Somerset have established themselves as the dominant force in T20 cricket, and now they set their sights on making history by becoming the first team to successfully defend the Vitality Blast trophy. Their title defence kicks off on Friday with a home game against Hampshire.
The pinnacle of Somerset’s 2025 season was securing their third Vitality Blast crown. After narrowly missing out the previous year, Lewis Gregory’s side came back stronger than ever, reclaiming the championship they first won in 2023.
Somerset have made a record five consecutive finals day appearances and are chasing a third straight final — both unprecedented achievements. This season, they aim to extend those records and become the first team to retain the Blast title, even with changes to the squad.
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Notable departures include Sean Dickson and Ben Green, who have joined Glamorgan and Leicestershire respectively. Australian fast bowler Riley Meredith will also miss the opening matches due to international duty, and star batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore is sidelined with injury. This will open doors for emerging talents such as Tom Lammonby, brothers James and Thomas Rew, Josh Thomas, Alfie Ogborne, and Archie Vaughan to step up.
Returning to strength, Tom Banton rejoins the side after missing early games due to IPL commitments and injury. Key performers from last season, including Will Smeed, captain Lewis Gregory, Tom Abell, and Craig Overton — all instrumental in both T20 and County Championship campaigns — will play crucial roles again.
A major question is the impact of new overseas signing Daniel Sams. The all-rounder comes with an impressive T20 pedigree—over 2,000 runs and 250 wickets worldwide—including stints in the IPL, Big Bash, CPL, and PSL, along with experience in English conditions representing Essex and Nottinghamshire.
Meredith’s call-up to the Australian ODI squad, causing him to miss the first six Blast group matches, is a significant setback for Somerset. While the team may consider registering Migael Pretorius as an overseas player or seeking a late signing, replacing Meredith’s genuine pace—evidenced by his 28 wickets in last season’s Blast—will be challenging.
On the eve of their title defence, Head Coach Jason Kerr expressed his excitement: “Starting the campaign at home in front of a full house is fantastic. The weather looks perfect, and the whole group is buzzing for tomorrow. Despite just a few days’ preparation after a demanding six weeks of championship cricket, the team’s attitude in training has been outstanding.
“Last year’s final was an incredible spectacle, and we hope tomorrow lives up to that. Without Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Riley Meredith, some changes have been necessary, but that creates exciting opportunities for others.”
This season’s format sees three groups of six teams. Somerset compete in the Central group alongside Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Warwickshire Bears, and Worcestershire Rapids. The top two teams from each group, plus the two best third-placed sides, advance to the quarter-finals. Somerset’s initial fixtures include a home clash with Hampshire and an away game against Derbyshire, giving them an early chance to assert their ambitions.