When Somerset were bowled out twice for under 200 in their first match of the season at The Riverside last month to give Durham an unexpected victory the cidermen were able to strengthen their batting for the next match by bringing in England opener Nick Compton and South African Alviro Petersen ; reinforcements most other counties could only dream of.
To what extent Somerset's batting line up has affected the course of this week's match at Headingley is not clear. When on Tuesday morning Yorkshire, having won the toss, were 75 for 4 there were those around me who questioned the wisdom of batting first, but it would be a brave man who invited Marcus Trescothick to take first knock on a ground where in the previous match the first two innings yielded over a thousand runs. Whatever the rights and wrongs of Gale's decision his critics were quietened by stumps and when at lunch yesterday Yorkshire's score was 371 for 7 the garden was rosy and the East Stand think tank could open the can of worms labelled 'the timing of declarations: a beginners' guide'. 'Now' said some i.e. Somerset would bat straight after lunch, 'no' said others,' not until 110 overs have been bowled, 29 off 3 overs will give another bonus point' and very much in a minority a lone grump from the Lower Ure valley, 'runs on the board while we can'. In the end the grump seemed most in accord with Yorkshire's captain for not only did the white rose bat on, just missing the extra bonus point but the crowd were treated to some fine shots from Rashid*, career best 180, Pyrah 55 off 54 balls and Breezy Jack Brooks hitting 33 including two sixes, before Gale declared at 505 for 5. .
All of which seemed to suggest that batting was not too difficult and well as Yorkshire bowled and who, apart from a man in a white jacket, did not think Compton was caught behind off Brooks, Somerset did not lose a wicket until shortly before the close when Trescothick was lbw to bring Leach to the crease as night watchman. The effect of Leach's promotion is to demote Suppiah, an ever-present opening batsman in last year's championship, to number eight and with almost certain interruptions in play today Yorkshire will find it difficult to take a further 19 wickets in the match. But let us not forget what has happened on the fourth day of Yorkshire's last two championship matches, how many thought they would win at Chester le Street two weeks ago and then again at Headingley last Thursday? Certainly not the grump from the Lower Ure Valley.
* pictured above
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