SOMERSET’S fine start to the 2018 season represents the first time they have won their first two County Championship games for 25 years.

Five of the team that beat Yorkshire over the weekend (and this Gazette reporter) were not born when the class of 1993 saw off Hampshire by an innings and 148 runs before beating Lancashire by 18 runs in a game that has gone down in Taunton folklore.

Requiring just 88 to win, the Red Rose were skittled for just 72 as Andy Caddick tore through a visiting line-up including Mike Atherton, Graham Lloyd and Wasim Akram with 9-32 from 11.1 overs.

Bridgwater Mercury:

TURNAROUND: The scorecard from Somerset's incredible win over Lancashire in Taunton

Both the County Gazette and the Somerset CCC yearbook described it as “one of the most remarkable games ever seen at Taunton”, finishing as it did within two days as 14 wickets fell on day one and the remaining 26 on day two.

David Green concluded his match report in the 1994 yearbook by writing: “As the players dashed from the field the crowd poured onto it, gathered in a dense crush in front of the pavilion and remained there for almost an hour, savouring a truly memorable day’s cricket.”

Unlike in 1993, however, the bookmakers are not overly optimistic regarding Somerset’s chances.

A Gazette piece following the victory over Hampshire reported how “smashing Somerset have had their odds to win the Championship slashed”, with local bookmaker Dave Pipe - whose son Martin and grandson David have become successful horse racing trainers - reducing the odds of a title win from 20/1 to 6.5/1.

Bridgwater Mercury:

ATTRACTING HEADLINES: Somerset's fast start as described in the Gazette on May 7, 1993

This time around, Somerset remain around the outsiders despite two wins to start the season. They are priced between 6/1 and 10/1, with only Lancashire and Worcestershire attracting higher odds.

The remarkable win over Lancashire also represented a First Class debut for Marcus Trescothick.

Bridgwater Mercury:

YOUTHFUL: Marcus Trescothick

The batsman is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the only member of the 1993 squad still on the playing staff, though current head coach Jason Kerr was a promising 19-year-old seamer who made his Somerset debut that summer.

Bridgwater Mercury:

PROMISE: Current Somerset head coach Jason Kerr pictured prior to the 1993 season

Kerr did not feature in the two Championship victories but played an intervening tour match against Australia, claiming the notable scalps of David Boon and Mark Slater on his way to figures of 3-77.

Somerset’s winning start was halted in their third match by Worcestershire, who won by two wickets at New Road.

The Cidermen went on to end the season fifth in what was then one 18-team division, with Middlesex finishing as champions.