"I've got used to coming second": James Hildreth bemoans the familiar feeling of failure as Somerset fall short again

NICK HOWSON: The 35-year-old has nearly seen it all at Taunton but is yet to savour the sweet taste of red-ball success

James Hildreth has firmly given up on England. The 35-year-old has just concluded the worst full individual season of his County Championship career. An average of 29.24 is the lowest since he started out at Taunton, but it doesn't come close to the disappointment of yet another Somerset near-miss as their wait for a title goes on.

"I am way beyond all that kind of [England] stuff," he told The Cricketer. "My goal now, which is why this is hugely frustrating, is to win the Championship with Somerset. I've had a poor season from a personal point of view and a team point of view."

Of Somerset's six second-place finishes in the top flight, Hildreth has been around for five of them. But not since 2010, when the team failed to chase down 180 in 17 overs to overcome Durham and beat Nottinghamshire to the title, has their failure felt quite so cruel.

Between 12:15pm on day one and midday on the fourth afternoon, just 185 minutes of play were possible between Somerset and Essex, a title decider preposterously held during the final full week of September, due to rain. Despite the hosts' best efforts, which included them forfeiting their second innings, they could not force a result. The champagne corks were popped by Essex for the eighth time in their history, and for the second occasion in three years.

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"The difference with this one was that it was in our hands a little bit," added Hildreth, who knows the feeling to regret too well. "In previous years we've either been watching it on TV or looking on our phones to see what was going on. But we were in the game and it was a final. 

"We backed ourselves on a pitch that we could win the game. That could have happened if we had a bit longer. That is hugely frustrating but when you reflect on it.

"Essex have been the best side this season. They lost the least number of games, we've both won the same amount but they've drawn a couple more. 

"I feel like I've had a few [five] of those over the years. It is disappointing but in a weird way I've got used to coming second a lot of the time."

That concluding line, even for a player with over 26,000 career runs across all formats, is a sad one to consider. Hildreth, scandalously overlooked by his country when you consider the players who have been given a go over the last two decades, has two winners medals to his name to show for years of graft, including from this year's One-Day Cup when he hit the winning runs at Lord's to beat Hampshire.

^{James Hildreth hit the winning runs in the One-Day Cup final at Lord's against Hampshire}

Moving around the batting order while certainly unhelpful to his own form has at least assisted some of the young players. No Somerset player has averaged 32 or above in 2019 yet the likes of Tom Banton and George Bartlett are now settled in the team, while Tom Abell has enjoyed another fine campaign.

"Moving up to there helping some of the younger guys, helping the Bartletts and Bantons down the order and helping them in by getting in three early on, so that was kind of the thinking behind that," he explained.

"None of the batters have done particularly well in the Championship for us this season. I don't think that is a clear reflection of where I batted. I was poor but I think Abell, Bartlett and Banton have had good years. 

"I think they've been really good but we've played on some surfaces which have meant averages are lower. Batting has been really tricky."

^{Somerset's late charge on day four against Essex wasn't enough}

Hildreth will have at least two more tilts at trying to break Somerset's duck - his current contract runs until 2021 - though he is concerned by the increasing number of players being called up by England. Jack Leach, Lewis Gregory and Banton will all tour New Zealand this winter, with further honours surely to follow.

Marcus Trescothick's departure makes the Milton Keynes-born right-hander the next man in the retirement crosshairs. And given all that has come to pass in 2019 it is a prospect which has become increasingly pertinent. Perhaps even tempting.

"Because of the number of runs I've got this year there has been a few times I've thought about giving it up this season to be honest!" he jokes. "I've got a couple of years on my contract. I'l see those two years out and see where I am then."