England cricket legend Ian Botham has publicly condemned the pitch prepared by Somerset for their recent Rothesay County Championship match against Durham, labeling it “appalling.” The game, held at Taunton, concluded in fewer than five sessions, prompting Botham’s strong criticism.
Somerset coach Jason Kerr praised the pitch as “arguably the best we’ve had this year” after his team secured a five-wicket win, boosting their chances of a first-ever Division One title. Yet, Botham posted photographs of the worn pitch before the match began, highlighting its poor condition. The game saw 22 wickets fall and ended shortly before 4 pm on Wednesday.
The match referee reportedly marked the pitch as ‘below average,’ raising the possibility that Somerset could face a points deduction from the cricket regulator, an organization separate from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
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Botham, a former Somerset player with a complicated history at the club, expressed his disappointment on social media: “Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling.”
Having started his exceptional career at Somerset in 1974, Botham departed under acrimonious circumstances twelve years later amid controversies involving players Viv Richards and Joel Garner. Although a stand at Taunton bears his name, Botham now serves as honorary president of Durham, where he concluded his playing career and was club chair until recently.
His criticism also touched on Somerset’s desire to maintain 14 championship matches in the upcoming season, while counties like Durham, supported by the Professional Cricketers' Association, push to reduce red-ball fixtures to 12, aiming to enhance competition quality.
Botham stated, “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 match saw spin bowlers dominate towards the end, with Jack Leach taking six wickets for 63 runs and Archie Vaughan, son of former England captain Michael Vaughan, claiming four for 85 after opening the bowling—a pivotal factor in Somerset’s victory.
However, Kerr defended the surface, noting that the opening day yielded 400 runs and that seamer Craig Overton took six wickets, suggesting the pitch offered something for all players.
“I thought it was an incredible surface,” Kerr said. “I spoke to Nick (Pepper, Somerset’s head groundsperson) and it was arguably the best surface we’ve had this year.
“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.”