SOMERSET did well to beat Essex by three wickets at the weekend at Taunton, where the Dukes ball gave plenty of encouragement to the quicker bowlers on a really green wicket on the opening day, where bowlers from both sides in the main dominated the batsmen over the two days that saw 37 wickets fall, writes Merv Colenutt.

The ball was swinging from the opening over and with movement through the air, it was always likely that the bowlers would gain the advantage and also surprising was that Essex won the toss and batted on the opening morning.

With the ball pitched up on a good length for the majority of the two days, it was always likely that with more emphasis nowadays put on the one-day tournaments, getting to the pitch of the ball with the front foot was sadly lacking and over the two days more than 25 wickets fell to catches behind the wicket and LBW decisions.

In truth it made for two days of exciting county cricket from two very good sides who look the most capable of chasing Surrey to the title in the final week of September.

Porter and Cook, who have been the main two strike bowlers for Essex for several seasons, bowled superbly for the visitors in Somerset’s first innings, but the Somerset attack did well to put Somerset in a position where they needed to score the highest innings in the game in the fourth innings to win the match.

Somerset County Gazette: Merv and Michael.Merv and Michael. (Image: Merv Colenutt)

It was also great to catch up with leading horse trainer Michael Blake over the two days and Michael, who has been an ardent fan of Somerset CCC for certainly two decades, made several interesting points over the weekend.

Michael said: “It was good to see Sean Dickson be more aggressive in his approach in Somerset’s second innings and Tom Lammonby now looks a lot more confident in knowing when to play or leave the ball outside of his off stump and he is now looking a very fine player.

“On the first day however the batsman that stood out for me was Andy Umeed, he only scored 34, but he really did look like a class act and I believe he has so much to offer Somerset batting at number four”.

Michael, however, has strong views on the shorter form of the game, with the 50 overs game in particular being of interest, he added: “We all know that the 50 over game has become an almost second eleven competition, so with Somerset supporters now having to travel from all corners of the county. Why don’t the people at the top support these games being played at other venues?

“In days gone by the 40 over competition, the John Player, was played at games around the county at places like Bath, Weston, Yeovil, Glastonbury, at least all those travelling to Taunton at present might just see a game in their own area”.

That to me is an interesting observation, but I can't see it happening.

As for what lies ahead, during May, I am still not convinced from Rob Key’s prospective argument, that he backs the Kookaburra to be the most successful in all formats of the game.