DECEMBER 21st is the shortest day of the year and from now on the days start to lengthen eventually ushering in the start of a new cricket season.

Somerset are scheduled to play their opening County Championship against Worcestershire at Taunton on 4th April 2025. Before the season gets underway there will be some warm up games, so cricket will be returning in less than three months time!

This year marks 150 years since Somerset CCC was established and in 2025 for the first time ever the club will host both a men’s and women’s full time professional teams.

Over the course of the coming season Taunton will host well over 50 days of men’s and women’s cricket, making membership of Somerset even better value for money. For those intending to go along to as many home matches as possible this coming season the Platinum Membership looks like being the best value.

However Somerset membership is available at a variety of levels depending on the requirements of each individual. For those who are looking for something to celebrate the club’s special year the Limited Edition 150th Anniversary Membership package is worthy of consideration. This level of membership includes five days of Championship of Metro Bank One Day Cup cricket, a permanent plaque on the SCCC Legends Wall, a Joel Garner signed print, a Vertu In Ear radio ear piece, a copy of the 150th Anniversary SCCC book, and a unique traditional woollen cricket cap featuring the SCCC 150th Anniversary badge.

All of the options are available by logging onto www.somersetcountycc.co.uk. Inevitably one topic of conversation across the yuletide table among fans of the Cidermen will be how you think Lewis Gregory and his boys fared in his first season in charge - and what is likely to happen in 2025.

After winning the Vitality Blast in 2023, Somerset went into the new season looking to become the first team ever to retain that trophy. As the season unfolded not only were Somerset well placed to retain the T20 Trophy but going into the last couple of weeks they were in with a chance of lifting all three of the domestic competitions.

However, when it came to the business end of the season Somerset came up short and eventually finished empty handed. So was it a good season - or was it just another summer that ended in disappointment?

The truth is while it did all end in disappointment, Somerset competed strongly at the top level and produced some impressive performances, the highlight of which was beating Surrey in the County Championship. With the new season less than 100 days away its time to get planning for the upcoming campaign and get on board prepared for whatever lies ahead!