By Sam Dalling

Tom Banton said it first. Sat in a makeshift Edgbaston dressing room, a dropped pin would have raised the decibel levels. Somerset had just lost a T20 semi-final to Hampshire, 12 months after Kent had pipped them in the final.
“We’ve reached Finals Day twice in the last two years – not many clubs can say they’ve done that,” Banton told his teammates. “I know it’s disappointing but let’s keep our heads up, keep playing the way we do, and we’ll be back next year – we’re going to win it.”
A nice sentiment, but words – rousing as they may be – are largely empty. Actions though,...