Somerset County Cricket Club first-class matches

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This article is a summary of 2,789 first-class cricket matches played by Somerset County Cricket Club to the end of the 2023 season.

Contents

First-Class Status

Somerset is generally regarded as a first-class team from 1882 to 1885 and from their entry into the County Championship in 1891.

The record is complicated by a number of matches that W G Grace played for Gloucestershire against Somerset between 1879 and 1885. Wisden and Playfair recognise all of these as first-class and they are included in Grace's career figures, which have been his accepted figures since 1916 and are used in the Wikipedia article about Grace. The earlier matches in the series are not regarded as first-class by some statisticians and this article on Somerset CCC matches does not include the matches that are in dispute. For more information about this issue, see Variations in First-Class Cricket Statistics.

Some publications also include a match organised by Somerset against Cambridge University at Cambridge in 1892. Somerset only had 10 players and enlisted two additional players (Gregor MacGregor and Norman Cooper) in what became a 12-a-side match (although only 11 players fielded). The match was retitled Cambridge University v H.T. Hewett's XII, Hewett being the captain of the visiting side. The match was won by Hewett's team.

Notes

The 23 inter-county matches played between 1882 and 1885 were before the County Championship started. All inter-county contests since 1891 have been in the Championship except for the following 8 friendly matches:

Worcestershire did not compete in the Championship in 1919.

All but six of the first-class matches played by Somerset have been eleven-a-side. The six others were twelve-a-side matches played against Oxford University in 1893, 1896, 1899, 1902, 1903 and 1904. Twelve Somerset players played against the South Africans in 1912 when Harry Chidgey was replaced by Bruce Hylton-Stewart after being injured. In 1885 against Hampshire at Southampton, Somerset only had nine players.

Most first-class matches have been of three-day duration. From 1988 to 1992 six Championship matches each season were four-day matches and from 1993 all Championship matches have been of four days. The first four-day non-championship match was that against the Australians in 1997. Since then the matches against New Zealand (1999), West Indies (2000), Australians (2001), and Sri Lanka A (2004) have been four-day matches. Four matches against M.C.C. between 1882 and 1891 were two-day matches as were the 15 matches played in 1919.

Two matches played under the single-innings rule for matches which have delayed starts have ended in results, both defeats for Somerset. The 1954 victory by Yorkshire at Bradford is included as a draw while the 1986 victory by Derbyshire at Taunton is included as a defeat for Somerset. This is in line with the Championship tables at the time.

Summary against each opponent

In the following table the County Championship summary is limited to matches played from 1891. Inter-County matches played between 1882 and 1885 are listed separately as are County friendly matches. Bob Willis Trophy games are included in the County Championship totals.

OpponentSeasonsHomeAwayAll
FirstLastPWLDTAPWLDTAPWLDTA
Derbyshire 19122013621827172661824241283651412
Durham 1992201617836183693511816
Essex 1895202373142930176223122115036605311
Glamorgan 19212020752218357316253211483843671
Gloucestershire 189120221023630369923393712015969731
Hampshire 1895202310325324611052738402085270861
Kent 189120238325302882164818165417846
Lancashire 1891202381183725118084131116126785612
Leicestershire 192020215119102252151819103342841
Middlesex 189120238317392783114626166288553
Northamptonshire 19122023612018231641318331253336561
Nottinghamshire 189220236725132967142033134394062
Surrey 189120238922303789124928178347965
Sussex 1892201590262538190224028118048656611
Warwickshire 190520237226202672122139144384165
Worcestershire 1901202089303227882826331117658586011
Yorkshire 189120229215413689125225181279361
County Championship1290366434488261293272541478252584636975968411
Gloucestershire 18821885202030305050
Hampshire 18821885440040408440
Kent 1884101010102020
Lancashire 18821884202020204040
Surrey 18831885202020204040
Inter-County 1882–188511470001201200023419000
Glamorgan 19481951200220114013
Sussex 1957100110102011
Worcestershire 1919110010012101
County Friendlies410300402200812500
Oxford University 18922000431028710111321011111
Cambridge University 1895200814635134452710710
Cardiff MCCU 2012201921012101
Durham MCCU 2005201520022002
Leeds/Bradford MCCU 201410011001
Loughborough UCCE 2003200731023102
Australians 1882201329116122911612
Indians 191120111122711227
New Zealanders 192720151306713067
Pakistanis 1954201681348134
South Africans 19012008131102131102
Sri Lankans 1991199820112011
West Indians 192320001728717287
MCC 18821891210120114112
Philadelphians 1897190321012101
Australian Imperial Forces 191910101010
Combined Services 195911001100
Pakistan Eaglets 196310011001
Young Australians 199510101010
South Africa 'A' 199610011001
Pakistan 'A' 199710101010
West Indies 'A' 20021000110001
Sri Lanka 'A' 200411001100
All First-Class18822023143438849554536135228159049726277567310591038512

The match against Oxford Universities in 2000 (which included Oxford Brookes University) is included here in the Oxford University totals. The match in 2008 against Cambridge University UCCE is included here in the Cambridge University totals.

Summary on each home ground

Currently first-class matches are only played at Taunton. Only 2 other first-class matches have been played on the following grounds. These were matches played at Taunton between East Africa and Sri Lanka, after both teams had played in the 1975 World Cup, and a West Indies A v India A match in 2018. Bob Willis Trophy games are included in the County Championship totals.

In the following table click on the 'CA' to access the Cricket Archive Records section for the ground.

VenueRecordsSeasonsCounty ChampionshipOtherAll First-Class
FirstLastPWLDTAPWLDTAPWLDTA
Taunton, County Ground CA1882202379122025831122118204849190724030636032
Bath, Recreation Ground CA189720062347182814216872557790884
Bath, Lansdown CC (Combe Park)CA188411001100
Bristol, Imperial Athletic GroundCA19571966822410019225
Frome, Agricultural ShowgroundsCA193219611897218972
Glastonbury, Morlands Athletic Ground CA19521973185211185211
Knowle, Knowle CCCA1926192831113111
Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Downside SchoolCA193410011001
Street, Millfield SchoolCA196110101010
Taunton, Taunton Vale CA2012201520022002
Wells, Rowden RoadCA193519511145211452
Weston-super-Mare, Clarence Park CA191419961885169683030191517268
Yeovil, West HendfordCA1935193951315131
Yeovil, Johnson Park CA195119671224612246
Totals1882202312743584314832614427595710141838549054036

Between 1882 and 1885 10 inter-county home matches were played at Taunton (3 won, 7 lost) and 1 at Bath, Lansdown CC (won). Since 1891 2 friendly inter-county home matches have been played at Taunton (2 drawn), 1 at Bath, Recreation Ground (won) and 1 at Bristol, Imperial Athletic Ground (drawn).

Season by season summary

In the following table the final position is given together with the number of teams in the County Championship so that 5=/9 means that Somerset were equal 5th out of the 9 teams competing. From 2000 the County Championship has been divided into two divisions shown here as D1 for Division 1 and D2 for Division 2. Bob Willis Trophy games are included in the County Championship totals.

County ChampionshipAll First-Class
HomeAwayAllPosition
YearPWLDTAPWLDTAPWLDTAPWLDTA
1882 8161
1883 7151
1884 6150
1885 6150
1891 62406321125615=/913661
1892 85128341168533/917863
1893 82248260164848/918594
1894 83238350166736/917674
1895 9531815211768318=/141961031
1896 813482421637611/1419397
1897 824281521639411/14183105
1898 8044816116110513=/14172105
1899 823380531628613=/1518297
1900 8251826016411111/15174112
1901 924382601174103112=/151961031
1902 94239351187747=/1520776
1903 83141935117665110/15197661
1904 9351926118511212/15205132
1905 9144906318110715/16191108
1906 9243926118410411=/16184104
1907 9360906318312314/16193133
1908 101541018120213516/16202135
1909 823382421647511/1617485
1910 9081907218015316/16180153
1911 8161807116113216/16171142
1912 814381431628614/1618297
1913 8143817016211316/16162113
1914 9270110190193160115/161931601
1919 6311161231243415=/15155451
1920 104601034320710310/16227114
1921 113621155122811310/17258143
1922 123811233624611710/17256127
1923 12552124622491149/17259124
1924 1135311162312297628/172410862
1925 130851337326315815/17273168
1926 13148132551263913114/1727310131
1927 131481325626391414/172731014
1928 121561236324411914/172541110
1929 143831409528317815/17304188
1930 1443714086284111313=/173041214
1931 1435614365286111113/172961112
1932 14635142482887137/17298813
1933 1334613364266101011/172761011
1934 1224612165243101115/172531111
1935 1326513355265111014/172851310
1936 13634133732691077/172810108
1937 144731437428714713/17297157
1938 14824142752810997/172910109
1939 143651435512861110114/1730811101
1946 13715135532612684/17281468
1947 136521327426812611=/17288137
1948 132921335526514712/17295177
1949 13580133732681539/17298165
1950 14554143382888127=/17308913
1951 143831427528515814/17305169
1952 1425714077282121417/172921215
1953 1411031419428219717/17292198
1954 141941419428218817/17292189
1955 1446414011328417717/17294187
1956 1445514010428415915/173041511
1957 14464145812891458/17329158
1958 14851144462812973/172912107
1959 147431419428813712/173110138
1960 1616916457325111614/173451316
1961 1656516592321015710/173411158
1962 166371664632127136/173414713
1963 144281464428106123/173110714
1964 14455144372888128/17298912
1965 14752141672881197/173091110
1966 14752146262813783/17301479
1967 14338142482857168/17305817
1968 132741143472751111112/1729511131
1969 121381206624191417/172511014
1970 123451226424510913/17245109
1971 12606121472474137/17257414
1972 100191041520421411/17214215
1973 105051022620721110/17217212
1974 10523101272064105/17236512
1975 10136103522048812/1722598
1976 1044210343207857/1722796
1977 1042411122721641114/172274111
1978 1172211227229495/17249411
1979 1140710118121511518/172461171
1980 1023511112821351315/172345141
1981 114251160522102103/172411211
1982 11236114342266106/17236611
1983 121381224624371410/172537151
1984 12318123632467117/17267811
1985 121471203924171617/17271818
1986 12345110381233713116/172537151
1987 1221912021024231911/17242319
1988 111461142522561111/17235711
1989 113351113722461214/17234613
1990 112361111922341515/17243516
1991 111281113722251517/17242616
1992 11416111372254139/18235513
1993 84409432178725/1818882
1994 962181521777311/1818774
1995 83329423177559/1820776
1996 933382331756611/1819577
1997 8125921617331112/18204412
1998 94238251176749/1818675
1999 84139234176474/1819658
2000 810781431624105/9(D1)184410
2001 83148314166282/9(D1)17638
2002 81258053161788/9(D1)171781
2003 83238161164847/9(D2)18486
2004 81348323164574/9(D2)18558
2005 81438332164758/9(D2)17476
2006 81438251163949/9(D2)16394
2007 850385121610151/9(D2)171115
2008 812582061632114/9(D1)184212
2009 810782151631123/9(D1)163112
2010 84048224166282/9(D1)16628
2011 84318242166734/9(D1)17674
2012 840481161651102/9(D1)175111
2013 81348224163586/9(D1)17368
2014 821582151642106/9(D1)174211
2015 82248242164666/9(D1)18477
2016 84138206166192/9(D1)176110
2017 72327232144646/8(D1)14464
2018 7402173221472412/8(D1)147241
2019 7502074301493202/8(D1)1510320
2020 22000320164020Runner-up64020
2021 7133073221445506/6(D1)144550
2022 7232071331436507/10(D1)143650
2023 7115072321434707/10(D1)143470
Totals1290366434488261291272541478252584638975967411278967610631045512

Abandoned matches

All these matches were abandoned because of bad weather, except for the match in 1914 which was abandoned because of the impending war.

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