Somerset’s 2022 season came came to disappointing end last week, with an innings defeat at the hands of Kent at Canterbury - the same way that it had started when it was Hampshire who were the victors.

In between, however, there has been a lot of exciting and entertaining cricket, which has included reaching the final of the Vitality Blast T20 at Edgbaston, where sadly Somerset lost out in the semi final to the eventual winners Hampshire.

The underlying factor throughout the championship season has been the inconsistency of the top order batting which failed on many occasions and saw Somerset as one of those gaining the lowest number of batting bonus points in the first division.

In previous years the bowling has bailed out the batting but on too many occasions this year the attack has lacked real penetration, which is why for much of the season the Cidermen have found themselves at the foot of the table and under the threat of relegation.

One of the few occasions when both the batting and bowling fired together was in the penultimate match of the season against Northamptonshire which resulted in a victory and guaranteed Somerset’s survival in the top flight of the county championship for another year.

There have, however, been many positives that have come from the championship campaign this summer.

The emergence of 18-year-old batsman/wicket-keeper James Rew has been the outstanding feature and in the seven championship games the youngster who plays for Taunton St Andrews scored 337 runs at an average of 37.44 including an unbeaten 101, as well as claiming 18 catches behind the stumps.

Skipper Tom Abell topped 1,000 championship runs in a season for the first time since making his debut in 2014, totalling 1,039 in his 14 matches at an average of 51.95, including five centuries and a new career best of 150 not out.

The next highest totalling batsman was 22-year-old Tom Lammonby who opening the innings in all 14 games, made 682 at an average of 28.42, with a best of 110.

Cornishman Lewis Goldsworthy, who is only 21, scored his first championship century and ended with 651 runs from his 10 games at an average of 43.40 including a career best 130.

On the bowling side Craig Overton, whose appearances were limited to nine matches by his involvement with the England side, was the leading wicket taker with 36 wickets at an average of 17.97 with a best of seven for 57. When Overton was in the side the attack had more of an edge and his 5 for 38 in Northants' first innings was a key factor in the relegation-saving victory in the penultimate match.

Another 21-year-old, Kasey Aldridge, showed he is a paceman to be reckoned with and in his eight matches ended with 23 victims at an average of 30.61 with a best of 6 for 110.

In the white ball competitions, Somerset played some entertaining cricket in the Vitality Blast T20, and attracted large crowds to all of their home games several of which were sell outs. The standout innings was Rilee Roussouw’s breathtaking innings of 93 from 36 balls against Derbyshire which included seven 6s.

There were also some highly entertaining batting displays from Will Smeed, Tom Banton and Abell during the T20 campaign.

In the absence of so many senior players Somerset struggled in the Royal London One Day Cup. However there were good returns with the bat from Rew and Goldsworthy who both averaged over 35. 

With the ball Sonny Baker, now fully recovered from injury, claimed nine wickets at an average of 17 while Aldridge who bowled the most overs ended with the most most victims - 13 at 29.30 runs each.

At the end of the season James Hildreth retired after 20 years at Somerset and departs as the third highest first class run scorer for the county - after Harold Gimblett and Marcus Trescothick.

Max Waller, who is Somerset’s all time leading wicket taker in T20 cricket with 139 victims, also called it a day at the end of the summer after 13 seasons at the club.

It may have been a disappointing season but there have been many exciting games watched by the county’s large and loyal fan base, who will already be awaiting the publication of the 2023 season's fixtures ready for another shot at winning some silverware.