19 wickets in a day? Taunton pitches nicely preparing our boys for international cricket

Will Smeed scored 23 (11) for Ajman Titans as they lost their first Abu Dhabi T10 match today He's teammates with two former Somerset players of different eras - Rilee Rossouw and Piyush Chawla Scorecard: www.espncricinfo.com/series/abu-d...

78* (29) and POTM for Tom Kohler-Cadmore in the Abu Dhabi T10 today as he helped Deccan Gladiators to a 6-run win over UAE Bulls in their first match Scorecard: www.espncricinfo.com/series/abu-d...

Everyone's favourite cricket tournament starts tomorrow - the Abu Dhabi T10 There are lots of English players involved, including three Somerset players: Will Smeed for Ajman Titans Jake Ball & Tom Kohler-Cadmore for Deccan Gladiators Also Sean Dickson for "Vista Riders" 1/8

He's not even made his first-class debut yet but he's scored a fifty against near enough England's first-choice bowling attack in foreign conditions. Some boy.

Unfortunately the match ended in a no result, but Somerset's Dani Gibson scored 31 off 15 balls on Melbourne Stars debut overnight!

A look at the contract situation of Somerset's women Last season Somerset had 16 contracted players, excluding 3 England centrally contracted players, 1 overseas player and Ruby Davis who was signed mid-season on a short-term deal Of those 16, 13 are signed for next season 1/4

It's fixtures month! Not sure if we'll get a split release again but we can probably expect them around the week commencing 24th November.

It's bizarre that England women have no more matches this winter, and don't play again until the home summer begins on 10 May next year It ties in with an issue which partially caused England's struggles at the World Cup - the fact that, prior to the tournament, they... 1/5

For only the second time in 22 women's global cricket tournaments (WC/T20WC), we will have a final not involving Australia or England The previous instance was...literally the last women's global tournament, as last year's T20 World Cup final was between NZ and SA

Loan signings by men's counties this year (can't guarantee I've picked up every signing but most will be included in these numbers) We've seen a small decrease in loan signings in recent years There were 27 in 2023, 24 in 2024 and 23 in 2025 1/2

Also, all three of Somerset's overseas players this season played for the county in a previous season (Henry in 2023, Pretorius and Meredith in 2024). It's been a while since this last happened; usually at least one of Somerset's overseas players each season is new to the club.

Overseas players fielded by men's counties this year (can't guarantee I've picked up every single signing but the vast vast majority will be included in these numbers) 92 in total which is 8 more than 2024 but 1 fewer than 2023 Hampshire had 9 which may be an all-time record

Men's county cricketers who have been released this year (and the county they were released by): Tom Bevan (Gla) Josh Boyden (Lan) Joseph Eckland (Ham) Bertie Foreman (Sus) Freddie Heldreich (Nor) Tom Hinley (Wor) Ari Karvelas (Sus) Sam King (Not) Archie Lenham (Sus) 1/3

Thread of men’s county cricketers who appear to be out of contract Caveats apply - all info is from what's available on the internet. Many players probably have agreed new contracts with no public announcement (yet). Most will stay at their current county. 1/7

October is one of Sri Lanka's rainiest months and that's now 4 no results (and another match severely reduced) in 9 World Cup matches in Colombo so far All the matches there involve Sri Lanka or Pakistan, so it disproportionately affects them Congrats everyone, great scheduling

Somerset's Charlie Dean to the rescue again is it?

Will Smeed's a 2-time Blast winner, but that pales into insignificance after winning the Canada Super 60 with Brampton Blitz He hit 63* off 21 as he helped mow down 149 in the semi: www.espncricinfo.com/series/canad... He scored 7 in a small chase in the final: www.espncricinfo.com/series/canad...

More runs for Will Smeed yesterday, his 71* off 26, with 1 four and 10 sixes, leading Brampton Blitz to victory in the Canada Super 60 Am sure he's been dreaming of this moment since he was a child Scorecard: www.espncricinfo.com/series/canad...

Will Smeed yesterday opened his account for "Brampton Blitz" with 24 off 7 in the "Canada Super 60" Former Somerset players Roelof van der Merwe and Piyush Chawla (!) are also on Smeed's team Scorecard: www.espncricinfo.com/series/canad...

Somerset to the rescue

Updated for the end of the season are all my general Somerset quizzes: www.sporcle.com/playlists/da... Previous squad quizzes are here: www.sporcle.com/playlists/da... Western Storm KSL players: www.sporcle.com/games/danthe... Women's Test host cities: www.sporcle.com/games/danthe... Enjoy!

Can you name every player who played for Somerset in 2025? Men: www.sporcle.com/games/danthe... Women: www.sporcle.com/games/danthe...

Absolutely remarkable from England

Percentage of wickets that fell to spin in County Championship (and Bob Willis Trophy) matches at Taunton 2016: 47% 2017: 56% 2018: 27% 2019: 34% 2020: 6% 2021: 8% 2022: 15% 2023: 18% 2024: 36% 2025: 48%

Think Josh Shaw will be a good signing for Somerset's T20 and 50 over sides. His recent record in those formats is decent and, while they'll both be at the club for at least a season, he'll probably take over Jake Ball's role as a dependable senior bowler 1/9

Overall, a fantastic season for Somerset Winners of the Blast, 3rd in the County Championship and semi-finalists in the One-Day Cup A lot of counties would kill to be that strong across all three competitions We had 25 wins, 9 losses and 7 draws 1/11

Partly due to England commitments and injuries, but Shoaib Bashir did not play a match for Somerset in any format this year

Kent this year finished bottom of the County Championship for the first time since 1995

The 2025 season is Lancashire's first in Division 2 without being promoted Their previous seasons in Division 2 - 2005, 2013, 2015 and 2019 - saw them go straight back up every time

Hampshire's survival yesterday means that Kent remain the only county to lose both white-ball finals and be relegated from County Championship Division 1 in the same season (in 2008)

Yesterday saw Durham's third relegation from Division 1, and their first "normal" relegation since the first season of 2 divisions in 2000 When they were relegated in 2016 they finished 4th but were relegated due to financial issues And who got the reprieve in 2016? Hampshire

Somerset will next year enter their 17th consecutive season in County Championship Division 1, having been promoted from Division 2 in 2007 This is not only the longest current Division 1 stint, it's the longest Division 1 stint there has ever been 1/4

Um...Durham???

Hampshire lose The equation is now very simple If Durham don't lose, Hampshire are down If Durham lose, Durham are down

One last time

Today's County Championship Division 1 live streams Ess v Som: www.youtube.com/live/66nAauL... Ham v Sur: www.youtube.com/live/a5z0NGL... Yor v Dur: www.youtube.com/live/b5KmfLz...

There are worse problems to have, but this isn't the first time Somerset's performance has fallen off a cliff in a dead rubber in the last match of a season Warwickshire at Edgbaston 2021, Kent at Canterbury 2022 and Hampshire at Taunton 2024 were similarly terrible

Somerset doing a brilliant job of snatching a loss from the jaws of a draw

Off for bad light at the Rose Bowl LOL

Kyle Abbott's gone for 3, Hampshire are 141/9 needing 40 more to beat Surrey and confirm survival Brad Wheal joins James Fuller who is their last hope If they lose they are relying on Durham losing Stream: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LhX...

Hampshire 139/8 needing 42 to win James Fuller has hit a few boundaries to revive their hopes Stream: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LhX...

Washington Sundar out, Hampshire 7 down needing 64 more. Huge moment. Stream: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LhX...

Hampshire are six down! They are staring down the barrel...

A very, very interesting finish on the cards at Southampton Hampshire are 98/5 needing 83 more to beat Surrey If Hampshire win, they will survive If Hampshire lose, they will be down if Durham draw Stream: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LhX...

Really good effort from Somerset to bowl Essex out for 438 (a lead of only 5) having been 277/0 Craig Overton's 6/88 are his second-best bowling figures in an away first-class match, after his 6/74 v Warwickshire at Edgbaston in 2015

Today's County Championship Division 1 live streams Ess v Som: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBjn... Ham v Sur: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LhX... Not v War: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zntm... Wor v Sus: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtfK... Yor v Dur: www.youtube.com/watch?v=62jM...

Notts become the first county that's not Essex or Surrey to win a normal 2-division County Championship since Middlesex in 2016

A 3rd first-class century for Lewis Goldsworthy, and a 5th across all formats The perennial question lingers - how does he command a regular spot? Abell and Banton are absent, we might sign an overseas batter next season, and Smeed and T Rew are gunning for spots

Little Lewis G 👏