Somerset chief revels in best start in years
Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry says the abrupt change to their pre-season plans has played a part in their best start since 2019.
Somerset sit top of County Championship Division One after the first three matches [Shutterstock] Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry says the abrupt change to the club's pre-season plans has played a part in their best start to a campaign in seven years. A two-wicket victory over Hampshire means they have won two and drawn one of their opening three County Championship matches for the first time since 2019. "It's been quite a unique pre-season for us this year," Hurry said of the cancellation of their usual Abu Dhabi trip.
"I think that really helped bring us all together in a very short period of time, which was brilliant for our preparation going into this season. "Historically we've always looked to get on grass overseas, and we've really enjoyed some fantastic experiences and opponents out in Abu Dhabi. "But obviously with the things going on at the moment that wasn't possible, so we had to adjust at very short notice and get ourselves out to Desert Springs [resort] in Spain.
"There's been a huge amount of work from the head coach [Jason Kerr] and the support staff around how we can take ourselves from what we have been achieving to the next level. " A draw at home to champions Nottinghamshire in their first match was followed by a comprehensive 10-wicket win away at Essex, before the tense victory at Southampton. Hurry told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "A really tough fixture against Nottinghamshire, and the victory at Chelmsford, gave us some good momentum.
"A combination of those games, and the pre-season, [meant that] at Hampshire, we were really well prepared for that fight. "