Watch: Somerset trial bizarre reverse cordon tactic in County Championship warm-up game

Watch: Somerset employed an inventive tactic during a warm-up game for the 2024 County Championship today (April 3), placing a line of fielders in an almost mirror image to where the slip cordon should be.

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The start of the English domestic summer is days away, and sides are completing their preparations in final warm-up games. Somerset completed a three-day fixture against Exeter University, which was hampered by early-April rain. In the final session of the fixture, with Exeter three down after Somerset’s second innings declaration, the county side got creative with their fielding positions.

Lewis Gregory placed a line of fielders in front of the bat, with one also placed at a narrow first slip as well as a gully in position. The fielder close into the wicket was at a very fine mid-off, with a fine short cover in place as well as two fielders in between to make up what resembled a ‘reversed’ slip cordon.

The plan nearly paid off, with the Exeter batter almost chipping the ball straight to the third ‘slip’. The cordon effectively cut off the option to drive through the off side.

The field evoked memories of Ben Stokes’ plan to Usman Khawaja during the first 2024 Ashes Test at Edgbaston. On that occasion, the England captain put in place three fielders in front of the bat on each side of the wicket.

It was also a throwback to Yorkshire’s field placement under Andrew Gale, which coach Jason Gillespie once referred to as the “Yorkshire Wall”.

Exeter University finished the final day of the fixture against Somerset on 127-4, with the match ending in a draw. Somerset play their first match of the 2024 County Championship away to Kent on Friday (April 5).