Weather-beaten
September 23-26 County Championship Division 1 Somerset v Essex
Somerset 203 and innings forfeited; Essex 141 and 45/1 Match drawn
Last morning of the season
Day 4
It is the last day of the season, and my familiar autumn melancholia seems to be wearing an extra sheen of sadness as I make my way to the County Ground. For try as I may to embrace Andy Hurry's, and Claire's, spirit of optimism, I really cannot see how Somerset are going to take the 20 wickets they need in the time available, especially as the roads are wet from overnight rain and we may not even start on time.
However, the news is better than expected as I arrive. Play is due to start, on time, at 10.30, provided, of course, there is no more rain. Yet such is the curse of the weather gods on Somerset that, even as I am still digesting this encouraging news, a dirty great big cloud drifts across the ground and unburdens itself of its contents. The shower lasts no more than ten minutes, but so saturated is the outfield that a further wretched delay is inevitable. The umpires trudge out to the middle, for yet more prodding, poking and foot-stamping. Further inspection at 11.30 is their verdict. That does seem unduly cautious, but who am I to judge. As per usual, no further explanation is offered to the spectators.
Same old story
We eventually get under way at noon. After an initial over from Roelof van der Merwe, Jack Leach comes on from his less favoured Somerset Pavilion End, presumably so that Dom Bess can bowl from the River End into the rough created by Sam Cook outside the two left-handers' off-stump, and to his very first ball, Sir Alastair gets a leading edge which drops only inches short of Tom Abell at short mid-wicket. Two balls later, Cook plays back, is beaten by the turn and hit on the knee-roll, seemingly in front of all three. Our commentary position is bang in line and that is surely out. But no. For reasons known only to himself (height?), Alex Wharf keeps his hands by his side. Even BBC Essex's Paul Newton is surprised. We learn subsequently that Hawkeye has the ball pitching in line and on course to hit off stump smack on. With the benefit of hindsight - given that Essex lose their last eight wickets for 39 when Cook does eventually get out, for 53 - it is a pivotal moment.
No sooner has the reprieve been granted than a shower drives the players back to the pavilion. The break is only a short one, but that's another two overs gone from the day's revised ration of 72. Everything seems to be going against Somerset in this game. The clouds are gathering once again from the West when a wicket does eventually fall, James Hildreth trapping a bat-pad catch between his knees at silly point to see the back of Browne, but there's barely time for Tom Westley to reach the middle before another shower dictates an early lunch.
The first hour and a half of the afternoon session brings nothing but more frustration. Tom Abell posts six, sometimes seven close catchers, surrounding the batsman like vultures around a dying wildebeest, but the nicks don't come, Cook using all his experience to keep the spinners at bay, Westley offering stout support. When the 100 comes up, for the loss of just that one wicket, I'm working out the commentary schedule on the basis that a halt will be called at the earliest opportunity, which is 4.20. But by now, Leach is operating from the River End and he it is who makes the breakthrough - Cook at last nicking one onto his pad to be caught by Banton at short-leg. Dan Lawrence survives one ball, and then is well caught low down by Craig Overton at the shortest of short gullies. That's 102/3 and new life has been breathed into a game that seemed to be quietly expiring.
Roelof wreaking havoc
After tea there is a clatter of wickets, as Leach and van der Merwe wreak the sort of havoc we had been hoping for from the start.. "This is getting exciting", I tweet. When the last wicket falls at 4.10, Somerset forfeit their second innings and leave Essex 63 to win. "I doubt if any team in first class cricket history has ever declared and left the opposition just 63 to win" suggests Dan Norcross, who has forsaken the chill of the open terrace from which the TMS team have been broadcasting their account of proceedings for the warmth of our box (and no, I don't understand why the BBC needs two teams of commentators at the game, either). But Tom Abell had no option. Somerset have to take ten more wickets and to have batted again would have put the task completely out of their bowlers' reach.
As it is, it's the longest of long shots. The only thing that might just possibly spark an early collapse would be the wicket of Cook in the first couple of overs. But there's no sign of that. He and Browne go calmly about their business, playing late and with soft hands, and the overs gradually slip away. Even the wicket of Browne only brings Westley to the crease, and by now, for all the desperate effort that Leach and Bess are bringing to their bowling, their spinning fingers are getting tired. There is no collapse, nor really any sign of one. Sir Alastair's skill and experience have carried the day and at 5.20, Abell offers the draw, the batsmen punch the air in celebration and wave their bats jubilantly in the direction of an ecstatic Essex dressing room.
There is no County Championship for Somerset at the 119th time of asking. The words I'd been planning to use in that eventuality will have to wait for at least another year. Essex are worthy champions, having lost only one game to Somerset's three, but I can't help wondering what the outcome might have been had so much time in this game not been lost to the weather.
At the presentations, Tom Abell manfully steps up to be interviewed by Charlie Dagnall, but he's too emotional to say anything more. Instead, it is left to Jason Kerr to bemoan the weather and say how proud he is of his team and their fighting spirit, and quite right too. This isn't the time for post mortems and what might have beens. This Somerset team has done the county proud, challenging all the way in the Championship and winning our first trophy for 14 years. Those nine Championship wins, and that great day at Lord's will be remembered by the Somerset faithful long after the disappointment of finishing runners-up again has faded.
It seems appropriate to conclude with two farewells. A well-deserved tribute is paid to Head Groundsman Simon Lee during the tea interval. He has been with the club since he left college some 20 years ago, was appointed Head Groundsman by Brian Rose in 2010 and has done a superb job in producing result pitches for Chamnpionship matches, and belters for the white ball game, in both cases perfectly judged to produce the sort of cricket that spectators want to see. He's off to the Ageas Bowl, a test ground, so a big step up, and goes with the thanks and best wishes of all connected with Somerset CCC.
And there is something to temper the disappointment of being runners-up again. At ten past five, with hopes of victory gone, who should jog out from the pavilion but the familiar figure of Marcus Trescothick. How delighted we all are that Jason Kerr has allowed the Taunton crowd one final chance to say farewell to one of the finest and most popular cricketers ever to wear a Somerset cap. As ever, he takes his place in the slips, and oh so nearly completes his Somerset career with his 446th catch when Browne gets an edge to Bess, but it is Vijay who takes the catch. In a splendid gesture, typical of the sporting spirit in which this game has been played, the Essex players form a guard of honour as Trescothick leaves the field for the final time. Farewell Banger - only as a player, of course - and thanks for everything.
It has been a memorable season, for sure, but I feel rather sad and empty as I drive home to retire my ECB pass.
Somerset 203 and innings forfeited; Essex 141 and 45/1 Match drawn
Day 4
It is the last day of the season, and my familiar autumn melancholia seems to be wearing an extra sheen of sadness as I make my way to the County Ground. For try as I may to embrace Andy Hurry's, and Claire's, spirit of optimism, I really cannot see how Somerset are going to take the 20 wickets they need in the time available, especially as the roads are wet from overnight rain and we may not even start on time.
However, the news is better than expected as I arrive. Play is due to start, on time, at 10.30, provided, of course, there is no more rain. Yet such is the curse of the weather gods on Somerset that, even as I am still digesting this encouraging news, a dirty great big cloud drifts across the ground and unburdens itself of its contents. The shower lasts no more than ten minutes, but so saturated is the outfield that a further wretched delay is inevitable. The umpires trudge out to the middle, for yet more prodding, poking and foot-stamping. Further inspection at 11.30 is their verdict. That does seem unduly cautious, but who am I to judge. As per usual, no further explanation is offered to the spectators.
We eventually get under way at noon. After an initial over from Roelof van der Merwe, Jack Leach comes on from his less favoured Somerset Pavilion End, presumably so that Dom Bess can bowl from the River End into the rough created by Sam Cook outside the two left-handers' off-stump, and to his very first ball, Sir Alastair gets a leading edge which drops only inches short of Tom Abell at short mid-wicket. Two balls later, Cook plays back, is beaten by the turn and hit on the knee-roll, seemingly in front of all three. Our commentary position is bang in line and that is surely out. But no. For reasons known only to himself (height?), Alex Wharf keeps his hands by his side. Even BBC Essex's Paul Newton is surprised. We learn subsequently that Hawkeye has the ball pitching in line and on course to hit off stump smack on. With the benefit of hindsight - given that Essex lose their last eight wickets for 39 when Cook does eventually get out, for 53 - it is a pivotal moment.
No sooner has the reprieve been granted than a shower drives the players back to the pavilion. The break is only a short one, but that's another two overs gone from the day's revised ration of 72. Everything seems to be going against Somerset in this game. The clouds are gathering once again from the West when a wicket does eventually fall, James Hildreth trapping a bat-pad catch between his knees at silly point to see the back of Browne, but there's barely time for Tom Westley to reach the middle before another shower dictates an early lunch.
The first hour and a half of the afternoon session brings nothing but more frustration. Tom Abell posts six, sometimes seven close catchers, surrounding the batsman like vultures around a dying wildebeest, but the nicks don't come, Cook using all his experience to keep the spinners at bay, Westley offering stout support. When the 100 comes up, for the loss of just that one wicket, I'm working out the commentary schedule on the basis that a halt will be called at the earliest opportunity, which is 4.20. But by now, Leach is operating from the River End and he it is who makes the breakthrough - Cook at last nicking one onto his pad to be caught by Banton at short-leg. Dan Lawrence survives one ball, and then is well caught low down by Craig Overton at the shortest of short gullies. That's 102/3 and new life has been breathed into a game that seemed to be quietly expiring.
After tea there is a clatter of wickets, as Leach and van der Merwe wreak the sort of havoc we had been hoping for from the start.. "This is getting exciting", I tweet. When the last wicket falls at 4.10, Somerset forfeit their second innings and leave Essex 63 to win. "I doubt if any team in first class cricket history has ever declared and left the opposition just 63 to win" suggests Dan Norcross, who has forsaken the chill of the open terrace from which the TMS team have been broadcasting their account of proceedings for the warmth of our box (and no, I don't understand why the BBC needs two teams of commentators at the game, either). But Tom Abell had no option. Somerset have to take ten more wickets and to have batted again would have put the task completely out of their bowlers' reach.
As it is, it's the longest of long shots. The only thing that might just possibly spark an early collapse would be the wicket of Cook in the first couple of overs. But there's no sign of that. He and Browne go calmly about their business, playing late and with soft hands, and the overs gradually slip away. Even the wicket of Browne only brings Westley to the crease, and by now, for all the desperate effort that Leach and Bess are bringing to their bowling, their spinning fingers are getting tired. There is no collapse, nor really any sign of one. Sir Alastair's skill and experience have carried the day and at 5.20, Abell offers the draw, the batsmen punch the air in celebration and wave their bats jubilantly in the direction of an ecstatic Essex dressing room.
There is no County Championship for Somerset at the 119th time of asking. The words I'd been planning to use in that eventuality will have to wait for at least another year. Essex are worthy champions, having lost only one game to Somerset's three, but I can't help wondering what the outcome might have been had so much time in this game not been lost to the weather.
At the presentations, Tom Abell manfully steps up to be interviewed by Charlie Dagnall, but he's too emotional to say anything more. Instead, it is left to Jason Kerr to bemoan the weather and say how proud he is of his team and their fighting spirit, and quite right too. This isn't the time for post mortems and what might have beens. This Somerset team has done the county proud, challenging all the way in the Championship and winning our first trophy for 14 years. Those nine Championship wins, and that great day at Lord's will be remembered by the Somerset faithful long after the disappointment of finishing runners-up again has faded.
It seems appropriate to conclude with two farewells. A well-deserved tribute is paid to Head Groundsman Simon Lee during the tea interval. He has been with the club since he left college some 20 years ago, was appointed Head Groundsman by Brian Rose in 2010 and has done a superb job in producing result pitches for Chamnpionship matches, and belters for the white ball game, in both cases perfectly judged to produce the sort of cricket that spectators want to see. He's off to the Ageas Bowl, a test ground, so a big step up, and goes with the thanks and best wishes of all connected with Somerset CCC.
And there is something to temper the disappointment of being runners-up again. At ten past five, with hopes of victory gone, who should jog out from the pavilion but the familiar figure of Marcus Trescothick. How delighted we all are that Jason Kerr has allowed the Taunton crowd one final chance to say farewell to one of the finest and most popular cricketers ever to wear a Somerset cap. As ever, he takes his place in the slips, and oh so nearly completes his Somerset career with his 446th catch when Browne gets an edge to Bess, but it is Vijay who takes the catch. In a splendid gesture, typical of the sporting spirit in which this game has been played, the Essex players form a guard of honour as Trescothick leaves the field for the final time. Farewell Banger - only as a player, of course - and thanks for everything.
It has been a memorable season, for sure, but I feel rather sad and empty as I drive home to retire my ECB pass.
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