IT MAY seem hard to believe that 2026 will be Craig Overton’s 15th season for Somerset but despite this he is still as excited as ever at the prospect of another summer playing first class cricket.

“It just seems to have flown by. It’s all seems to have merged into a blur and I’m still here and hopefully will be for a few more years.

“I’m still excited at the start of the season, but it’s a different sort of excitement as I know what is going to happen. I know how the season goes and how to manage my body a bit more. I’m still excited to get out there playing and show what I can do.”

Craig recalled some of the highlights of his time at Somerset to date starting with his first class debut in April 2012 against Lancashire at home.

“That didn’t seem much of a game. I know we bowled first and they scored 360 odd for four on the first day before it started to rain - I bowled a bit but didn’t do much but I got a wicket - Ashwell Prince which was all that mattered to me - caught one handed by Nick Compton at mid wicket off a short ball - but we will take it.

“Vernon Philander was our overseas player that season and he was great to be around and helped us youngsters a lot.

“My first five-fer was against Durham in 2014 - that was my break out year when I got 42 wickets and scored 431 runs.

“I scored my only first class century against Hampshire at Taunton, me and Roelof van der Merwe put on a fair few together to set a new partnership record which was then broken just a week later by Ryan Davies and Tregs.”

What about the years of disappointment in one day and championship cricket?

“If you look at results we are probably up there with Surrey as one of the best sides over the last 10 years - it’s just unfortunate that we just haven’t managed to cross the line, but I think that’s down to the fact that we don’t start the season so well. “We have put in a fair amount of work trying to figure out why we don’t start so well and hopefully we can put it right this year.”

Craig went on: “2019 was very special year and to get across the line with a fairly young side and at Lord’s was something pretty special - it will live in the memory of the boys who played for a long time.

“This was the first trophy for the club in 18 years and since then we’ve added a couple in the T20 and, hopefully, we will get that all important one at some time and celebrate that together. “

“If you speak to the boys who play red ball cricket you will find out that they all want to win the county championhip. Hopefully we can get across the line in the next couple of years, and if we do then the side will be remembered for a long time.” Despite turning 32 in April Craig is looking forward to a few more years playing for Somerset. “As long as the body holds up I still love playing cricket for Somerset, so I want to go on as long as I can.