COLUMN: Somerset are 'best equipped' side in white ball cricket
Despite Sundays first defeat of the season in the T20 Blast against Kent, I believe it's generally accepted that Somerset are the best equipped side and have been for the last 5 or 6 years in the shorter of the two white ball competitions, writes Merv Colenutt.
Somerset were probably not quite at their best in the victory on Friday over Middlesex, but the old and probably the best saying in the game, catches win matches certainly proved to be the case in the defeat of Middlesex, where poor old Leus Du Plooy dropped two straight forward catches on the mid wicket boundary and was out to a first ball duck.
Advertisement
Somerset on the other hand, proved once again they are the best fielding outfit in the competition with Craig Overton once again pulling off an absolute diving stunner and the speed and aggression from the Somerset fielders in the opening power play of any game, so often sees the opposition score just one run, when other sides give away two runs.
Selection is always going to be of the main importance in any game and despite some grumblings among a small section, Lewis Goldsworthy did Somerset and himself proud by picking up 4 wickets in the defeat of Gloucestershire, this after bowling one over in each of the previous games.
Goldsworthy was the pick of the bowlers in that game and although not picking up a wicket against Kent on Sunday, he once again proved his worth by being the most economical.
Tom Banton batted superbly against Kent, yet once again there were a few rumblings before the game on whether the England man should bat at 6 and move Sean Dickson up to open.
Advertisement
The game however revolved around a quite brilliant match winning century from Kent's Daniel Bell-Drummond a former prodigy of Gerry Wilson, cricket coach at Millfield School, who always held Bell-Drummond in high regard and on this rare occasion, made both Matt Henry and Riley Merridith look fairly ordinary, he batted that well.
One player who must be feeling a little unlucky at present in the eyes of both leading horse trainer Michael Blake and former player Martyn Wright, has to be Tom Lammonby who has to look on from the sidelines and i also believe Jack Leach, when the wicket is turning can still be a match winner, but this is all about the strength in depth Somerset have that no other county side can boast of.
One final thought on England selection, if Craig Overton was playing for Surrey and Jamie for Somerset, would Craig get the nod over his twin brother when it comes to playing for his country, as i said, just a thought.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Fox Sports
Yankees' Marcus Stroman: Knee Pain Stems From Torn ACL From 2015
Marcus Stroman feels ready to return to the mound for the New York Yankees, able to manage pain in his left knee stemming from a torn ACL a decade ago. "It's something that I try not to put in my head because if you're just thinking about that 24/7, you're not in a good place," the 34-year-old right-hander said Saturday, a day before he faces the Athletics. Stroman has not pitched for the Yankees since allowing five runs in two-thirds of an inning against San Francisco on April 11. In three rehab appearances with Double-A Somerset that began June 11, Stroman was 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA. He allowed five runs, 10 hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday against Detroit's Erie Seawolves. "I'm someone who definitely needs kind of the intensity to turn it on, so looking forward to kind of getting back out there," Stroman said. Stroman tore his ACL during a spring training fielding drill with Toronto on March 10, 2015, had surgery nine days later and returned to a big league mound that Sept. 19 when he beat the Yankees in a five-inning outing in the Bronx. He credited Nikki Huffman, his personal trainer and Toronto's head athletic trainer from 2018-19, with helping him manage the pain. "It's my ACL knee that I tore 10 years ago, so just figuring out how to deal with the soreness, the aching and then mechanically figuring out how to get away from kind of overdoing it into my knee." Stroman said. "When I'm more efficient mechanically, my knee's taking less stress." Stroman started the season 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in three starts. He rejoins a rotation missing ace Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery), AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil (strained right lat) and left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (strained right oblique). "He's got to command it. That's the biggest thing, is being where he wants on the plate and having a presence on both sides of the plate — can't just live one side," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "What is kind of the shapes of his pitches? Are is he crisp?" Stroman was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 29 starts and one relief appearance over 154 2/3 innings last season, his most since 2021 with the Mets. Stroman struggled in the second half and did not pitch in the postseason, when the Yankees made their first World Series appearance since 2009. Boone discounted the last minor league outing. "It was a smoking hot day in Somerset for a veteran guy that's pitching in Somerset for his third one," Boone said. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Ready to return to Yankees, Marcus Stroman says knee pain stems from torn ACL a decade ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Marcus Stroman feels ready to return to the mound for the New York Yankees, able to manage pain in his left knee stemming from a torn ACL a decade ago. 'It's something that I try not to put in my head because if you're just thinking about that 24/7, you're not in a good place," the 34-year-old right-hander said Saturday, a day before he faces the Athletics. Stroman has not pitched for the Yankees since allowing five runs in two-thirds of an inning against San Francisco on April 11. In three rehab appearances with Double-A Somerset that began June 11, Stroman was 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA. He allowed five runs, 10 hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday against Detroit's Erie Seawolves. "I'm someone who definitely needs kind of the intensity to turn it on, so looking forward to kind of getting back out there," Stroman said. Stroman tore his ACL during a spring training fielding drill with Toronto on March 10, 2015, had surgery nine days later and returned to a big league mound that Sept. 19 when he beat the Yankees in a five-inning outing in the Bronx. He credited Nikki Huffman, his personal trainer and Toronto's head athletic trainer from 2018-19, with helping him manage the pain. 'It's my ACL knee that I tore 10 years ago, so just figuring out how to deal with the soreness, the aching and then mechanically figuring out how to get away from kind of overdoing it into my knee." Stroman said. "When I'm more efficient mechanically, my knee's taking less stress.' Stroman started the season 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in three starts. He rejoins a rotation missing ace Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery), AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil (strained right lat) and left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (strained right oblique). 'He's got to command it. That's the biggest thing, is being where he wants on the plate and having a presence on both sides of the plate — can't just live one side,' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. 'What is kind of the shapes of his pitches? Are is he crisp?' Stroman was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 29 starts and one relief appearance over 154 2/3 innings last season, his most since 2021 with the Mets. Stroman struggled in the second half and did not pitch in the postseason, when the Yankees made their first World Series appearance since 2009. Boone discounted the last minor league outing. 'It was a smoking hot day in Somerset for a veteran guy that's pitching in Somerset for his third one,' Boone said. Spencer Jones homers in first Triple-A at-bat In his first game following his promotion, Spencer Jones homered in his first at-bat for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. A 6-foot-7, 24-year outfielder, Jones hit a solo homer in the first inning Friday night off Worcester's Tyler Uberstine, driving a full-count, low-and-insider sinker 397 feet to center. The drive was 109.9 mph off his bat. Jones was 1 for 5 with two strikeouts in the RailRiders' 4-2 win. He hit .270 with 16 homers, 32 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and a .984 OPS for Double-A Somerset, striking out 70 times in 175 at-bats. 'Obviously, the ceiling is real, just the speed and power and athleticism is real,' Boone said. "It's just about plugging some holes, continue to tighten up as a big guy, which could be challenging, but if you master it, it can be pretty awesome. So, he's moving the needle." ___
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Fox Sports
Ready to return to Yankees, Marcus Stroman says knee pain stems from torn ACL a decade ago
Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Marcus Stroman feels ready to return to the mound for the New York Yankees, able to manage pain in his left knee stemming from a torn ACL a decade ago. 'It's something that I try not to put in my head because if you're just thinking about that 24/7, you're not in a good place," the 34-year-old right-hander said Saturday, a day before he faces the Athletics. Stroman has not pitched for the Yankees since allowing five runs in two-thirds of an inning against San Francisco on April 11. In three rehab appearances with Double-A Somerset that began June 11, Stroman was 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA. He allowed five runs, 10 hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday against Detroit's Erie Seawolves. "I'm someone who definitely needs kind of the intensity to turn it on, so looking forward to kind of getting back out there," Stroman said. Stroman tore his ACL during a spring training fielding drill with Toronto on March 10, 2015, had surgery nine days later and returned to a big league mound that Sept. 19 when he beat the Yankees in a five-inning outing in the Bronx. He credited Nikki Huffman, his personal trainer and Toronto's head athletic trainer from 2018-19, with helping him manage the pain. 'It's my ACL knee that I tore 10 years ago, so just figuring out how to deal with the soreness, the aching and then mechanically figuring out how to get away from kind of overdoing it into my knee." Stroman said. "When I'm more efficient mechanically, my knee's taking less stress.' Stroman started the season 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in three starts. He rejoins a rotation missing ace Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery), AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil (strained right lat) and left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (strained right oblique). 'He's got to command it. That's the biggest thing, is being where he wants on the plate and having a presence on both sides of the plate — can't just live one side,' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. 'What is kind of the shapes of his pitches? Are is he crisp?' Stroman was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 29 starts and one relief appearance over 154 2/3 innings last season, his most since 2021 with the Mets. Stroman struggled in the second half and did not pitch in the postseason, when the Yankees made their first World Series appearance since 2009. Boone discounted the last minor league outing. 'It was a smoking hot day in Somerset for a veteran guy that's pitching in Somerset for his third one,' Boone said. Spencer Jones homers in first Triple-A at-bat In his first game following his promotion, Spencer Jones homered in his first at-bat for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. A 6-foot-7, 24-year outfielder, Jones hit a solo homer in the first inning Friday night off Worcester's Tyler Uberstine, driving a full-count, low-and-insider sinker 397 feet to center. The drive was 109.9 mph off his bat. Jones was 1 for 5 with two strikeouts in the RailRiders' 4-2 win. He hit .270 with 16 homers, 32 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and a .984 OPS for Double-A Somerset, striking out 70 times in 175 at-bats. 'Obviously, the ceiling is real, just the speed and power and athleticism is real,' Boone said. "It's just about plugging some holes, continue to tighten up as a big guy, which could be challenging, but if you master it, it can be pretty awesome. So, he's moving the needle." ___ AP MLB: recommended
