Somerset 2026 One Day Cup Preview
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Written by Dan Clark
2025 Review:
League Position: 2nd in Group B - Lost SFs
Top Runscorer: James Rew - 438 runs
Top Wicket Taker: Ben Green - 16 wickets
Top Points Scorer: Tom Lammonby - 1314 points
Somerset once again displayed their white ball strength with a strong One Day Cup campaign in 2025. In the group stages, they won six of their eight matches, with key wins against Middlesex and Durham the highlights. This set up a quarter final tie against Gloucestershire, where they navigated a chase of 149 in a limited overs game superbly, to set up a semi final tie with Worcestershire. This proved one step too far, however, with the eventual champions successfully defending 278 runs in a rain-affected match.
The standout performers for Somerset were certainly the Rew brothers. Older brother James, who made his England test debut this year, was the team’s highest run scorer, averaging over sixty with the bat across all ten games. However, younger brother and England Under 19 international Thomas also displayed his quality across the campaign, scoring an impressive 308 runs at an average of 44. Elsewhere, Archie Vaughan and Tom Lammonby displayed their all-round skills across the competition, with Ben Green and Jake Ball rounding out a potent attack.
Somerset 2026 One Day Cup Preview - Fantasy Cricket Banker, Wildcard & Young Gun
Somerset will be without some key members of last year’s squad for this iteration of the competition however, with both Thomas and James Rew securing contracts for the Hundred, along with Ben Green leaving for Leicestershire. This will pave the way for the other young members of the squad to step up, with the likes of Vaughan, Alfie Ogborne and Josh Thomas set to lead the way for the side. Somerset look also set to be without promising academy talent Fin Hill due to injury, and the likes of Smeed, Kohler-Cadmore and Gregory, who have all secured Hundred deals again.
The side will retain experience though, with Jack Leach set to continue alongside the likes of Lewis Goldsworthy and Jake Ball. However, the side will certainly look different from last year’s group, and with the captaincy vacant too, it could end up being a campaign of transition and experimentation for Somerset.
Banker: Jack Leach
The former England international is by no means a T20 regular for Somerset, but he certainly will be for them in this upcoming campaign. Leach has only featured in 33 List A matches, with six of those coming last campaign, but his record is stellar. He boasts an average of 27.77, and an economy rate below 4.5 with the ball, showing his wickets are taken effectively. With economy rate also being a key scoring factor within The Cricket Draft, Leach can accumulate points not solely from taking wickets if his spell remains miserly. This may be the case if sides choose to ‘see off’ Leach and attack the more junior members of Somerset’s pace attack.
Wildcard: Alfie Ogborne
The promising left arm quick Ogborne has the qualities to go a very long way in the game of cricket. The tall twenty two year old has contributed to Somerset’s success in the County Championship this season when called upon, along with making his T20 debut this season against Warwickshire where he took his maiden wicket. Ogborne’s stats with the bat do not flatter his abilities, but he has contributed in key situations, most notably in a tight win over Hampshire in the County Championship this term. Ogborne looks set to be the perfect foil to Jake Ball in Somerset’s pace attack.
Young Gun: Josh Thomas
Thomas joined the seemingly eternal carousel of Somerset opening pairs, but has since found a home at the top of the order for the county. The left handed opener, whose brother George plays for Sussex, scored his maiden First Class hundred against Yorkshire this season, displaying a fine counter attacking style. The twenty two year old has two fifties in his twenty List A innings, and also bowls some spin also. Thomas looks set to open for Somerset, and with his attacking style appealing for points gained from a positive strike rate, he could be set for a breakout Cricket Draft campaign.
Potential Starting XI:
A Vaughan
S Perera
T Lammonby
L Goldsworthy
J Thomas
B Church
K Roberts
M Pretorius
J Leach
J Shaw
J Ball
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