Cricket legend Ian Botham has strongly criticized the pitch at Somerset’s Taunton ground after a County Championship match against Durham ended in just two days with 35 wickets falling.
A Match Cut Short
The County Championship fixture between Somerset and Durham at the Cooper Associates Ground wrapped up incredibly fast, lasting only five sessions. In total, a staggering 35 wickets tumbled, with spinners claiming 22 of them, highlighting the extreme conditions.
Somerset emerged victorious, beating Durham by five wickets within two days. This swift conclusion raised many eyebrows and sparked a heated debate about the nature of the playing surface.
Botham’s Fiery Criticism
Ian Botham, an honorary president for Durham and a former Somerset player himself, didn’t hold back. He slammed his old club for preparing an “appalling” pitch, arguing it reduced the game to a “farce.”
Taking to social media, Botham shared images of the Taunton pitch, expressing his disbelief. He questioned the club’s decision, especially “at a time when county cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for international players.”
He emphatically stated, “These are not first-class cricket conditions in mid-summer.” Botham believes such pitches undermine the integrity and developmental purpose of county cricket.
The Game’s Rapid Progress
Somerset, after winning the toss, quickly bowled out Durham for just 145 runs in the first innings, with seamer Craig Overton grabbing an impressive 6 for 23. Somerset then posted 250 in reply, thanks to Tom Lammonby’s match-high 89.
In Durham’s second innings, spinners Jack Leach (6-63) and Archie Vaughan (4-85) were the destroyers, ensuring a swift collapse. Somerset then chased down their 86-run target in less than 20 overs to seal the win.
Impact on International Selection
Botham went further, suggesting that such pitch conditions force England’s Test captain Ben Stokes and ECB managing director Rob Key to “disregard county performances” when assessing players for Test cricket. He argued that the quality of cricket on display on such surfaces isn’t reflective of a player’s true Test-level capabilities.
Durham’s bowling coach, Graham Onions, echoed Botham’s concerns, noting “excessive turn” throughout the game. He added that a game ending so quickly “is not good for county cricket.”
Somerset’s Defence
However, Somerset coach Jason Kerr offered a different perspective, defending the pitch as “an incredible surface.” He dismissed the “noise surrounding the pitch,” pointing out that over 400 runs were scored on the first day.
Kerr explained that with a lot of cricket played at the ground this year, they had to prepare a “used pitch.” He credited his bowlers, Craig Overton and Jack Leach, for exploiting the conditions due to their “top quality” skills, rather than blaming the pitch itself.
- Ian Botham called the Somerset pitch “appalling” after a quick two-day match.
- 35 wickets fell in just five sessions, with spinners taking 22.
- Botham believes such pitches undermine county cricket’s role in developing international players.
- Somerset’s coach Jason Kerr defended the pitch, calling it “incredible.”
This incident sparks further debate on pitch preparation and its impact on the integrity and future of first-class cricket.
Cricket icon Ian Botham has slammed Somerset’s Taunton pitch as “appalling” after a County Championship match against Durham astonishingly saw 35 wickets fall in just five sessions.
A Match That Ended Too Soon
The recent County Championship fixture at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton wrapped up in an incredibly short span, lasting just two days. Somerset defeated Durham by five wickets in a match where wickets tumbled at an alarming rate.
A total of 35 wickets fell across only five sessions of play. Notably, spinners accounted for 22 of these dismissals, highlighting the extreme conditions on offer.
Botham’s Outspoken Criticism
Ian Botham, who is an honorary president of Durham and also a former Somerset player, did not hold back his criticism. He publicly blasted his old club for what he described as preparing an “appalling” pitch, stating it “reduced the game to a farce.”
Botham took to social media, sharing images of the pitch and expressing his dismay. He emphasized that “these are not first-class cricket conditions in mid-summer,” especially when county cricket is already under pressure regarding its relevance as a breeding ground for international talent.
The Rapid Pace of Play
In the first innings, Somerset quickly bowled out Durham for 145, with pace bowler Craig Overton taking an impressive 6 for 23. Somerset then responded with 250 runs, thanks largely to Tom Lammonby’s 89, the only half-century of the match.
In Durham’s second innings, spinners Jack Leach (6-63) and Archie Vaughan (4-85) dominated, ensuring another swift collapse. Somerset then comfortably chased down their target of 86 runs in just 19.2 overs to seal the victory.
Questioning County Cricket’s Relevance
Botham went further, suggesting that such pitches make it difficult for England’s Test captain Ben Stokes and ECB managing director Rob Key to accurately assess county performances for Test-quality players. He implied that the conditions on display don’t offer a true test of skill required at the international level.
Durham’s bowling coach, Graham Onions, echoed these sentiments. He noted “excessive turn” throughout the game and lamented that a match ending so quickly “is not good for county cricket.”
Somerset’s Counter-Argument
However, Somerset coach Jason Kerr offered a staunch defence of the pitch, describing it as “an incredible surface.” He dismissed the “lot of noise surrounding the pitch,” arguing that scoring 400 runs in a day, as happened on the first day, contradicts complaints about the wicket.
Kerr explained that due to the high volume of cricket played at the ground this year, they had to prepare a “used pitch.” He attributed the rapid fall of wickets to the skill of his bowlers, like Craig Overton and Jack Leach, who successfully exploited any help the pitch offered.
- Cricket legend Ian Botham strongly criticized Somerset’s pitch after a match ended in just two days.
- A remarkable 35 wickets fell in only five sessions, with spinners dominating.
- Botham suggested such pitches make it hard for national selectors to gauge player talent.
- Somerset’s coach defended the pitch, calling it an “incredible surface” and blaming bowler quality.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding pitch preparation and its impact on the quality and future of first-class cricket.
