35 wickets fell on the pitch inside two days.
The recent County Championship 2025 clash between Somerset and Durham in Taunton saw the home side clinch a five-wicket victory. The match lasted for less than two days as 35 wickets fell in a total of 157.2 overs. Former England captain Ian Botham did not hold back for his criticism of the pitch his former County side served.
🎥 Here's a look at the three wickets to fall this morning 👊#WeAreSomerset #SOMvDUR pic.twitter.com/xsKFzNNaZ2
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) July 22, 2025
Craig Overton picked 6 for 23 as Somerset skittled out the visitors for 145 in the first innings in just 30.1 overs. Tom Lammonby was the only batter to register a fifty in the match, scoring 89 to help his side reach 250. The spin duo of Jack Leach (6 for 63) and Archie Vaughan (4 for 85) bowled out Durham for 190 in the second innings. Somerset chased down 86 but lost five wickets.
MAL
–
HKG
–
WI
–
AUS
–
WI
–
AUS
–
RWA
49/10
BHN
163/6
Bahrain beat Rwanda by 114 runs
BHN
114/2
ML
113/9
Bahrain beat Malawi by 8 wickets
RWA
–
ML
–
ROM
128/9
AUST
129/3
Austria won by 7 wickets
HUN
93/10
ROM
94/0
Romania beat Hungary by 10 wickets
HUN
148/8
LUX
78/10
Hungary beat Luxembourg by 70 runs
ROM
–
LUX
–
HUN
–
AUST
–
AUST
–
LUX
–
ALZ
114/2
RPH
108/6
Alby Zalmi CC won by 8 wickets
MAR
102/7
HDN
104/1
Huddinge beat Marsta CC by 9 wickets
MAR
93/8
ALZ
118/7
Alby Zalmi CC beat Marsta CC by 25 runs
HDN
188/2
RPH
135/4
Huddinge beat Rising Phoenix by 53 runs
MAR
110/6
HDN
195/1
Huddinge beat Marsta CC by 85 runs
ALZ
–
JIHCC
–
RPH
–
MAR
–
JIHCC
–
ALZ
–
RPH
–
JIHCC
–
ALZ
–
RPH
–
BOT-W
–
MWW-W
–
EWW-W
–
LSN-W
–
RWA-W
–
SLO-W
–
CW-W
–
MZW-W
–
FEK
175/6
RLC
63/1
KRMPS
–
ALECC
–
GUJCC
–
SUL
–
FRC
79/3
UTC
77/7
Fatemi Resources Cricket Club beat Utkal Cricket Club by 7 wickets
JBK
97/3
MKP
99/4
MR KB Putrajaya won by 6 wickets
KLG
61/6
MXC
62/5
Maxx Cricket Club beat KL Gladiators by 5 wickets
SWCL
119/2
MBMS
–
Match abandoned due to rain
FRC
–
KLG
–
JBK
–
SWCL
–
UTC
–
MXC
–
MKP
–
MBMS
–
KNY
124/8
UGA
125/4
Uganda beat Kenya by 6 wickets
NIG
105/9
NBA
99/8
Nigeria beat Namibia A by 6 runs
UAE
–
NIG
–
KNY
–
NBA
–
YAR
203/9
MMS
212/5
Mahe Megalo Strikers beat Yanam Royals by 9 runs
MAK
166/3
ASS
165/7
Mis Ainak Knights won by 7 wickets
BAD
177/7
SGT
178/6
Speen Ghar Tigers beat Band-e-Amir Dragons by 4 wickets
MAK
–
BDS
–
ASS
–
SGT
–
WIU19-W
–
USAU19-W
–
PNC
198/5
SAC
31/2
IAC
–
AAC
–
PNC
–
WIC
–
NZ
–
SA
–
IRE-W
–
ZIM-W
–
Ian Botham took to the social media platform X/formerly Twitter to express his displeasure with Somerset. The former England all-rounder, who played 176 First Class matches for Somerset, shared the images of the Taunton pitch.
“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 International players, the club produces this pitch. These are not first class cricket conditions,” posted Botham.
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 International
— BeefyBotham (@BeefyBotham) July 23, 2025
Players and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch.… pic.twitter.com/qAU0CJbPlf
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Botham went on to say that it is not surprising the England managing director Rob Key and Ben Stokes aren’t particularly high on domestic performances. The England management, in recent times, has focused less on numbers and more on other attributes. For instance, their selections of Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir for the India tour last year were based on the high release point.
Botham also added that Somerset do not need to produce pitches that reduce the game to a farce.
“I am not surprised that Rob and Ben unfortunately have to disregard county performances in assessing players for Test quality appearances. Somerset do not need to do this… reduces the game to a farce,” he added.
Durham bowling coach Graham Onions had similar thoughts. He said there was excessive turn off the pitch for the whole game and such conditions are not good for the County Championship.
Somerset coach Jason Kerr, however, did not agree with Botham and Onions, and instead called it an incredible pitch. He stated that they had to prepare a used pitch due to the amount of cricket played in Taunton this year.
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