Somerset have gone for a practical fix to their batting shortage, signing South African left-hander Jordan Hermann on a three-match County Championship deal. The 24-year-old will slot in for next week’s game against Sussex at Taunton, disappear briefly for South Africa A duty, then return in June for meetings with Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire.
Hermann’s numbers are tidy enough: 45.22 from 21 first-class outings, seven hundreds already, and a maiden South Africa cap in a T20 against New Zealand in March. A side strain cut that tour short; the A-team call-up suggests the national selectors still like what they see.
“I’m excited by the opportunity of playing County Championship cricket for Somerset,” Hermann said. “I’m always looking to get better and hopefully playing in English conditions can help take my game to the next level. Somerset have begun the season well and hopefully I can help to contribute to the team carrying on that good start.”
Somerset’s need is obvious. Tom Kohler-Cadmore is out with a fractured thumb, Tom Banton is nursing a finger, Lewis Goldsworthy’s hamstring has pinged, and young keeper-batter Thomas Rew is buried in A-Level revision. Four frontline options gone in a fortnight; depth only stretches so far.
Director of cricket Andy Hurry spelled it out. “We have suffered a number of injuries to key batters in the last month, so we felt that this was the perfect opportunity to strengthen the batting line up, and Jordan will certainly help to strengthen our options in that department.
“Jordan is a player with a growing reputation, and we look forward to him helping us to maintain our positive start to the County Championship campaign.”
The deal is short and simple: arrive, score runs, head off with South Africa A, come back, score a few more. For Somerset, anything close to that script will do nicely.
