Former England and Somerset legend Ian Botham has slammed his former club for the lush green pitch produced at Taunton for the 2025 County Championship match against Durham.
A wicket every 4.3 overs in Taunton
The Somerset-Durham Division One match ended in five sessions, with the hosts securing a five-wicket win in a low-scoring encounter. Fielding first on a surface that was indistinguishable from the square, Somerset knocked Durham over for 145 in 30.1 overs, as Craig Overton took 6-23 in 10 overs. Tom Lammonby then smashed 89 off 109 balls from No.3 to help the hosts reach 250. Trailing by 105, Durham lost two more wickets by the end of the first day - where a total of 22 wickets fell - staring at a potential innings defeat.
Some resistance from the lower middle order meant they were able to creep up to 190, setting a target of 86 for Somerset, who lost five wickets in achieving that. The match lasted 157.2 overs, with a wicket falling every 19.31 runs.
Match 83, Somerset vs Durham
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Botham: Not surprised that England have to disregard county performances
Botham, who serves as the honorary president for Durham, took to social media to express his frustration at the quality of the wicket on offer. "Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling," he wrote. "At a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for International Players and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch.
"These are not first class cricket conditions in midsummer... I am not surprised that Rob (Key) and Ben (Stokes) unfortunately have to disregard county performances in assessing players for Test quality appearances.
"Durham raised serious concerns the day before the game started... change is needed...both Somerset and Durham have high quality batsmen... Somerset do not need to do this... reduces the game to a farce."
This is not the first time the pitch at Taunton has come under the scanner this season. Somerset's home game against Essex earlier this season also saw a green surface being dished out. The official X account of Gloucestershire responded to a picture of that surface with "Where's the wicket fellas?". The result wasn't as extreme as the Durham game though, with Somerset chasing down a target of 321 with three wickets remaining.
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