't apply to the life event occurrences.

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Devonboy70
19/08/2026 19:36
A straight choice between Archie , Josh T and Lewis G for 2 of the places . If Josh Shaw is chosen, it will confirm that the management really aren’t picking our best side as they repeatedly did the same in the One Day Cup .

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Grizzers
19/08/2026 22:19
Jack Leach struck on the hand/wrist whilst at the non-strikers end, by a powerful drive from Peter Trego in the T20 charity/LG testimonial game at Taunton today.

Sincerely hope he is not out of action as a result.

Grizzers

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Grizzers
20/08/2026 10:43
Leach, Vaughan & Goldsworthy all playing, but no Craig Overton (presumably due to the impending arrival of his first born).

Pitch looks green and having lost the toss, we are batting.

Which could be a challenge.

Fingers firmly crossed.

Grizzers

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Bagpuss
20/08/2026 12:23
Official Somerset social media suggests Miss Overton Jr has arrived. Congratulations to Craig and his partner, and Granny and Grandpa Overton.

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Grizzers
20/08/2026 12:53
Congratulations indeed.

Another excellent Overton delivery !

Grizzers

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Bagpuss
20/08/2026 19:07
I think that's a day I'd file under "good toss to lose", although I suspect if Lewis has won the toss he may well have chosen to bat anyway.

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That Bloke With The Dog
20/08/2026 19:50
I must have enjoyed day ones at the County Ground in the past where Somerset bat first, bat with clarity and confidence, and finish the day 340-plus for 5,

I just can't offhand think of a recent one.

A big well-done and thank-you to all concerned.

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Somerset LaLaLa
20/08/2026 20:13
Sussex was more or less the same. Has the floodlight issue from that game been resolved now?

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That Bloke With The Dog
20/08/2026 20:25
Quote:
Somerset LaLaLa
Sussex was more or less the same. Has the floodlight issue from that game been resolved now?

That's true. My memory of that game is Overton, Gregory and Leach hammering boundaries at the end of the innings. I'd forgotten all about the rock-solid work of J Rew and Abell and others on day one.

I beg their pardon.

Good question about the lights, because there was a lot of cloud about today, and one or two moments after tea where the light looked an issue. But the lights were never switched on.

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Mike TA1
20/08/2026 20:35
Somerset v Essex 4 day match

brilliant days batting. BUT what happened towards the end of the day? Even before Essex took the new ball, the batting was so strange, we were saying if they carry-on batting like that they will get out.
And what happened?

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/9cc26ad5-869c-49bf-8081-f9efe4beef55.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Henry Nicholls 4 runs

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/b3c0a84b-af17-4239-9699-b03090862cfb.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Henry Nicholls bringing up the 100

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/f3e3eb4c-68a1-4dba-9bac-aa5b3906dfd4.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Josh Thomas he batted so well for his 100

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/5357eecc-bf4c-4aa5-9072-8672ba2f5f10.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Lewis Goldsworthy 4 runs and 50 partnership with Josh Thomas

Can we get off 348, how long were we on that score.

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Grizzers
20/08/2026 20:54
I thought we batted superbly for 90% of the day, just perhaps losing a little momentum towards the end.

Josh Thomas played excellently for his century, with barely any chance offered and Henry Nichols batted unfussily, accumulating runs without drama, much in the manner of Peter Bowler a few decades ago. It was a shame he went just four short of a ton on his debut.

Overall, everyone batted with purpose and urgency, at least until the last hour when the second new ball saw Essex much more focused.

We have an excellent platform on which to build, which we will need to do tomorrow morning, as I'm not sure we'll find it easy to roll over Essex on that track. Having said that, Jack Leach & Michael Vaughan won't have been unhappy to see Harmer getting one or two to spit and turn.

Grizzers

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Devonboy70
20/08/2026 21:29
3 excellent innings on the the day from Messrs Thomas , Nicholls and Abell .Agree that we had some very strange batting once the new ball was taken . We seemed odds on at one point to get to 350 but somehow Tom and James put the brakes on . Looking forward to us getting at least 2 of the 3 remaining batting points in the morning. I’m looking forward to seeing Jake bat in a role he’s not accustomed too .

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Bagpuss
21/08/2026 00:43
Essex bowled far better with the second new ball than they did with the first. There is a little something there for both the quicks and the spinners, but I think this may be a pitch where first innings runs are premium. Four runs an over in the morning would get us pretty much exactly to 400 and a 4th batting point in the 110 overs; to get to five batting points would require going at over 7.2 rpo, which I think might be foolhardy to attempt.

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Grockle
21/08/2026 10:52
The switch or curcuit causing the lightin failure has been identified and replaced I have been reliably informed. If spin is a factor in the Essex innings, it certainly ought to be worth giving Josh Thomas a go simply because this game may be his lucky one!!

(Sm72)

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Bagpuss
21/08/2026 11:39
Read somewhere a day or two ago that Jamie Porter is out of contract at the end of this season, and he's not confirmed he'll be playing at Chelmsford next season.

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Grizzers
21/08/2026 14:35
Pretty crazy day so far.

Very happy with the outcome to date !

Grizzers

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Bagpuss
21/08/2026 14:52
I see Miggy Pretorius took being dropped below Jack Leach well!

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Grizzers
21/08/2026 15:32
94/3 from 2/3 is unfortunate.

Lewis G Snr going off injured could be a calamity.

Grizzers

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Bagpuss
21/08/2026 16:00
Somerset definitely the division 1 outlier in this round of matches - looking like the only team - bar maybe Essex - who will achieve batting points. No other team has made even 200 runs (Glamorgan and Warks are still batting atm, but both 8 down needing over 130 runs more to get a batting point).

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Grockle
21/08/2026 16:07
Reminder that ther is a MEMBERS FORUM tonight 20 minutes after the close of play today in the County Room. Spencer Bishop and Jamie Cox are looking forward to seeing you all there. (Sorry it's the interim chair Richard Brices and the member directors who are arranging this one).

(Sm72)

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Des Platt
21/08/2026 17:02
Well this is marvelous news. Just switched on. Increases the chance that I will do Headingley as well as the last game.

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Devonboy70
21/08/2026 19:57
Any news on the Captain after his injury today ? An excellent days cricket which puts us in a very strong position for Saturday

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Mike TA1
21/08/2026 20:31
Somerset v Essex 2nd day photos

What a day,much better than I expected.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/83004951-b965-4cb2-bb90-6bbfd242df51.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Dean Elgar 4 runs

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/f49f8579-2a82-4935-a49c-7d5244f410e8.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

James Rew 50 runs

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/1c3db6d1-268e-446b-a738-65bbcd6e3172.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Shane Snater ct James Rew bld Jack Leach

only three today.

Early wicket tomorrow would be nice.

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Grockle
22/08/2026 10:30
Morning rumours are rife.

Tom Abell has been seen turning his arm over this morning.

A rumour is making the rounds that Craig Overton was initiated as a sub for the skipper before the end of the first half of the game and will be in the side this morning.

It could be that neither has any credence but we'll know in 30 mins one way or the other.

(Sm72)

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Grockle
22/08/2026 11:00
Rumour is scotched Craig is on the ground but he's here to do some bowling exercise because he will be in the running for Sussex next Thursday.

(Sm72)

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Grockle
22/08/2026 12:40
The message on Lewis Gregory is that there is a hip injury of some kind but it is still being assessed. Jamie Cox suggested it was bruising yesterday so we can hope it will be fine after rehab and he'll be back for next week. Which is possible as we did not replace him.

(Sm72)

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Grizzers
22/08/2026 16:01
Putting aside injury and childbirth issues, yet again Monty Python’s dead parrot exhibits more life than this moribund strip.

Is it any wonder we struggle to attract seam/pace bowlers to Taunton ?

Let alone win the Championship.

Grizzers

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Somerset LaLaLa
22/08/2026 16:08
Lewis Gregory at slip after tea

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Grockle
22/08/2026 16:26
It's been a long old day. It may be that our only chance of silverware this year may come after tomorrow when the Somerset women have a go in the Vitality County Cup Quarter final at Southampton to see if they can get to the Finals Day at Old Trafford.

As usual the CC1 hopes are looking a little threadbare if winning at home is part of the requirement. But hope springs eternal.

(Sm72)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:23:11:12:55 by Grockle.

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Somerset LaLaLa
22/08/2026 17:29
In 2 words: Missing Overton

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Devonboy70
22/08/2026 18:03
Our catching this season has been poor . I’m not talking about the difficult chances but those which your average village side would probably take .

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That Bloke With The Dog
22/08/2026 19:26
Bringing an injured man back on the field at first slip is asking for trouble.

I had a look at the pitch with everyone else at tea, and I can only guess it's been overwatered in this weather, because there is zero sign of deterioration or cracking - unlike every other venue in the country, judging by the scoreboards.

I can understand the groundsman's dilemma: if the score at Taunton were the same as the scores are at any of those other venues, then Somerset would be guaranteed a points deduction.

Frustrating. And mighty frustrating for the spectators on what might turn out to be the last sunny Saturday of cricket for the year.

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Mike TA1
22/08/2026 19:59
Somerset v Essex 3rd day photos.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/8f5fc660-0a94-49b4-8a4a-7cc9478de62f.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Charlie Allison

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/dd635ea0-ecb2-441a-8354-f0c6d48c6b7b.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Dean Elgar ct James Rew bld Michael Pretorius

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/d745bcc3-12db-4a30-b0c1-5217efc8f4aa.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Charlie Allison off the bowling of Jack Leach there is bounce that end.

What will tomorrow bring!

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ColinNo11
23/08/2026 10:51
I'm afraid that was the most tedious day of cricket I've seen for a long time. I can't understand why our pitches improve - from a batting point of view - as the game goes on rather than deteriorate like most other pitches. This is presumably why Essex put us in to bat and shows how well our batsmen did in our first innings. Let us hope that we don't let Essex score enough to set us a too challenging target to chase in the evening session.

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Grockle
23/08/2026 12:53
53 overs 21 maidens 5 for 77 and they think Shoaib is the 'number 1 England spinner'?

(Sm72)

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Somerset LaLaLa
23/08/2026 13:06
In the past Essex blamed the pitch. Simon Harmer 31 overs 0 for 124



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:23:13:07:42 by Somerset LaLaLa.

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Des Platt
23/08/2026 13:17
SH still seems to haunt us ; hope we can get shut soon after lunch .

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Grizzers
23/08/2026 14:23
It seems the dead parrot pitch has plenty of life in it after all.

Which confirms I know the square root of diddly squat !

Good day for Mr Harmer to have an off day. Please.

Grizzers

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Bagpuss
23/08/2026 14:32
So will Harmer open the bowling or do they stick with Porter/Cook till the lacquer has worn off the ball.

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Grockle
23/08/2026 15:21
Well Lammers doesn't seem to be bothering to hang about.

(Sm72)

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Des Platt
23/08/2026 15:37
Great win without Craig too.

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Grockle
23/08/2026 15:50
Well that was three days of fun with a day of doubt. Well played Boyz.

(Sm72)

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ColinNo11
23/08/2026 15:55
Suffice to say that I enjoyed today more than yesterday!

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Paulrossiter
23/08/2026 16:05
Brilliant win !

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Kilmainham
23/08/2026 16:31
Some people have believed for a while.

The team is different this season. They just believe, they do not hope, they do not wish, they just believe.

Fine margins but it can make all the difference.

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That Bloke With The Dog
23/08/2026 16:35
We were all allowed another look at the pitch at lunchtime, and I couldn't believe it was the same one I was moaning about yesterday. It was scuffed, there were footmarks, and it had the general air of a day-four wicket. The ground staff had got it right, and I hope that teaches me not to make final judgements prematurely.

And those tedious two after-lunch sessions yesterday, where Essex shut up shop and didn't lose a wicket, turned out to be the period where Essex lost the match, because they didn't score any runs either. A chase of 170 against Harmer on this day-4 pitch would have been interesting. Just enough runs to stop Thomas and Lammonby from batting to break the chase in the first six overs.

So yesterday might turn out to have been one more of those day where we won the title. Just didn't feel like it at the time.

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Sloop John B
23/08/2026 16:46
What a difference a day makes. We started off positively and didnt blink! The maestro with a fifer. A captaincy masterstroke to bring on Archie after lunch at Jacks end.

A low total meant we could attack from ball one. A great team effort means we are truly in rhe mix!

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Bagpuss
23/08/2026 17:17
This breaks a run of 22 FC matches that Somerset have played without Craig Overton and failed to win.

The last time a Cove-less Somerset won a championship match was in 2019, against Yorkshire at Taunton.

(Stat, as many of the best Somerset stats are, from Dan Kingdom.)

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Mike TA1
23/08/2026 17:57
Somerset v Essex 4th and final day.

WHAT a WIN

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/ac1f3cc6-ad33-4775-8857-a55c19c4e873.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Mat Crichley ct Tom Abell bld Jack Leach

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/43b4b3f1-d090-4e11-b482-444077bc27d9.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Henry Nicholls

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/65c9c9c9-f3e9-460b-b749-c9d4e209038d.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Tom Lammonby.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/af827ac1-8d98-4e6d-bf5c-a997cad4c4ba.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Simon Harmer off Jack Leach

https://hosting.photobucket.com/91744cf7-1a04-40bb-806b-5cac706c25f9/d0a90c67-636c-4a18-bfd1-b36312b287ca.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Noah Thain ct Tom Abell bld Jack Leach

That is a good position to be in, if we hadn't won we would have struggled to keep with the leaders, it is so tight at the top.

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Bagpuss
23/08/2026 18:16
Warks host Notts next week. Two teams that Somerset can do nothing about, as they don't play either in the run-in.

Will be watching Weather for the Week Ahead at the end of Countryfile very closely. Fingers crossed for four days hosing it down at Edgbaston alongside balmy weather on the south coast.

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hantssabre
23/08/2026 19:51
I’ve contemplated going to Sussex as a Hampshire member oh Friday so would get in free but the weather looks pretty bad all days as it does at Edgbaston

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Wiltshire55
23/08/2026 19:52
At this range (still outside the reliable), there is a greater likelihood of rain in Birmingham than in Hove. The rain looks showery though, and I would expect both matches to have a lot of cricket and not much sheltering under umbrellas.
We will just have to rely on success on the pitch, which would be much more satisfying!

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Grizzers
23/08/2026 20:09
Such an impressive result given our inury woes, Lewis getting crocked, Craig being unavailable and the small matter of spending 203 consecutive overs in the field.

We'll never know of course, but I wonder how today would have concluded, had Miggy P gone for his (prior to this game) season average score of 5, instead of an invaluable 48 in the first innings tenth wicket partnership of 72 with James Rew.

Meanwhile, quite why Jack Leach no longer features in terms of consideration for England selection, is beyond me.

More please Miggy !

Grizzers



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:23:20:10:45 by Grizzers.

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Grizzers
24/08/2026 09:29
The thoughts of Chris Silverwood:

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Grizzers

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Devonboy70
24/08/2026 18:43
Excellent result . Shows playing 3 seamers and a strong batting line up at home suits us .

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