Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the LV= Insurance County Championship...
Fixture: Somerset v Leicestershire
Venue: Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
Dates: Sunday, July 4, 2021 - Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
Despite their eight-point penalty, Somerset are top of the pile in their group, having won four and lost just one of their first eight games. Runners-up in 2019 and once again in the Bob Willis Trophy last time around, some doubted their credentials to go one better this year, given the points deduction they had to overcome before even beginning to consider a title charge.
However, after coming from behind to topple Middlesex in their season opener, they have rarely looked back; they were outplayed in defeat against Gloucestershire when James Bracey starred but have otherwise been streetwise and impenetrable, batting all the way down their order and with plenty of high-class bowling options.
Their opponents, Leicestershire, have played plenty of good cricket themselves, only to find themselves on the wrong end of a couple of difficult defeats and in held in high-scoring draws. They dominated much of one game against Gloucstershire, only to lose on the final day, before they came away with a win when the shoe was on the other foot against Middlesex.
Who's in form?
Tom Abell began the season in terrific touch for Somerset, but the club captain has suffered a hamstring injury and will miss this one, with Craig Overton taking the reins as captain in his place. In his absence, the Taunton side could do with a return to the runs for some of his teammates; Steve Davies is their next-highest run-scorer with 389 - more than 200 fewer than Abell.
With the ball, however, they have been as potent as ever. Overton has claimed 36 wickets in just six games at just 12.86 apiece, while Josh Davey - perennially underrated beyond the Cooper Associates County Ground - has 27 scalps at an average of 17.4.
For Leicestershire, Marcus Harris has been a star with the bat; there are higher-profile overseas players on the circuit, but few have had his impact. He has racked up 557 runs in just six games, while Lewis Hill is just a single short of 600 for the season. And then there is Sam Evans, who has made three hundreds in just seven matches.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Somerset: DDDWW
Leicestershire: WWDDL
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 102
Somerset wins: 34
Leicestershire wins: 28
Draws: 40
Abandoned: 0
What's the team news?
Tom Banton and Tom Abell are still out with England duty and a hamstring problem respectively, while Jack Leach is out as he is self-isolating. Devon Conway will make his debut at the top of the order.
Somerset: Craig Overton, Kasey Aldridge, George Bartlett, Jack Brooks, Eddie Byrom, Devon Conway, Josh Davey, Steve Davies, Marchant de Lange, Lewis Goldsworthy, Lewis Gregory, James Hildreth, Tom Lammonby, Roelof van der Merwe.
Leicestershire: Coming soon.
Latest Somerset news: Click here
Latest Leicestershire news: Click here
Who said what?
The Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr, downplayed his sides' position as the favourites earlier, saying "“We’ve played some phenomenal red-ball cricket this year and we can take a lot of confidence from that."
“There are no easy games in this year’s competition. We came out on top at Leicestershire earlier in the season, but there were periods of that game where they really exerted pressure on us. We managed to overcome that and we certainly won’t be taking anything for granted", he added on the Somerset website.
What's the weather forecast?
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Taunton: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Information to come.
All LV= County Championship matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every LV= County Championship match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets
Coming soon.
Travel
Address: Somerset County Cricket Club, St James St, Taunton TA1 1JT
By car
From the north
From the M5, exit at junction 25 and take the A358 Exit to Taunton/ Yeovil. At the roundabout, take the second exit (south) or third exit (north) onto the A358 heading to Taunton/A38/ Minehead, continuing straight onto Toneway/A358. At the next roundabout, take the second exit onto Priory Avenue and the Cooper Associates County Ground will be on your left.
From the south
Exit the M5 at junction 26 towards Wellington/Taunton/A38 and follow the A38 to the ground.
From the east
Follow the A303 to Southfields roundabout and take the fourth exit onto the A358. Take the third exit at the first roundabout and the first exit at the second roundabout, following signs for A358. At the third roundabout go straight over on Priory Avenue and the ground will be on your left.
From the west
Exit the M5 at junction 26 towards Wellington/Taunton/A38 and follow the A38 to the ground.
By bus: Taunton Bus Station is a five-minute walk from the Cooper Associates County Ground. As you leave the station, turn left onto Castle Green. Turn left at Fat Face and walk down to Debenhams before turning right into St James Street and the ground will appear on your left.
By train: Taunton Train Station is a ten minute walk from the Cooper Associates County Ground. As you leave the station, turn left into Station Road, heading towards the Town Centre. Turn left onto Priory Bridge Road, and the ground will be on your right.
Prediction?
Somerset rarely lose, so go into this one as strong favourites.
OTHER ROUND 10 MATCH PREVIEWS
Group 1
Group 2
Gloucestershire v Middlesex
Group 3
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