11-09-2017, 17:00
Somerset v Lancashire @ Taunton 12/9/2017 to 16/9/2017
As we head towards the end of the season Lancs head to Cider country still in the hunt for the title altough the weather again will play a part in this one as we seem to have all four seasons in one day at the moment.
Somerset have improved as the season has gone on having hammered hapless Warwickshire last week with the ageless Trescothick hitting a century.
Cricket on Sky Warwickshire v Essex being shown live, no doubt Hussain will be exceedingly happy if his county wins the title but can he get through four days without mentioning twenny twenny.
Finally it's almost six years to the day since we clinched the title at Taunton.
Lancashire remain in the hunt for the Specsavers County Championship title with three matches left to play, starting against Somerset at Taunton tomorrow.
The second-placed Red Rose travel to face the relegation-threatened Cidermen knowing they have very little wriggle room.
They are 36 points behind leaders Essex having been unable to make any ground on them during last week’s rain ruined draw at Emirates Old Trafford.
Somerset beat bottom side Warwickshire at Edgbaston to breathe life into their battle to beat the drop.
Lancashire will be without Jos Buttler against his former county because of England limited overs duty against the West Indies this weekend.
In-form Alex Davies will therefore regain the wicketkeeping gloves having been rested from the role in the clash with Essex.
This match is played over exactly the same dates, September 12-15, as the 2011 clash between these two sides at Taunton. And we all know what happened that year!
Fingers crossed for another title this season, even if it is a long shot.
The two sides have met on 154 occasions in this competition. Somerset have won 25, Lancashire 77 whilst 52 have been drawn.
When the two sides met at Old Trafford earlier this year it was the hosts who won by 164 runs.
After Somerset elected to bowl first Lancashire scored 109 all out of which Liam Livingstone contributed 68, while the pick of the bowlers was Craig Overton who claimed five for 47.
The visitors responded with 278 all out of which Dean Elgar made 113.
Batting for a second time the home side hit 463 all out with Livingstone making 168. Lewis Gregory was the pick of the bowlers with five for 74 from his 32 overs.
Chasing 294 for victory Somerset were bowled out for 130, James Hildreth making 43 and Marcus Trescothick 36.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset are without Jamie Overton and Lewis Gregory for the rest of the season and Director of Cricket Matt Maynard will pick a starting XI from the following squad: Tom Abell ©, Marcus Trescothick, Eddie Byrom, George Bartlett, James Hildreth, Steve Davies (wk), Peter Trego, Craig Overton, Dom Bess, Jack Leach, Tim Groenewald, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Looking ahead to the match Somerset captain Tom Abell said: “Cricket is a huge confidence game and I think that the way we played last week will have done us the world of good, especially our batting. Having time at the crease and creating the partnerships in the way that we did was great to see.
“Lancashire are a quality side like everyone else in this division, so they will be a real challenge for us. However I think that last week will have set us up nicely going in to a massive few games.”
“It’s been a difficult season and as captain I’ve been desperate to contribute. I’ve been feeling pretty good and hitting the ball a lot better lately, so it was good to be able to contribute and the feeling of getting a win at Edgbaston was something very special.
“That was comfortably the best day of the season so far because there is nothing like winning four-day games, so we will be hoping for more of the same against Lancashire.”
Tom added: “The guys have been working really hard and are desperate to put things right so they will be giving it their all.”
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
As we head towards the end of the season Lancs head to Cider country still in the hunt for the title altough the weather again will play a part in this one as we seem to have all four seasons in one day at the moment.
Somerset have improved as the season has gone on having hammered hapless Warwickshire last week with the ageless Trescothick hitting a century.
Cricket on Sky Warwickshire v Essex being shown live, no doubt Hussain will be exceedingly happy if his county wins the title but can he get through four days without mentioning twenny twenny.
Finally it's almost six years to the day since we clinched the title at Taunton.
Lancashire remain in the hunt for the Specsavers County Championship title with three matches left to play, starting against Somerset at Taunton tomorrow.
The second-placed Red Rose travel to face the relegation-threatened Cidermen knowing they have very little wriggle room.
They are 36 points behind leaders Essex having been unable to make any ground on them during last week’s rain ruined draw at Emirates Old Trafford.
Somerset beat bottom side Warwickshire at Edgbaston to breathe life into their battle to beat the drop.
Lancashire will be without Jos Buttler against his former county because of England limited overs duty against the West Indies this weekend.
In-form Alex Davies will therefore regain the wicketkeeping gloves having been rested from the role in the clash with Essex.
This match is played over exactly the same dates, September 12-15, as the 2011 clash between these two sides at Taunton. And we all know what happened that year!
Fingers crossed for another title this season, even if it is a long shot.
The two sides have met on 154 occasions in this competition. Somerset have won 25, Lancashire 77 whilst 52 have been drawn.
When the two sides met at Old Trafford earlier this year it was the hosts who won by 164 runs.
After Somerset elected to bowl first Lancashire scored 109 all out of which Liam Livingstone contributed 68, while the pick of the bowlers was Craig Overton who claimed five for 47.
The visitors responded with 278 all out of which Dean Elgar made 113.
Batting for a second time the home side hit 463 all out with Livingstone making 168. Lewis Gregory was the pick of the bowlers with five for 74 from his 32 overs.
Chasing 294 for victory Somerset were bowled out for 130, James Hildreth making 43 and Marcus Trescothick 36.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset are without Jamie Overton and Lewis Gregory for the rest of the season and Director of Cricket Matt Maynard will pick a starting XI from the following squad: Tom Abell ©, Marcus Trescothick, Eddie Byrom, George Bartlett, James Hildreth, Steve Davies (wk), Peter Trego, Craig Overton, Dom Bess, Jack Leach, Tim Groenewald, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Looking ahead to the match Somerset captain Tom Abell said: “Cricket is a huge confidence game and I think that the way we played last week will have done us the world of good, especially our batting. Having time at the crease and creating the partnerships in the way that we did was great to see.
“Lancashire are a quality side like everyone else in this division, so they will be a real challenge for us. However I think that last week will have set us up nicely going in to a massive few games.”
“It’s been a difficult season and as captain I’ve been desperate to contribute. I’ve been feeling pretty good and hitting the ball a lot better lately, so it was good to be able to contribute and the feeling of getting a win at Edgbaston was something very special.
“That was comfortably the best day of the season so far because there is nothing like winning four-day games, so we will be hoping for more of the same against Lancashire.”
Tom added: “The guys have been working really hard and are desperate to put things right so they will be giving it their all.”
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
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People got to shout to stay alive
People got to shout to stay alive