It’s difficult to see Somerset winning the County Championship with pace bowling pair missing

CAN Somerset overcome the loss of two key bowlers to clinch a first County Championship title in the coming weeks?

That was the burning question I put to captain Tom Abell after seeing the team comprehensively outplayed by Nottinghamshire on the first two days of the Division One match at Taunton.

Head coach Jason Kerr had revealed at the end of day one that Lewis Gregory would not bowl again this season because of his latest back problem.

Add that to Craig Overton being set to miss two of the last three County Championship games through England duty and it spells a major problem in the quest for what has become known as Somerset’s Holy Grail.

After delivering an authoritative and damning assessment of his side’s shortcomings in the first innings of the Notts game, Abell answered my question guardedly.

“When you lose two guys of the calibre of Craig and Lewis and their potency with the ball, it is never going to be easy,” he said.

“But we pride ourselves on the depth and quality of our squad. We certainly have the ability to bowl better than we have done in this game.

“We dropped catches and the required intensity to our cricket wasn’t there. What we know is that, even without two top bowlers, we have the ability to beat any opponents when on our game.

“I am not focussing on the title at this stage. We have to take things a day and a game at a time. If we do that and play to our full capabilities, I believe we have what it takes to succeed.”

Somerset supporters must be starting to wonder if their club’s bid to claim the elusive County Championship pennant is jinxed.

Despite missing games, Overton and Gregory have claimed 58 wickets between them in this season’s competition, the former leading the bowling list with 37 at an average of just 13.4. Overton was in the form of his life in the group stage, having added an extra half yard of pace without sacrificing accuracy. His selection for the Third Test against India at Headingley was overdue, but by no means a formality, and it was no surprise that he grabbed the opportunity by taking six wickets.

Somerset are optimistic that he will be available for T20 Finals Day at Edgbaston on Saturday September 18, but in the meantime England’s gain is their massive loss.

For much of the Championship campaign, it appeared that toporder batting would be the main obstacle to a title challenge.

It says much for Somerset’s intent to end their long wait to be champions that, despite the exciting emergence of several young batsmen this summer, they have invested in the return of Azhar Ali.

The 36-year-old Pakistan Test batsman had to miss the Notts game to stay in mandatory quarantine following his arrival in this country, having been part of a tour to West Indies.

But Azhar will be available for the final three championship fixtures, starting against Yorkshire at Scarborough on Sunday.

His presence should bolster a batting line-up that has struggled to overcome the new ball. Somerset have the lowest average opening partnership of any county in four-day cricket this summer.

Abell has barely had time to strap his pads on before walking to the wicket at number three, which makes his impressive tally of 670 runs at an average of 60.9 all the more creditable.

Only Steve Davies of the other recognised batsmen is averaging over 30. The first innings collapse to 87-7 on the second day of the Notts match was an all too familiar story.

THE points carried over from the group stage of this year’s new County Championship format mean that Somerset remain well placed to deliver another strong challenge.

If Overton, in particular, had been involved in all four Division One fixtures, I would have been confident of the team’s ability to end the campaign on top of the table.

As it is, I fear another near miss. Should that be the case, no one should forget the abundance of young talent being developed at the Cooper Associates County Ground, showcased in the Royal London Cup.

The playing side of the club is in a very healthy state, thanks largely to the work of director of cricket Andy Hurry and head coach Jason Kerr.

Their efforts convince me that, whatever the next few weeks hold, the search for the Holy Grail will end happily in the not too distant future