County Championship Division One, Somerset v Warwickshire, The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, April 28th to May 1st 2022, Second Day, Somerset 458 (Renshaw 129, Abell 70, Lammonby 56, Banton 57) lead Warwickshire 197-9 by 261 runs
After 351-4 (I had to get that in one more time) on the first day the second produced 305-15 and ended with Somerset in a dominant position for the first time in a county championship game for a very long time. That position has been achieved by another superb bowling performance, one that had Steve Kirby looking like Christmas had come early. The wonderfully forthright and engaging bowling coach highlighted that (his) bowlers had targeted a fuller length that their opponents (Oliver Hanson-Daley excepted). That together with all six bowlers contributing meant that the Warwickshire batting never had time to breathe and feel comfortable at the crease.
This wouldn’t be Somerset however if that position of strength hadn’t been achieved despite a dreadful period at some point, so lets get the negatives out of the way first.
351-4 overnight had moved on to 366-4 when the contractually obliged Somerset batting collapse reduced them to 373-8 in 19 balls. Steve Davies’ run out (what did made him think there was a single there?) may have still be in the mind of Tom Banton when he offered no shot to a Craig Miles in-swinger. When Craig Overton went first ball, losing his middle stump thanks to a gap between bat and pad the former Gloucestershire man was on a hat-trick but before he had the chance to complete it (Overton’s dismissal came off the last ball of an over) Lewis Gregory had also perished.
Miles couldn’t complete his hat-trick and thankfully at around 11:45 the worst was over. Josh Davey and Jack Leach added 44 before Leach and Brooks’ 41 in just 9 overs. 458 was far less than I was hoping for but far better than it could have been 373-8.
Back in the mid-70s Brain Rose moved wicketkeeper Derek Taylor up from 9 to open and he responded with an innings of 170 odd straight away. Rose’s logic was that Taylor was a technically superb batsman who just needed time to bat. You could make a very strong case for similar elevation for Leach and Davey.
Matt Renshaw had alluded in his post day one interview that the surface was the batting paradise the scoreboard suggested. Whether this was a case of the talented Aussie wanting to get inside the heads of the opposition or an accurate analysis of the surface was left open to question but the early movement suggested Matt might have been spot on.
The Warwickshire reply fell into that category of never really getting going. No partnership exceeded 30 until Briggs and McAndrew combined for 76 or the eigth wicket.
The Somerset bowlers all contributed with wickets but the brightest point for me was the re-emergence of the real Josh Davey. Two crucial top order wickets a result of his trademark consistently challenging line, was so good to see.
The only thing I would have changed if I were leading the side (I can dream you know) would to open with Josh Davey. I’m sure there was thought in the plan but why not employ the Overton/Davey combination that has been so prodigiously successful over the past couple of years?
Jack Leach picked up his first Championship wicket of the season removing his fellow member of the slow left arm era club, Danny Briggs in his first over but by then batting had become considerably easier with first Briggs and then McAndrew keeping No 4 Sam Hain company. Cue Tom Abell and Craig Overton. The captain brought himself on and almost immediately induced a catch to Davies and the force of nature that is Craig Overton caught by Gregory in the gully off a looping outside edge.
The further encouragement from seeing Peter Siddle on as sub at one point in the last session, Kirby saying he was very close to playing, was slightly tempered by Josh Davey only bowling 8 overs. I’m taking encouragement from Kirby not referencing Davey when he spoke to Anthony Gibson and hoping Josh is fit to bowl today.
Kirby understandably wouldn’t say if the follow-on will be enforced (nice try Mr Gibson). While accepting there are factors to consider such as how the bowlers feel and whether Josh is available I’d do what Warwickshire least want, and I’m pretty sure that would be to bat again on the third morning.
A win in three days? Dare to dream.
