Somerset handed revised deduction
Somerset County Cricket Club’s sanction for breaching the ECB Pitch Regulations has been revised by the Cricket Discipline Commission ahead of the new County Championship season.
With the format for the 2021 campaign changed amid the current pandemic, the ECB and Somerset jointly requested that the CDC reconsider the points deduction.
They have now decided that Somerset will have a direct eight point penalty which will apply to the group phase of the competition, however if Somerset commit any further breach of pitch regulations - in addition to any new sanction imposed - the panel will determine how the suspended points penalty will be applied.
The suspended element relating to the 2022 campaign will also need to be revisited once the format to next year’s competition is known. This came after Somerset were initially handed a 24-point deduction, 12 suspended, for breaching the regulations against Essex in 2019.
In July 2020, the sanction was rolled over until the 2021 season following the pausing of the County Championship with the Bob Willis Trophy played for instead. When the sanction was first rolled over, it was believed the 2021 County Championship would continue in its normal format before the changes were announced in the interests of safety.
Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry said: “Obviously we are pleased that the ECB have taken the decision to amend the sanction proportionately in light of the new structure of the domestic season in 2021.
“We are grateful that we have clarity at this time and with training going exceptionally well so far, everyone associated with the club is looking forward to what will hopefully be another successful year.”
Somerset CEO Gordon Hollins added: “The club have been in dialogue with the ECB in recent weeks and the talks were constructive throughout. We are pleased that we can now put this matter behind us and focus on the forthcoming season.”
The 2021 County Championship season is due to begin on April 8 with Somerset travelling to Lord’s to take on Middlesex.
SOMERSET County Cricket Club have received a double boost after James Hildreth and Josh Davey both extended their stays with the side. Hildreth has signed on until the end of 2022 season, having been with Somerset since 2003 and played 665 matches across the three formats - scoring 25,996 runs. Hildreth is also the club’s all-time leading scorer in T20 cricket with 3,694.
The former Millfield School pupil was a key member of Somerset’s last two trophy winning teams in the 2005 Twenty20 Cup and the 2019 Royal London One-day Cup, and was granted a testimonial year in 2017.
After signing, Hildreth said: “I absolutely love the club and I just want to go on playing here for as long as possible. It’s an amazing job to have and I’m very fortunate to have played for the length of time that I have. When I was offered an extension there was never a question mark about what I was going to do.
“We’ve been playing consistently good cricket for a long time now. We’ve won a trophy and we want to win more. I’ve got every confidence that Somerset can keep pushing for silverware this year and for future years to come.
“To be successful there has to be a good succession plan in place and the club are doing really well in that regard with the number of players that are coming through the academy and making an impact on the first team. We’ve got exciting young players coming through who have already contributed to Somerset winning matches and that’s a great sign.
“The older boys are still desperate to contribute to wins as well and we’re always keen to help out the younger guys coming through.
“Last year was a really hard one for so many people, and we know how much coming to see the team play means to our members and supporters. When they are in the ground the atmosphere is second to none. Fingers crossed we can get people in this year to watch and there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. We want to try and make 2021 the most brilliant year for everyone.”
As for Davey, he will remain at the Cooper Associates Ground until at least the end of the 2023 campaign. The Scotland international joined Somerset in 2014 and has become a key member in the first team squad having taken over 140 wickets across the three formats.
After signing, Davey said: “To go from signing a summer contract to winning a trophy at Lord’s has been an incredible journey and I’m delighted that it is going to continue. My time with Somerset has been incredibly special and it’s a great place to be at the moment.
“There is a real sense that this team could go on to big things and I can’t wait to be a part of that.
“The club is second to none in terms of the support we get and hopefully we can repay them for their support by bringing home some more silverware in the next few years.”