SOMERSET County Cricket Club has launched its 2023 Vitality Blast shirts and will become the first County to have two.

Players for Somerset will wear different shirts in the Blast this year, depending on whether they are a batter or a bowler.

To launch the new kit, Tom Banton, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Ben Green and Sonny Baker visited Musgrove Park Hospital’s Children’s Wards to meet the patients and give away some of the new shirts.

The players also presented a cheque for £1500 to the hospital.

 

The club has said: "The batting shirt is based around the design of a batting crease. The dynamic angle of the crease with the wyvern over the heart means that the focus of the wearer is always on the crease and its importance.

"The design of the bowling shirt is based on a diagram uncovered in an old Wisden annual which depicts the release point and trajectory of every possible delivery. The angles at which these deliveries cross over create the different tones and points of colour.

"The designs are simple but not simplistic. They are the product of a distinct narrative."

Head coach Jason Kerr explained why the launch took place at Musgrove Park Hospital.

“Over the years we have developed a close relationship with the hospital, the Love Musgrove charity and with the Children’s Wards in particular.

%image('16653785', type="article-full", alt="Somerset players with some children at Musgrove Hospital Taunton.")

“The annual Christmas present drop at the wards is one of the most important days of the year for the Club and the players but because of Covid we haven’t been able to enter the wards when dropping off the gifts for the last few years.

“It’s a connection that the players have really missed, so to be able to come back, see the children, give away a load of shirts and donate a significant amount of money to such a worthy cause was absolutely brilliant."

Regional account manager at Kukri Sports, Lloyd Alley said: “When Somerset came to us with the innovative idea of producing two shirts for two difference facets of the game, we worked collectively with the commercial team and their graphic designer to bring their ideas and designs to life, the story behind the designs are very unique to the club and the game of cricket itself.”

Jane Horn, Musgrove Park Health Play specialist added: “It was great to welcome the team back into the hospital again after the Covid Pandemic kept them out for the past few years. Thanks again for taking the time to visit.”