For the seventh time, Somerset have ended the County Championship season as runners-up, extending their long wait for a maiden title. Despite consistently strong performances, the team remains one of only three counties never to have won the championship in its 136-year history.
Somerset’s 2026 campaign added to their list of second-place finishes from previous years including 2001, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018, and 2019, plus the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy, which they also finished second in. With third-place finishes in 2024 and 2025, the county continues to come close, but has yet to secure the top spot.
Unlike previous seasons that ended in dramatic final-day disappointments-such as in 2010, when a lead slipped away on the last day against Durham, and in 2016, when a crucial match between Middlesex and Yorkshire dashed Somerset’s hopes-the 2026 season ended more as a case of what might have been rather than heartbreak.
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Warwickshire clinched the title comfortably, finishing 20 points ahead after winning their last four matches. Somerset, meanwhile, concluded their campaign with a rain-affected draw against Surrey and a costly defeat to Yorkshire.
That loss at Headingley proved pivotal. Somerset were leading the table with two rounds remaining and had Yorkshire in trouble at 54-6 in their second innings, only ahead by 65 runs. However, a resilient 176-run partnership between George Hill and Dom Bess swung momentum, and Somerset’s collapse from 60-2 to being all out for 101 during their chase of 287 proved decisive.
The Yorkshire match was not the only opportunity slipped this season. Earlier at Taunton, despite a 112-run first innings advantage, Somerset’s chase fell short due to a weak bowling performance in the third innings, culminating in a defeat that still provokes regret.
A similar pattern emerged against Glamorgan. After securing a 125-run lead, Somerset were reduced to 32-6 in their second innings before a partial recovery allowed them to set a target of 283. However, former Somerset player Sean Dickson and bowler Ryan Hadley, who remained unbeaten on 50 after facing 231 deliveries, steered Glamorgan to an unlikely victory.
Weather also played a role in Somerset’s campaign. A home match against Sussex saw Somerset needing only three wickets for victory when rain halted proceedings. The reverse fixture at Hove was also curtailed by weather, resulting in another draw. Had either match produced wins for Somerset, and the loss been a draw, the outcome of the championship could have been different.
Looking ahead, the county prepares for its 137th challenge to claim the County Championship. Skipper Lewis Gregory is optimistic about the future, acknowledging the difficulty of winning the competition but expressing confidence in the squad’s direction.
Gregory said: “I don’t think there is a reason why we can’t get over the line other than it is a bloody difficult competition to win.
“We have some amazing cricketers in our squad and are heading in a great direction, with some young players who will be better for what they have done this season.
“We can look forward to next season with great confidence. The support we get is fantastic and this is a wonderful place to play cricket.”