'We will be making some new signings ' say Shine after defeat by Lancashire
He continued: "We have got to regroup, and we are going to make changes
Richard Walsh
19-Sep-2002
After seeing his side beaten inside two days by Lancashire in their final championship match of the season Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "This has been the worst season that I have experienced since I have been at the club, especially after 2001 was probably the best ever in the history of the county."
He continued: "We have got to regroup, and we are going to make changes. I haven't lost confidence in the players that we have on the staff, but we will be making some new signings to create competition for places."
Out on the field Somerset had started the day in a strong position, but allowed the last four Lancashire wickets to add 140 runs this morning to take their score to 228.
For the Cidermen Matt Bulbeck ended with career best figures of 6 for 93.
Batting for a second time Somerset were dismissed for 129 in 46.3 overs, with only Piran Holloway(45) and Arul Suppiah (21) staying for long, and lost their last six wickets for the addition of just 13 runs.
Chasing a target of 123 for victory home supporters were given something to cheer about when the first two wickets went down cheaply, but after that David Byas(63 not out) and Stuart Law(57 not out) made no mistake and saw the `Red Rose' county home in the 17th over to record a comfortable eight wicket victory.
After the game the players from both teams formed a guard of honour for umpires Ken Palmer for who this was the last ever championship game before he retires from the list.
Reflecting on the day the Somerset coach continued: "Today has been typical of the season that we have been having. We get ourselves into a good position and then we capitulate. We probably deserve to be in the position that we are in."
Regarding the bowling performances of Johnson and Bulbeck he told me: "They have both bowled really well, but we need to back it up with good catching and fielding which is what we haven't done all season, Stuart Law was dropped early on today and we can't afford to do that."