Somerset County Cricket Club first-class matches

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.

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:

  • 1919 v Worcestershire at Worcester
  • 1919 v Worcestershire at Bath
  • 1948 v Glamorgan at Newport
  • 1949 v Glamorgan at Taunton
  • 1950 v Glamorgan at Cardiff (Arms Park)
  • 1951 v Glamorgan at Taunton
  • 1957 v Sussex at Bristol (Imperial)
  • 1957 v Sussex at Hove

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.

Opponent Seasons Home Away All
First Last P W L D T A P W L D T A P W L D T A
Derbyshire 1912 2013 62 18 27 17 2 66 18 24 24 128 36 51 41 2
Durham 1992 2024 18 9 3 6 19 3 7 9 37 12 9 16
Essex 1895 2024 75 15 29 30 1 76 22 31 22 1 151 37 60 53 1 1
Glamorgan 1921 2020 75 22 18 35 73 16 25 32 1 148 38 43 67 1
Gloucestershire 1891 2022 102 36 30 36 99 23 39 37 1 201 59 69 73 1
Hampshire 1895 2024 104 25 33 46 1 105 27 38 40 209 52 71 86 1
Kent 1891 2024 84 26 30 28 83 16 48 19 167 42 78 47
Lancashire 1891 2024 81 18 37 25 1 1 81 8 42 31 1 162 26 79 56 1 2
Leicestershire 1920 2021 51 19 10 22 52 15 18 19 103 34 28 41
Middlesex 1891 2023 83 17 39 27 83 11 46 26 166 28 85 53
Northamptonshire 1912 2023 61 20 18 23 1 64 13 18 33 125 33 36 56 1
Nottinghamshire 1892 2024 68 25 13 30 68 14 20 34 136 39 40 64
Surrey 1891 2024 90 23 30 37 90 12 49 29 180 35 79 66
Sussex 1892 2015 90 26 25 38 1 90 22 40 28 1 180 48 65 66 1 1
Warwickshire 1905 2024 73 27 20 26 73 12 21 40 146 39 41 66
Worcestershire 1901 2024 89 30 32 27 90 28 26 34 1 1 179 58 58 61 1 1
Yorkshire 1891 2022 92 15 41 36 89 12 52 25 181 27 93 61
County Championship 1303 371 435 489 2 6 1305 272 543 483 2 5 2608 641 978 974 4 11
Gloucestershire 1882 1885 2 0 2 0 3 0 3 0 5 0 5 0
Hampshire 1882 1885 4 4 0 0 4 0 4 0 8 4 4 0
Kent 1884 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 0
Lancashire 1882 1884 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 4 0 4 0
Surrey 1883 1885 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 4 0 4 0
Inter-County 1882–1885 11 4 7 0 0 0 12 0 12 0 0 0 23 4 19 0 0 0
Glamorgan 1948 1951 2 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 4 0 1 3
Sussex 1957 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 1
Worcestershire 1919 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 1
County Friendlies 4 1 0 3 0 0 4 0 2 2 0 0 8 1 2 5 0 0
Oxford University 1892 2000 4 3 1 0 28 7 10 11 1 32 10 11 11 1
Cambridge University 1895 2008 14 6 3 5 13 4 4 5 27 10 7 10
Cardiff MCCU 2012 2019 2 1 0 1 2 1 0 1
Durham MCCU 2005 2015 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2
Leeds/Bradford MCCU 2014 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
Loughborough UCCE 2003 2007 3 1 0 2 3 1 0 2
Australians 1882 2013 29 1 16 12 29 1 16 12
Indians 1911 2011 11 2 2 7 11 2 2 7
New Zealanders 1927 2015 13 0 6 7 13 0 6 7
Pakistanis 1954 2016 8 1 3 4 8 1 3 4
South Africans 1901 2008 13 1 10 2 13 1 10 2
Sri Lankans 1991 1998 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 1
West Indians 1923 2000 17 2 8 7 17 2 8 7
MCC 1882 1891 2 1 0 1 2 0 1 1 4 1 1 2
Philadelphians 1897 1903 2 1 0 1 2 1 0 1
Australian Imperial Forces 1919 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
Combined Services 1959 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
Pakistan Eaglets 1963 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
Young Australians 1995 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
South Africa 'A' 1996 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
Pakistan 'A' 1997 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
West Indies 'A' 2002 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1
Sri Lanka 'A' 2004 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
All First-Class 1882 2024 1444 393 496 546 3 6 1383 281 592 502 2 6 2801 678 1062 1044 5 12

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.

Venue Records Seasons County Championship Other All First-Class
First Last P W L D T A P W L D T A P W L D T A
Taunton, County Ground CA 1882 2024 800 225 259 312 2 2 118 20 48 49 1 918 245 307 361 3 2
Bath, Recreation Ground CA 1897 2006 234 71 82 81 4 21 6 8 7 255 77 90 88 4
Bath, Lansdown CC (Combe Park) CA 1884 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
Bristol, Imperial Athletic Ground CA 1957 1966 8 2 2 4 1 0 0 1 9 2 2 5
Frome, Agricultural Showgrounds CA 1932 1961 18 9 7 2 18 9 7 2
Glastonbury, Morlands Athletic Ground CA 1952 1973 18 5 2 11 18 5 2 11
Knowle, Knowle CC CA 1926 1928 3 1 1 1 3 1 1 1
Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Downside School CA 1934 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
Street, Millfield School CA 1961 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
Taunton, Taunton Vale CA 2012 2015 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2
Wells, Rowden Road CA 1935 1951 11 4 5 2 11 4 5 2
Weston-super-Mare, Clarence Park CA 1914 1996 188 51 69 68 3 0 3 0 191 51 72 68
Yeovil, West Hendford CA 1935 1939 5 1 3 1 5 1 3 1
Yeovil, Johnson Park CA 1951 1967 12 2 4 6 12 2 4 6
Totals 1882 2024 1303 371 435 489 2 6 146 27 59 59 1 0 1449 398 494 548 3 6

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 Championship All First-Class
Home Away All Position
Year P W L D T A P W L D T A P W L D T A P W L D T A
1882 8 1 6 1
1883 7 1 5 1
1884 6 1 5 0
1885 6 1 5 0
1891 6 2 4 0 6 3 2 1 12 5 6 1 5=/9 13 6 6 1
1892 8 5 1 2 8 3 4 1 16 8 5 3 3/9 17 8 6 3
1893 8 2 2 4 8 2 6 0 16 4 8 4 8/9 18 5 9 4
1894 8 3 2 3 8 3 5 0 16 6 7 3 6/9 17 6 7 4
1895 9 5 3 1 8 1 5 2 1 17 6 8 3 1 8=/14 19 6 10 3 1
1896 8 1 3 4 8 2 4 2 16 3 7 6 11/14 19 3 9 7
1897 8 2 4 2 8 1 5 2 16 3 9 4 11/14 18 3 10 5
1898 8 0 4 4 8 1 6 1 16 1 10 5 13=/14 17 2 10 5
1899 8 2 3 3 8 0 5 3 16 2 8 6 13=/15 18 2 9 7
1900 8 2 5 1 8 2 6 0 16 4 11 1 11/15 17 4 11 2
1901 9 2 4 3 8 2 6 0 1 17 4 10 3 1 12=/15 19 6 10 3 1
1902 9 4 2 3 9 3 5 1 18 7 7 4 7=/15 20 7 7 6
1903 8 3 1 4 1 9 3 5 1 17 6 6 5 1 10/15 19 7 6 6 1
1904 9 3 5 1 9 2 6 1 18 5 11 2 12/15 20 5 13 2
1905 9 1 4 4 9 0 6 3 18 1 10 7 15/16 19 1 10 8
1906 9 2 4 3 9 2 6 1 18 4 10 4 11=/16 18 4 10 4
1907 9 3 6 0 9 0 6 3 18 3 12 3 14/16 19 3 13 3
1908 10 1 5 4 10 1 8 1 20 2 13 5 16/16 20 2 13 5
1909 8 2 3 3 8 2 4 2 16 4 7 5 11/16 17 4 8 5
1910 9 0 8 1 9 0 7 2 18 0 15 3 16/16 18 0 15 3
1911 8 1 6 1 8 0 7 1 16 1 13 2 16/16 17 1 14 2
1912 8 1 4 3 8 1 4 3 16 2 8 6 14/16 18 2 9 7
1913 8 1 4 3 8 1 7 0 16 2 11 3 16/16 16 2 11 3
1914 9 2 7 0 1 10 1 9 0 19 3 16 0 1 15/16 19 3 16 0 1
1919 6 3 1 1 1 6 1 2 3 12 4 3 4 1 5=/15 15 5 4 5 1
1920 10 4 6 0 10 3 4 3 20 7 10 3 10/16 22 7 11 4
1921 11 3 6 2 11 5 5 1 22 8 11 3 10/17 25 8 14 3
1922 12 3 8 1 12 3 3 6 24 6 11 7 10/17 25 6 12 7
1923 12 5 5 2 12 4 6 2 24 9 11 4 9/17 25 9 12 4
1924 11 3 5 3 1 11 6 2 3 1 22 9 7 6 2 8/17 24 10 8 6 2
1925 13 0 8 5 13 3 7 3 26 3 15 8 15/17 27 3 16 8
1926 13 1 4 8 13 2 5 5 1 26 3 9 13 1 14/17 27 3 10 13 1
1927 13 1 4 8 13 2 5 6 26 3 9 14 14/17 27 3 10 14
1928 12 1 5 6 12 3 6 3 24 4 11 9 14/17 25 4 11 10
1929 14 3 8 3 14 0 9 5 28 3 17 8 15/17 30 4 18 8
1930 14 4 3 7 14 0 8 6 28 4 11 13 13=/17 30 4 12 14
1931 14 3 5 6 14 3 6 5 28 6 11 11 13/17 29 6 11 12
1932 14 6 3 5 14 2 4 8 28 8 7 13 7/17 29 8 8 13
1933 13 3 4 6 13 3 6 4 26 6 10 10 11/17 27 6 10 11
1934 12 2 4 6 12 1 6 5 24 3 10 11 15/17 25 3 11 11
1935 13 2 6 5 13 3 5 5 26 5 11 10 14/17 28 5 13 10
1936 13 6 3 4 13 3 7 3 26 9 10 7 7/17 28 10 10 8
1937 14 4 7 3 14 3 7 4 28 7 14 7 13/17 29 7 15 7
1938 14 8 2 4 14 2 7 5 28 10 9 9 7/17 29 10 10 9
1939 14 3 6 5 14 3 5 5 1 28 6 11 10 1 14/17 30 8 11 10 1
1946 13 7 1 5 13 5 5 3 26 12 6 8 4/17 28 14 6 8
1947 13 6 5 2 13 2 7 4 26 8 12 6 11=/17 28 8 13 7
1948 13 2 9 2 13 3 5 5 26 5 14 7 12/17 29 5 17 7
1949 13 5 8 0 13 3 7 3 26 8 15 3 9/17 29 8 16 5
1950 14 5 5 4 14 3 3 8 28 8 8 12 7=/17 30 8 9 13
1951 14 3 8 3 14 2 7 5 28 5 15 8 14/17 30 5 16 9
1952 14 2 5 7 14 0 7 7 28 2 12 14 17/17 29 2 12 15
1953 14 1 10 3 14 1 9 4 28 2 19 7 17/17 29 2 19 8
1954 14 1 9 4 14 1 9 4 28 2 18 8 17/17 29 2 18 9
1955 14 4 6 4 14 0 11 3 28 4 17 7 17/17 29 4 18 7
1956 14 4 5 5 14 0 10 4 28 4 15 9 15/17 30 4 15 11
1957 14 4 6 4 14 5 8 1 28 9 14 5 8/17 32 9 15 8
1958 14 8 5 1 14 4 4 6 28 12 9 7 3/17 29 12 10 7
1959 14 7 4 3 14 1 9 4 28 8 13 7 12/17 31 10 13 8
1960 16 1 6 9 16 4 5 7 32 5 11 16 14/17 34 5 13 16
1961 16 5 6 5 16 5 9 2 32 10 15 7 10/17 34 11 15 8
1962 16 6 3 7 16 6 4 6 32 12 7 13 6/17 34 14 7 13
1963 14 4 2 8 14 6 4 4 28 10 6 12 3/17 31 10 7 14
1964 14 4 5 5 14 4 3 7 28 8 8 12 8/17 29 8 9 12
1965 14 7 5 2 14 1 6 7 28 8 11 9 7/17 30 9 11 10
1966 14 7 5 2 14 6 2 6 28 13 7 8 3/17 30 14 7 9
1967 14 3 3 8 14 2 4 8 28 5 7 16 8/17 30 5 8 17
1968 13 2 7 4 1 14 3 4 7 27 5 11 11 1 12/17 29 5 11 13 1
1969 12 1 3 8 12 0 6 6 24 1 9 14 17/17 25 1 10 14
1970 12 3 4 5 12 2 6 4 24 5 10 9 13/17 24 5 10 9
1971 12 6 0 6 12 1 4 7 24 7 4 13 7/17 25 7 4 14
1972 10 0 1 9 10 4 1 5 20 4 2 14 11/17 21 4 2 15
1973 10 5 0 5 10 2 2 6 20 7 2 11 10/17 21 7 2 12
1974 10 5 2 3 10 1 2 7 20 6 4 10 5/17 23 6 5 12
1975 10 1 3 6 10 3 5 2 20 4 8 8 12/17 22 5 9 8
1976 10 4 4 2 10 3 4 3 20 7 8 5 7/17 22 7 9 6
1977 10 4 2 4 1 11 2 2 7 21 6 4 11 1 4/17 22 7 4 11 1
1978 11 7 2 2 11 2 2 7 22 9 4 9 5/17 24 9 4 11
1979 11 4 0 7 10 1 1 8 1 21 5 1 15 1 8/17 24 6 1 17 1
1980 10 2 3 5 1 11 1 2 8 21 3 5 13 1 5/17 23 4 5 14 1
1981 11 4 2 5 11 6 0 5 22 10 2 10 3/17 24 11 2 11
1982 11 2 3 6 11 4 3 4 22 6 6 10 6/17 23 6 6 11
1983 12 1 3 8 12 2 4 6 24 3 7 14 10/17 25 3 7 15 1
1984 12 3 1 8 12 3 6 3 24 6 7 11 7/17 26 7 8 11
1985 12 1 4 7 12 0 3 9 24 1 7 16 17/17 27 1 8 18
1986 12 3 4 5 11 0 3 8 1 23 3 7 13 1 16/17 25 3 7 15 1
1987 12 2 1 9 12 0 2 10 24 2 3 19 11/17 24 2 3 19
1988 11 1 4 6 11 4 2 5 22 5 6 11 11/17 23 5 7 11
1989 11 3 3 5 11 1 3 7 22 4 6 12 14/17 23 4 6 13
1990 11 2 3 6 11 1 1 9 22 3 4 15 15/17 24 3 5 16
1991 11 1 2 8 11 1 3 7 22 2 5 15 17/17 24 2 6 16
1992 11 4 1 6 11 1 3 7 22 5 4 13 9/18 23 5 5 13
1993 8 4 4 0 9 4 3 2 17 8 7 2 5/18 18 8 8 2
1994 9 6 2 1 8 1 5 2 17 7 7 3 11/18 18 7 7 4
1995 8 3 3 2 9 4 2 3 17 7 5 5 9/18 20 7 7 6
1996 9 3 3 3 8 2 3 3 17 5 6 6 11/18 19 5 7 7
1997 8 1 2 5 9 2 1 6 17 3 3 11 12/18 20 4 4 12
1998 9 4 2 3 8 2 5 1 17 6 7 4 9/18 18 6 7 5
1999 8 4 1 3 9 2 3 4 17 6 4 7 4/18 19 6 5 8
2000 8 1 0 7 8 1 4 3 16 2 4 10 5/9(D1) 18 4 4 10
2001 8 3 1 4 8 3 1 4 16 6 2 8 2/9(D1) 17 6 3 8
2002 8 1 2 5 8 0 5 3 16 1 7 8 8/9(D1) 17 1 7 8 1
2003 8 3 2 3 8 1 6 1 16 4 8 4 7/9(D2) 18 4 8 6
2004 8 1 3 4 8 3 2 3 16 4 5 7 4/9(D2) 18 5 5 8
2005 8 1 4 3 8 3 3 2 16 4 7 5 8/9(D2) 17 4 7 6
2006 8 1 4 3 8 2 5 1 16 3 9 4 9/9(D2) 16 3 9 4
2007 8 5 0 3 8 5 1 2 16 10 1 5 1/9(D2) 17 11 1 5
2008 8 1 2 5 8 2 0 6 16 3 2 11 4/9(D1) 18 4 2 12
2009 8 1 0 7 8 2 1 5 16 3 1 12 3/9(D1) 16 3 1 12
2010 8 4 0 4 8 2 2 4 16 6 2 8 2/9(D1) 16 6 2 8
2011 8 4 3 1 8 2 4 2 16 6 7 3 4/9(D1) 17 6 7 4
2012 8 4 0 4 8 1 1 6 16 5 1 10 2/9(D1) 17 5 1 11
2013 8 1 3 4 8 2 2 4 16 3 5 8 6/9(D1) 17 3 6 8
2014 8 2 1 5 8 2 1 5 16 4 2 10 6/9(D1) 17 4 2 11
2015 8 2 2 4 8 2 4 2 16 4 6 6 6/9(D1) 18 4 7 7
2016 8 4 1 3 8 2 0 6 16 6 1 9 2/9(D1) 17 6 1 10
2017 7 2 3 2 7 2 3 2 14 4 6 4 6/8(D1) 14 4 6 4
2018 7 4 0 2 1 7 3 2 2 14 7 2 4 1 2/8(D1) 14 7 2 4 1
2019 7 5 0 2 0 7 4 3 0 14 9 3 2 0 2/8(D1) 15 10 3 2 0
2020 2 2 0 0 0 3 2 0 1 6 4 0 2 0 Runner-up 6 4 0 2 0
2021 7 1 3 3 0 7 3 2 2 14 4 5 5 0 6/6(D1) 14 4 5 5 0
2022 7 2 3 2 0 7 1 3 3 14 3 6 5 0 7/10(D1) 14 3 6 5 0
2023 7 1 1 5 0 7 2 3 2 14 3 4 7 0 7/10(D1) 14 3 4 7 0
2024 7 5 1 1 0 7 0 2 5 14 5 3 6 0 3/10(D1) 14 5 3 6 0
Totals 1303 371 435 489 2 6 1305 272 543 483 2 5 2608 643 978 972 4 11 2815 681 1066 1051 5 12

Abandoned matches

  • 1895 v Lancashire at Manchester
  • 1901 v Worcestershire at Worcester
  • 1903 v Hampshire at Bath
  • 1914 v Northamptonshire at Taunton
  • 1924 v Essex at Bath
  • 1924 v Glamorgan at Cardiff
  • 1968 v Derbyshire at Bath
  • 1977 v Derbyshire at Taunton
  • 1979 v Gloucestershire at Bristol
  • 1980 v Lancashire at Bath
  • 1983 v Oxford University at Oxford
  • 1986 v Sussex at Horsham

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