NEWS: Following the Test series loss to the West Indies, the ECB can confirm that James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes will no longer be selected in Test cricket as the team looks forward to a new era. More to follow.
I've sent an email to Somerset CCC which I hope will end up with the CEO Gordon Hollins regarding their advertisement for an unpaid media intern - see below.
The email address is enquiries
@somersetcountycc
.co.uk if you want to send something similar.
England have only won one Test series in the West Indies since 1968 and we're using this year's series to look at new bowlers rather than picking our best squad. The disrespect.
Shoaib Bashir, a surprise call-up to England's Test squad for India, did not travel with the rest of the team on Sunday from the UAE after a delay in his paperwork
#INDvENG
Somerset are entitled to pick the team that gives them the best chance of winning each match.
Jack Leach is a better bowler than Bashir and has far more experience of county cricket, so it makes sense that he is first choice. Somerset would love to pick both, but...
(1/5)
Shoaib Bashir is one of the great selections .. No first class experience .. No huge amount of wickets in the games he has played .. just a gut feel .. brilliant from the England selectors ..
#INDvEnG
Worth noting that 5 of the 8 Blast quarter-finalists are non-Hundred hosting counties.
Important at a time when some seem to want to cut off the non-Hundred hosting counties into a permanent second tier.
Today was Somerset's last day of weekend County Championship cricket - home or away - this season.
In other formats, Somerset have 1 home T20, 1 away T20, 1 home 50 and 1 away 50 left on weekends this season.
It is 12 June.
Not that it was needed but today provides a reminder that, while all three formats are great, first-class cricket at its best is when cricket is at its best
We did it folks. I don't know whether minimum wage is the going rate for the work on offer but hopefully this will allow people from all backgrounds to apply for the internship. The deadline for applications has been extended until 11th February.
I've sent an email to Somerset CCC which I hope will end up with the CEO Gordon Hollins regarding their advertisement for an unpaid media intern - see below.
The email address is enquiries
@somersetcountycc
.co.uk if you want to send something similar.
15 for Ben Stokes! The County Championship is too difficult for England players! All you CC lovers won't like this but we need to add more teams and bring down the standard!
The gist of this is it's not the counties but it's 18 different teams with private investment
Just seems very silly to me - as a Somerset fan I want to watch Somerset play T20 cricket, not a plastic Taunton-based team with a random collection of players from across the counties
πΊ EXCLUSIVE: The T20 Blast and the Hundred could be disbanded and replaced with one short-form competition under radical proposals due to be discussed between the ECB and county chiefs this autumn
NEWS: The Hundred will this year expand to 100 matches per team, further building upon the "Hundred" branding. To accommodate this, all county cricket has been cancelled. More to follow.
BREAKING: Jack Leach signs 5-year deal with Australia
"This is the only way for me to play in the Ashes," Leach said. "Plus I'll piss off Nathan Lyon by taking his spot so there's that, too."
The idea of a second tier of the Hundred needs to die. It's an incoherent compromise "solution" that will satisfy no one and will be worse than the status quo.
For example, Somerset fans would much rather watch the One-Day Cup with a depleted Somerset team than a random...
1/3
"The non-host countries are trying to be pragmatic. They want to be in the second tier of The Hundred. And though entry into the top flight might be unlikely, it will give them a chance to get in bumper crowds" |
@huwzat
...be picked ahead of Leach in the Test squad.
Unfortunately, Bashir will probably have to leave Somerset, but Somerset have done nothing wrong and should not be forced to pick a team to suit England's wishes.
(5/5)
Kevin Pietersen's opinions, from those on Covid to those on domestic first-class cricket, come from a position of utter privilege that fails to understand the lives of ordinary people and what it is to be a long-time loyal county cricket fan. He is not worth listening to.
Somerset today mathematically confirmed survival in County Championship Division 1. 2024 will be Somerset's 15th consecutive year in Division 1 (excluding the two Covid-affected years), having been promoted in 2007.
No county has ever had a longer spell in Division 1.
(1/3)
Which other counties have let fans onto the outfield so far this season?
It's such an easy way to entice kids to the cricket - it should be done as much as possible (when conditions suit, lunch, tea, even after play if it finishes early)
Eddie Byrom's 18-ball fifty yesterday was the second fastest ever by a t20 debutant.
Bettered only by Imran Nazir's 14-ball fifty for Sialkot Stallions against Lahore Eagles in 2005.
Michael Vaughan is not to be taken seriously, obviously, but remember, when the Hundred started he and others said to county fans that "you'll still have the counties, you'll still have the Championship, you'll still have the Blast". Funny how his view changes - bait and switch.
...unfortunately ECB rules mean spinning pitches are discouraged.
Of course, Somerset did make a real effort to produce regular spinning pitches between 2016 and 2019, but they were punished for it so it's understandable they don't want to risk it again.
(2/5)
Somerset, a backwater, eh? The Somerset who've been in Div 1 longer than anyone, hold the Blast and the most recent full strength One-Day Cup, are extremely well supported, and have produced a number of England players in recent years?
"I think the
@CountyChamp
socials team have played a blinder here!" π
In June 2023, Ben Stokes noticed Shoaib Bashir for the first time after watching a short video clip on Twitter.
Today, he took two wickets on Test debut against India.
π£οΈ
@Yas_Wisden
@Phil_Wisden
#INDvENG
Should County Championship matches generally take 3-4 days to complete? Yes
Would it be bad if all County Championship matches finished in 2 days? Yes
Was this match more compelling than most of the cricket in the County Championship so far this season? Massive yes
The Blast isn't going anywhere anytime soon because the counties wouldn't vote it out of existence but it's a shame that someone as influential as Joe Root seems happy for it to be scrapped when it is so vital to the survival of the smaller counties
Shan Masood, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Peter Handscomb, Shaheen Afridi, James Pattinson, Travis Head, Mohammad Rizwan and Matthew Wade will all be playing in County Championship Division 2 next season
Somerset continue their run of finishing 2nd or 6th in the County Championship or Bob Willis Trophy every year from 2012 onwards:
2012: 2nd
2013: 6th
2014: 6th
2015: 6th
2016: 2nd
2017: 6th
2018: 2nd
2019: 2nd
2020: 2nd
2021: 6th
NEWS: The ECB can confirm that a squad of non-Hundred contracted players, led by James Hildreth, will take on India in this summer's Test series to allow England's top players, including Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer, to play in the Hundred. More to follow.
Shame that Surrey v Somerset at the Oval in the Blast seems to have moved from a Sunday mid-afternoon start to 6pm
Last train to Taunton is 9:03pm
Might be due to Sky but Sunday Blast games should always be afternoon starts to give people from further away a chance to attend
Why is Kevin Pietersen - who calls current professionals "riff raff", who patronises cricket fans on Twitter, and who is, worst of all, a transphobe - being employed by Sky Sports?
It's mad that in an age of sport driven by data and marginal gains that players don't have it drilled into them to just run until they are run out on the last ball of a limited-overs innings
This is a common theme - Sky/ECB are not doing everything they can to support the Blast
Mid v Som is tonight's only Blast game, and will have no competition from any T20 WC matches except the end of Pak v Canada
It's a really obvious opportunity to engage people in the Blast
@DanKingdom96
@SkyCricket
@SkySports
I'm a middlesex fan away from London atm and didn't even know the game was on sky tonight, despite following all the sky sports and sky cricket pages.
Lewis Gregory is from Plymouth and benefits from a domestic structure that effectively covers the whole country. If you create a tournament with less teams that undermines and potentially kills county cricket, you risk ending supply lines of players from those sorts of areas.
Lol, absolutely unbelievable
Why did Durham and Somerset get points deductions for future seasons whereas Yorkshire got it for the season in progress, with one of the deductions not even materially affecting them?
Yorkshire deducted 48 points in the Championship for 2023.
Also deducted 4 points in the T20 for 2023. Been interesting if they'd topped the North Group and won the competition. Would points still have been deducted for this year?
Illogical.
I largely stay out of Hundred discourse because life's too short but just quickly: "the format's actually alright, the cricket's good and there are close games sometimes" doesn't remotely address the genuine issues created by the Hundred: the alienation of fans, particularly...
When he has the opportunity, Tom Abell has always enforced the follow-on, and every instance of enforcing has resulted in a Somerset win:
Lancs at Taunton 2017
Notts at Taunton 2018
Notts at Trent Bridge 2018
Warks at Taunton 2022
Gloucs at Bristol 2022
Middx at Lordβs 2023
Seen it said that this year's men's Ashes having 5 Tests in 7 weeks is unusual, but this has been the case for every men's Ashes in England since 2009
Days from day 1 of the first Test to day 5 of the last:
2009: 48 days
2013: 47 days
2015: 48 days
2019: 47 days
2023: 46 days
This is absolutely mad. Delighted for Bashir obviously and he did bowl well in India but is he really better than Leach and, for that matter, every other spinner in the country?!
(1/4)
BREAKING: Shoaib Bashir named in England squad for the first two Test matches of the three-match Test series against West Indies
#WeAreSomerset
#ENGvWI
Middlesex v Somerset in the Blast tomorrow is being shown on
@SkyCricket
, but you wouldn't know it from the "Watch Live Cricket" page on the
@SkySports
website
Lewis Gregory becomes the second Somerset player to win the match award for England in a men's ODI at Lord's
Marcus Trescothick did it twice, both coincidentally also against Pakistan (in 2001 and 2003)
So despite Morgan saying everyone would get a chance, Banton hasn't played at all during either of the summer's white ball international series
Unless Banton knew Morgan was bluffing, Banton must be fuming
NEWS: The ECB can confirm that due to the impact of COVID-19, this year's County Championship will be decided by a competition on Brian Lara International Cricket 2005. More to follow.
Tom Abell's last four t20 innings (most recent last):
41 (23)
45 (25)
57 (36)
63 (33)
Not bad for someone who people said couldn't play t20 cricket not long ago!
Somerset aren't going to pick two spinners for the sake of it because it would often be waste a valuable spot in the XI.
Somerset signed Bashir to be a backup to Leach, to give them an offspin option and to allow them to play two spinners when necessary. It's not...
(3/5)
Unfortunately this isn't good enough.
No doubt it's a great opportunity but by not paying a wage to their media intern, Somerset are pricing out those who cannot afford to work for free.
@collinsadam
@SubtleKnife00
Hi all. In line with the latest regulations, we do offer reasonable expenses for the role. We feel strongly in the value we can offer individuals, and last year was a huge success.
I didn't think it was possible but the ECB really have managed to increase the number of Blast matches played on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays significantly
121 out of 126 group games will be on these days, with the remaining five on Tuesdays or Wednesdays
1/5
Alex Hales has agreed a deal to play in the Lanka Premier League for July 2024.
He will play eight North Group Vitality Blast games before traveling to Sri Lanka, and will be available for the knockout stages if required.
More π
@MichaelVaughan
Stop trying to divide cricket fans.
There are many legitimate objections to the Hundred - alienation of fans who don't love in the 7 cities, depletion of the Royal London Cup, threat to the future of county cricket etc.
Listen to them, don't dismiss them.
That Agnew article - thread.
The "counties are selfish" argument. Trying to turn the reader against them. Sure, their and England's goals don't always align. But their existence ensures a wide spread of opportunities for players & fans. The principle of their existence is sound.
Kevin Pietersen is reactionary, elitist, attention-seeking, and stupid, but thinks he is none of these things. It's a toxic combination. Understand this and you understand him.
Is it only in cricket where it gets suggested that certain teams should no longer exist after something bad happens? Do football fans advocate getting rid of Barnsley after England go out of a major tournament in the group stage?
What is the issue isnβt that there are not enough first class games βat the height of summerβ but the issue is that the talent English cricket does have is spread too thin with 18 counties?
What then?
80/5 β‘οΈ 500 all out
James Rew 221
Kasey Aldridge 88
Dom Bess 54
Shoaib Bashir 44*
188 for the 6th wicket (Rew and Aldridge)
94 for the 7th wicket (Rew and Bess)
108 for the 10th wicket (Rew and Bashir)
Will there ever be a regular day of Somerset County Cricket Club?
CLOSE: What a day for Somerset! Hampshire reply 58/2 to 500 all out. James Rew the star of the show with 221 from 310 balls ππππ
#SOMvHAM
#WeAreSomerset
Lewis Gregory and Ben Green take a fucking bow
When we lost our fifth wicket never in my wildest dreams did I think we wouldn't lose another chasing it down
Yo
@ECB_cricket
you need to make an official Twitter account for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy like you've got for the men's county competitions and The Hundred, it starts on Saturday
Highest 3rd wicket partnerships for Somerset in T20 cricket
165 by Smeed & Abell v Surrey at Taunton, today
153* by Rossouw & Abell v Essex at Chelmsford, 2022
127* by Trescothick & Hildreth v Essex at Chelmsford, 2011
121* by Rossouw & Abell v Kent at Canterbury, 2022
Across both ECB accounts, this is the only official tweet promoting the
#RHFTrophy
yesterday.
It's late, uninformative, not particularly inspiring, on mobile the link takes you to one scorecard (there were three games) and the picture is of a team that didn't play yesterday.
With the number of points for a draw in the County Championship going back up to 8 again next season for some reason, can I just make something clear, because I've seen it implied too many times this year:
5 POINTS FOR A DRAW WAS NOT A BAZBALL INNOVATION
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Thread.
Somerset Women have now had all three of their T20 group stage double-headers and their pre-season double-header called off due to the weather.
Their remaining fixtures this season consist of the group finals day on Sunday and four 50 over matches.