Somerset are hopeful that Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Lammonby will pass late fitness assessments to feature in their forthcoming County Championship clash with Warwickshire, starting Friday at Taunton. This match comes on the back of Somerset’s emphatic 306-run victory over defending champions Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, a win that propelled them to third place halfway through the season.
Currently sitting just behind Warwickshire, who occupy fourth place and trail Somerset by two points, the competition remains tightly contested. Eight teams remain in contention for the title, with Essex leading but only 28 points ahead of Glamorgan in eighth place, making every game critical as the season progresses.
Somerset face several injury challenges, with captain Lewis Gregory sidelined due to a hamstring strain sustained during the Nottinghamshire match. Will Smeed (finger) and Tom Abell (hand) are also ruled out, while Tom Banton remains unavailable, and James Rew is on international duty with England. This has stretched Somerset’s squad depth considerably.
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Kohler-Cadmore, who has not played since scoring a century in the opening round due to a broken thumb, and Lammonby, nursing an elbow injury from the Vitality Blast, both have fitness tests ahead of the weekend. Somerset are eager to have at least one of the two available, as the squad for the game, captained by Craig Overton, currently includes just five other specialist batters. Without Kohler-Cadmore or Lammonby, the batting lineup risks being unbalanced with a lengthy tail.
Somerset Head Coach Jason Kerr reflected on the recent performance and upcoming challenges: “We had a great four days at Trent Bridge, particularly given our stretched resources. It’s about executing the basics better than the opposition over a sustained period, and we did that exceptionally well. Our first innings batting was impressive, setting the tone for a fantastic team effort. We’ll need to bring the same determination as we face Warwickshire this weekend.
“Our goal remains to be in strong contention for the title come September. This will be our last Championship fixture before returning to the Blast, so it’s crucial we position ourselves strongly in these remaining matches.”