Latest news with #BeefyBotham
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Ian Botham criticises ‘appalling' Taunton pitch after game ends inside two days
Somerset coach Jason Kerr hailed the 'incredible surface…arguably the best we've had this year' after his side wrapped up a five-wicket victory to boost their hopes of a first ever Division One title. But Botham begged to differ after posting photos of a heavily-used strip ahead of the contest, where 22 wickets fell on Tuesday and which was over just before 4pm on Wednesday. Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling… at a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for InternationalPlayers and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch.… — BeefyBotham (@BeefyBotham) July 23, 2025 It is understood the match referee rated the pitch 'below average' and Somerset could now face a points deduction by the cricket regulator, which operates separately to the England and Wales Cricket Board. Botham said on X on Wednesday night: 'Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling.' Botham has a chequered history with Somerset, where he started his extraordinary cricket career in 1974 before leaving acrimoniously 12 years later when the club sacked Viv Richards and Joel Garner. He has a stand named after him at Taunton but is now honorary president at Durham, where the former England all-rounder finished his playing career and served as the club's chair until earlier this year. The 69-year-old's rebuke also included a reference to Somerset's wish to keep the status quo of 14 championship matches next year, at a time when the counties are debating changes to the calendar. Durham are among the clubs who wish to reduce the red-ball season to a dozen matches – backed by the Professional Cricketers' Association – in a bid to improve standards across the competition. Botham added: 'At a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for International Players and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch. These are not first class cricket conditions in midsummer. 'Durham raised serious concerns the day before the game started… change is needed…both Somerset and Durham have high quality batsmen… Somerset do not need to do this… reduces the game to a farce.' The last 18 wickets of the game fell to spin, with Jack Leach claiming six for 63 and Archie Vaughan – son of former England captain Michael – four for 85 after opening the bowling to turn the game in Somerset's favour. But Kerr argued 400 runs being scored on the opening day – where seamer Craig Overton took six wickets – highlighted there was something for everyone. 'I thought it was an incredible surface, I spoke to Nick (Pepper, Somerset's head groundsperson) and it was arguably the best surface we've had this year,' Kerr said at his post-match press conference. 'There was something in it for the seamers and a little bit in it for the spinners from the foot holes of an existing game earlier in the year. 'There was some really poor cricket from both sides and some incredible bowling.'
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
'Reduces The Game To Farce': England Legend Fumes Over County Pitch
The former England and Somerset stalwart hammered the club for preparing a bizarre surface for what turned out to be a two-day contest against Durham. A shocking surface used for an English County Championship match by hosts Somerset against Durham attracted the wrath of England's former skipper and legendary all-rounder, Ian Botham. Botham took the Somerset County Cricket Club to task for preparing an 'appalling' pitch that played all sorts of tricks in an extraordinary two-day match up at Taunton. The great was left fuming over his old club after 35 wickets fell over just five sessions of play held at the Cooper Associates Ground, 22 of which went to the spinners, as Somerset wrapped up their victory by five wickets. Amidst talks of selectors and team management ignoring form and performances in the County Championship, the former Somerset stalwart cited the strange scenes in Taunton to back the decisions made by England's cricket director, Rob Key, and Test skipper Ben Stokes in recent times. 'As an ex-Somerset player, I find this appalling," Botham tweeted with the pictures of a surface that looked underprepared and doctored to suit Somerset's attack, with a few brown patches and loads of grass elsewhere. 'At a time when county cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for international players and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch. These are not first-class cricket conditions in mid-summer." Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling… at a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for InternationalPlayers and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch.… — BeefyBotham (@BeefyBotham) July 23, 2025 'I am not surprised that Rob and Ben unfortunately, have to disregard county performances in assessing players for Test-quality appearances. Durham raised serious concerns the day before the game started. Change is needed. Both Somerset and Durham have high-quality batsmen. Somerset do not need to do this… reduces the game to a farce, added Botham, who represented Somerset in 176 first-class matches between 1974 and 1986. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Somerset unleashed their international seamer Craig Overton on the green carpet rolled out for Durham. Overton went on to take 6 for 23 to help dismiss the opposition for only 145. Tom Lammonby's critical 89 then became the only half-century of the first-class game, allowing Somerset to post 250 in response. The hosts later used their spin twins Jack Leach (6/63) and Archie Vaughan (4/85) to cut through Durham's batting line-up again for 190. While Callum Parkinson's four-fer gave them a scare, Somerset eventually eased to the target of 86 in the final innings at five wickets down. A Telegraph report suggests the surface in Taunton has been rated 'below average' by the match referee, Simon Hinks. Somerset could now be handed a penalty, with points deducted from their championship tally. view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 23:13 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Ian Botham criticises ‘appalling' Taunton pitch after game ends inside two days
Somerset coach Jason Kerr hailed the 'incredible surface…arguably the best we've had this year' after his side wrapped up a five-wicket victory to boost their hopes of a first ever Division One title. But Botham begged to differ after posting photos of a heavily-used strip ahead of the contest, where 22 wickets fell on Tuesday and which was over just before 4pm on Wednesday. Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling… at a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for InternationalPlayers and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch.… — BeefyBotham (@BeefyBotham) July 23, 2025 It is understood the match referee rated the pitch 'below average' and Somerset could now face a points deduction by the cricket regulator, which operates separately to the England and Wales Cricket Board. Botham said on X on Wednesday night: 'Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling.' Botham has a chequered history with Somerset, where he started his extraordinary cricket career in 1974 before leaving acrimoniously 12 years later when the club sacked Viv Richards and Joel Garner. He has a stand named after him at Taunton but is now honorary president at Durham, where the former England all-rounder finished his playing career and served as the club's chair until earlier this year. The 69-year-old's rebuke also included a reference to Somerset's wish to keep the status quo of 14 championship matches next year, at a time when the counties are debating changes to the calendar. Durham are among the clubs who wish to reduce the red-ball season to a dozen matches – backed by the Professional Cricketers' Association – in a bid to improve standards across the competition. Botham added: 'At a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for International Players and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch. These are not first class cricket conditions in midsummer. 'Durham raised serious concerns the day before the game started… change is needed…both Somerset and Durham have high quality batsmen… Somerset do not need to do this… reduces the game to a farce.' The last 18 wickets of the game fell to spin, with Jack Leach claiming six for 63 and Archie Vaughan – son of former England captain Michael – four for 85 after opening the bowling to turn the game in Somerset's favour. But Kerr argued 400 runs being scored on the opening day – where seamer Craig Overton took six wickets – highlighted there was something for everyone. 'I thought it was an incredible surface, I spoke to Nick (Pepper, Somerset's head groundsperson) and it was arguably the best surface we've had this year,' Kerr said at his post-match press conference. 'There was something in it for the seamers and a little bit in it for the spinners from the foot holes of an existing game earlier in the year. 'There was some really poor cricket from both sides and some incredible bowling.'
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Ian Botham criticises ‘appalling' Taunton pitch after game ends inside two days
Somerset coach Jason Kerr hailed the 'incredible surface…arguably the best we've had this year' after his side wrapped up a five-wicket victory to boost their hopes of a first ever Division One title. But Botham begged to differ after posting photos of a heavily-used strip ahead of the contest, where 22 wickets fell on Tuesday and which was over just before 4pm on Wednesday. Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling… at a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for InternationalPlayers and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch.… — BeefyBotham (@BeefyBotham) July 23, 2025 It is understood the match referee rated the pitch 'below average' and Somerset could now face a points deduction by the cricket regulator, which operates separately to the England and Wales Cricket Board. Botham said on X on Wednesday night: 'Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling.' Botham has a chequered history with Somerset, where he started his extraordinary cricket career in 1974 before leaving acrimoniously 12 years later when the club sacked Viv Richards and Joel Garner. He has a stand named after him at Taunton but is now honorary president at Durham, where the former England all-rounder finished his playing career and served as the club's chair until earlier this year. The 69-year-old's rebuke also included a reference to Somerset's wish to keep the status quo of 14 championship matches next year, at a time when the counties are debating changes to the calendar. Durham are among the clubs who wish to reduce the red-ball season to a dozen matches – backed by the Professional Cricketers' Association – in a bid to improve standards across the competition. Botham added: 'At a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for International Players and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch. These are not first class cricket conditions in midsummer. 'Durham raised serious concerns the day before the game started… change is needed…both Somerset and Durham have high quality batsmen… Somerset do not need to do this… reduces the game to a farce.' The last 18 wickets of the game fell to spin, with Jack Leach claiming six for 63 and Archie Vaughan – son of former England captain Michael – four for 85 after opening the bowling to turn the game in Somerset's favour. But Kerr argued 400 runs being scored on the opening day – where seamer Craig Overton took six wickets – highlighted there was something for everyone. 'I thought it was an incredible surface, I spoke to Nick (Pepper, Somerset's head groundsperson) and it was arguably the best surface we've had this year,' Kerr said at his post-match press conference. 'There was something in it for the seamers and a little bit in it for the spinners from the foot holes of an existing game earlier in the year. 'There was some really poor cricket from both sides and some incredible bowling.'
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Ian Botham criticises ‘appalling' Taunton pitch after game ends inside two days
Somerset coach Jason Kerr hailed the 'incredible surface…arguably the best we've had this year' after his side wrapped up a five-wicket victory to boost their hopes of a first ever Division One title. But Botham begged to differ after posting photos of a heavily-used strip ahead of the contest, where 22 wickets fell on Tuesday and which was over just before 4pm on Wednesday. Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling… at a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for InternationalPlayers and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch.… — BeefyBotham (@BeefyBotham) July 23, 2025 It is understood the match referee rated the pitch 'below average' and Somerset could now face a points deduction by the cricket regulator, which operates separately to the England and Wales Cricket Board. Botham said on X on Wednesday night: 'Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling.' Botham has a chequered history with Somerset, where he started his extraordinary cricket career in 1974 before leaving acrimoniously 12 years later when the club sacked Viv Richards and Joel Garner. He has a stand named after him at Taunton but is now honorary president at Durham, where the former England all-rounder finished his playing career and served as the club's chair until earlier this year. The 69-year-old's rebuke also included a reference to Somerset's wish to keep the status quo of 14 championship matches next year, at a time when the counties are debating changes to the calendar. Durham are among the clubs who wish to reduce the red-ball season to a dozen matches – backed by the Professional Cricketers' Association – in a bid to improve standards across the competition. Botham added: 'At a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for International Players and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch. These are not first class cricket conditions in midsummer. 'Durham raised serious concerns the day before the game started… change is needed…both Somerset and Durham have high quality batsmen… Somerset do not need to do this… reduces the game to a farce.' The last 18 wickets of the game fell to spin, with Jack Leach claiming six for 63 and Archie Vaughan – son of former England captain Michael – four for 85 after opening the bowling to turn the game in Somerset's favour. But Kerr argued 400 runs being scored on the opening day – where seamer Craig Overton took six wickets – highlighted there was something for everyone. 'I thought it was an incredible surface, I spoke to Nick (Pepper, Somerset's head groundsperson) and it was arguably the best surface we've had this year,' Kerr said at his post-match press conference. 'There was something in it for the seamers and a little bit in it for the spinners from the foot holes of an existing game earlier in the year. 'There was some really poor cricket from both sides and some incredible bowling.'
