Vijay is set for Somerset debut in vital encounter
MURALI Vijay makes his Somerset debut today charged with helping the West Countrymen to win their firstever County Championship title.
The 35-year-old India Test match batsman is expected to open in the Championship clash with Yorkshire at Taunton, and could hardly have joined as an overseas signing at a more important time.
Somerset go into the game just two points behind Division One leaders Essex with three matches remaining, the final one being between the two top sides at the Cooper Associates County Ground, starting on September 23.
Vijay, recruited to replace Azhar Ali following his recall to Pakistan, boasts a wealth of experience, having scored nearly 4,000 runs in 61 Test appearances. He boasts a first class average of 42.79, with a top score of 266, and averaged 64.6 in three Championship games last summer, ironically for Essex.
Somerset head coach Jason Kerr said: “Murali is a high-quality player and a really likeable character, who has already fitted brilliantly into our dressing room.
“It is a huge bonus to have him for our last three games and hopefully he can help us to that elusive title.”
Already without Craig Overton and Jack Leach, both away with the England Ashes squad, Kerr must await late fitness checks on Lewis Gregory (foot) and Jamie Overton (ankle) before finalising a team to face Yorkshire. Jack Brooks is likely to miss the game against his old county with a heel injury.
Somerset lost the corresponding match at Headingley in July by an innings and 73 runs and must turn the tables to boost their chances of overhauling Essex, who face Warwickshire at Chelmsford this week.
“Yorkshire played much better than us when we last met and we need to improve on that performance,” admitted Kerr.
“I shall be telling the players not to look beyond this game and to take as
little notice of how Essex are faring as possible.
“Watching their every move can only increase the emotion in our dressing room at a time when cool heads are needed. We can only control what we do and have to focus fully on that.”
Having suffered the disappointment of failing to make Vitality Blast Finals Day, thereby sacrificing hopes of a clean sweep of domestic trophies this summer, Somerset must bounce back quickly.
Kerr is confident that will be the case. “To be brutally honest we weren’t good enough in the Blast,” he said. “The final group match against Middlesex summed up our campaign, brilliant at times, but poor at others.
“Since that defeat the players have put in a lot of work. We gave them the weekend off before more intensive practice ahead of the Yorkshire game.”
Somerset may tinker with their batting order, with the possibility that James Hildreth, who has not enjoyed a good season by his high standards, may drop to number four.
Steve Davies is favourite to open with Vijay after filling the role successfully in the last Championship game and skipper Tom Abell could go in at three, with young guns Tom Banton and George Bartlett then following Hildreth in the middle order.
With the team in with a great chance of making history, a huge three weeks lie ahead.
Somerset still have to play against Hampshire at Southampton, while Essex entertain Surrey in their penultimate game.
Former Somerset player Kieron Pollard has been appointed as the West Indies’ new limited-overs captain as part of a national team revamp.
The Windies are still seeking a fulltime head coach to follow interim appointments Richard Pybus and Floyd Reifer.
Pollard, 32, has not played an ODI since 2016, but has featured in Twenty20 internationals, most recently against India last month.