v Gloucestershire CC2 @ Bristol 18 April 2006

Scorecard 

We got the side almost right.  Richard Johnson was predicted not to play and does.  There was some suggestion on Somerset Sound this morning that Keith Parsons might be in the eleven but our expectation that Wes Durston would be included seems to have scuppered that one.

Trescothick, Wood (captain), Francis J, Hildreth, White, Durston, Gazzard, Trego, Willoughby, Johnson, Caddick

I can't think that this is the batting line-up (looking at the back end of it where Willoughby is in front of RJ).  If it is, then they have more faith in White's batting ability than we expected and less in Peter Trego's.  We'll have to watch tomorrow and see how it pans out.

Wood won the toss and inserted the home side.  Surprised a few but it was overcast and possibly doing a bit so we took first shot.  As it turned out it didn't work out to that kind of plan and that flaming man Spearman and Weston established a firm foundation.  The one thing to say in our bowler's favour is that they did not get off to a flyer.  Their 135 run first wicket partnership did not come quickly.  They were restricted largely to 3 an over with Johnno straying over the 4 mark in his 15.  It seemed that the plan was for Willoughby to be the man who held an end down.  Which he did most of the day.  Caddick and Johnson were then used in shorter bursts, the first more than the second, with Trego being brought on to change an end and try breaking stubborn partnerships.  Not a spinner's day it seems with Cameron White bowling a mere 2 overs before the lunch break.

Trigger got his first return season wicket to break up that solid first partnership when he bowled Weston just after lunch (I think).  Spearman is always the man to get out and invariably against us, the man who scores big.  He went on to record his first century of the Championship but although his innings comprised 68 runs in boundaries, it took 177 balls to reach his final score.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Before that happened, Caddick opened his account with Windows, caught in the slips by Trescothick for 20 at 196.

We then had the other new boys partnering up twice to get us back into this game.  Charl Willoughby bowled and Craig Spearman asked Cameron White whether he could catch.  The answer was "yes" and the Gloucester Antipodean departed with 109 of his side's 206.  5 runs later the two Somerset men combined again to remove Taylor for 10.

Then the rain came, we lost an hour and something before Gidman and that man Harvey returned to push the score on with a 50 partnership.  262 at the close.  The home side's day but not by as much as it promised at lunchtime.  We have another chance to get among them early tomorrow and then we have to show what the wicket holds for us.  In the past oppostion 'featherbeds' have turned into minefields when we walk out with willow onto the same surface.  This will not be the case tomorrow..... he now spends a sleepless night hoping; a) we can get them out on it and we do not suffer another 8th wicket nightmare like this tiime last year and b) when we do get on it, we do ourselves the early season justice we usually don't!!!!

A view from the boundary...Care of "Hoopyt"
Hmm not too bad a day after the start we had anyway. Firstly it was ridiculouly cold and windy all day. The pitch looks a good one and I was fairly surprised we put them in to be honest. We started fairly slowly too. Willoughby had a good shout for LBW in his first over and there were quite a few played and missed's but no real chances. Until Tres dropped Spearman off Johnno at first slip diving to his right. A tricky chance but I would have backed him to catch it. Trego came on and started very well. He looked sharp and was getting some movement to trouble the bastsmen. White also rolled his arm over before lunch. The first over looked very rusty and was mostly down the legside but his second over was better. He almost has Spearman caught by Hildreth at point but the ball didn't quite carry.

125-0 Lunch

Trego is still bowling and soon has Weston comprehensively bowled through the gate, knocking out his middle stump and we have a breakthrough. Windows comes in but then the rain starts to fall and they go off. Play resumes at 5pm and Spearman goes to his 100. Windows is caught by Tres at slip off Caddy, a sharp chance well taken. The bowlers seem to have found a bit more rhythm since the rain. Sure enough Willoughby replaces Johnson and Spearman is caught by White at 2nd slip, a fairly straight foward one. A couple overs later Taylor succumbs in the exact same fashion, pushing Willoughby to White at 2nd slip and they are 4 down. Gidman and Harvey survive a few more wafts outside off stump but about 6.30 the clouds come over and the umpires come off for light 3 overs early.

My view of the day: The pitch looks a good one and I was surprised we put them in. In the first session the bowlers did ok but lacked rhythm and a little luck. Trego's bowling was a real plus, looked sharp with plenty of movment (even if the conditions were helpful) and I can see him playing a big part this season as the fourth or even third seamer.

After the rain Caddy found some pace and the balls were carrying through at shoulder height to Gazzard, a good sign I reckon. Willoughby's first spell was ordinary but the other 2 were much better and picked up 2 nice wickets. The fielding on the whole was fairly good too.

Many Thanks

Have faith my bretheren...all will be well!!

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