Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
So Somerset are the leaders in the clubhouse and their players and supporters must contemplate an agonising day monitoring events at Lord’s. They beat Nottinghamshire by 325 runs with Jack Leach adding four more wickets to his season’s haul, which stands at 65, and Chris Rogers in what he confirmed was his last first-class match, hitting another century.
Imran Tahir swung hopelessly and Peter Trego bellowed “mine” before taking the catch, which had everyone in the stands on their feet, applauding a team that has given them some thrilling entertainment over the past six weeks.They have taken some flak around the circuit recently because the pitches at Taunton have changed so radically. Too often it has been a bowler’s graveyard here, producing games that would send even the most youthful of their membership to sleep.
Perhaps to Andrew Strauss’s delight but not necessarily to the approval of some of his old Middlesex colleagues, Somerset’s hierarchy decided to liven up their pitches, to make them spin-friendly or occasionally emerald green. A couple of hair-raising victories ensued, followed by a copybook win at Headingley against Yorkshire.
By contrast this win against Nottinghamshire was plain sailing on a pitch that should have taken the game into the fourth day. The ball spun, usually slowly, and there was no live grass for the pacemen.
But Nottinghamshire, already relegated, did not have much stomach for the fight. Somerset buzzed in the field, snatching two run-outs; the innings subsided and Rogers was soon enjoying a lap of honour on his last day as a first-class cricketer.
There was not much tension at the ground since Somerset’s domination of the game, with the exception of that nightmarish spell on the first evening when they lost five wickets for no runs, has been so complete. That lost bonus point may cost them dearly. But this was no time to dwell on missed opportunities.
On Friday the players are coming down to the ground, which will be open to the public, and the big screens will be on for any supporters with masochistic tendencies. Rogers, the ultra-pragmatist, who nonetheless radiates a passion for the game, knows his team can do more.
“It would be very special to win it. I haven’t won it; Tres [Marcus Trescothick] hasn’t won it,” he said and he could have added a whole host of names spanning more than a century, since it is common knowledge that Somerset have never won it. “We were favourites to be relegated at the start of the season,” said Rogers. “So this has been very special.” Then almost as an afterthought he said: “That’s it for me. I’m getting old. I’m going to miss this, standing ovation and all.” Then with typical Aussie candour he explained some more: “I’m a bit scared of the short ball now after being hit a few times. Now it’s a bit harder to find that inner inspiration.”
This was not a problem in this game where Rogers hit his 75th and 76th first-class centuries while juggling his young attack adroitly.
“I know that Middlesex dressing room”, he said, “and they will fight all the way against Yorkshire [who hold the upper hand at Lord’s].” Then just to confirm that he was in an emotional mood he uttered something most un-Australian; “It’s only a game,” he said. “We’ve done all we can. It’s been a really enjoyable season.”
Rogers was happy to point out that Somerset would not have been in this position without Leach and his wickets. “He’s as good as anyone in the country. I’ve told him he’s got a long way to go. But it’s fantastic what he’s done.”
Leach is an endearing character, beloved by everyone at Taunton. He admitted: “There was such a lot of media talk before the selection [of England’s tour party to Bangladesh] that I was actually a bit disappointed to be omitted. Then I thought again. If anyone in April had suggested that I could be disappointed to be left out of the England team, then that would have been mad.”
So Rogers and Leach and the rest of a Somerset side that is a rather wonderful blend of old soldiers and young local talent – as Rogers hinted many of the youngsters are at least a couple of years away from their peak – must sit and wait, and possibly watch, and certainly take a drink at the end of a memorable season. Just how memorable depends on events at Lord’s on Friday.
