Cooks dominate as Somerset's batting struggles again

SAM DALLING: For a team supposedly with title ambitions – and given the strength of Division One this season – Somerset's batting is simply too fragile. Forget one brings two; one brings five

Taunton: Somerset 109, Essex 109-2 - scores are level

Scorecard

As decisions go, it was hardly the most taxing.  Tom Westley would have spent longer staring at his spikes pondering left and right than he did over his post-coin decision. Playing Somerset, you say? Stick 'em in.

The optimist might offer up that the day concluded in parity, 109 runs apiece. He or she would be shouted down sharpish though. Somerset had claimed just a pair of wickets, whereas they had lost 10. More on their batting woes later.

For credit must first go to the Essex attack, and the majority of it to the outstanding Sam Cook. Much of his early career has been spent in the shadows of Simon Harmer and Jamie Porter.  That's no bad place; it has, aged just 24, earned him a couple of County Championship titles, plus the Bob Willis Trophy.

But whereas Porter's powers may just be waning, Cook's trajectory is quite the opposite. Last summer, only Luke Fletcher and Chris Rushworth claimed more Championship victims than Cook.   And after 58 at 14.43 – including 10 in a day against a shell-shocked Northants – it was surprising Cook was initially omitted from the England Lions squad.  He was belatedly added to the Ashes shadow tour, albeit went unselected for that unofficial Test.

Whether he is the 'type' of bowler England will pick remains to be seen; with enough wheat-based cereal in the morning he operates in the early eighties. But he did himself little harm with James Taylor watching on from the top deck of the Andy Caddick Pavilion.

Cook's first spell was masterful, moving it this way, that way, forwards and backwards. Seven overs, four maidens, eight runs and the wicket of Somerset's overseas batter. A batter on whom much hope had been pinned.

Matt Renshaw's second debut was delayed a week owing to a late call-up to cover Australia's white-ball tour of Pakistan. His previous stint in Taunton back in 2018 was productive, 513 runs in six innings. Significantly more, as it happens, than Somerset have now managed collectively in their previous three.

^{Somerset were bowled out cheaply yet again (Harry Trump/Getty Images)}

Renshaw is naturally fidgety when batting, so it is difficult to tell precisely how much of his at-crease movement is bowler-induced. But Cook set him up perfectly; a few to nip away and then the in-ducker to bowl him.

Then came a switch of ends. Rather than hinder, that simply enhanced Cook's figures. The first ball of his second spell saw off Tom Abell, albeit with a touch of fortune. Advancing to negate the swing, Abell – in the middle inside 17 overs despite batting five – got an inside edge to Dan Lawrence at gully via his pads. Four balls later, too many Cooks spoiled Lewis Goldsworthy's morning; Sam found edge, Alastair took the catch.

By then Mark Steketee had also picked up his first Essex wickets. Much needed they were too after an unconvincing Chelmsford debut last week. Ben Green chased a wide unnecessarily, while James Hildreth also edged behind to a much better delivery. Steketee, the Sheffield Shield's leading wicket-taker last season, does not offer the control of others, but is a strike bowler.

All that meant that 70 for 5 at lunch was a recovery of sorts. Somerset's social media team graphics bank doesn't quite stretch to visual eulogising over 21-run partnerships, but it might yet come to that.

It ought to have been six, but uncharacteristically Simon Harmer failed to hang on at second slip when Shane Snater found Tom Lammonby's outside edge. With 48, Lammonby would finish as Somerset's top scorer by a significant margin. He was ninth to fall reverse-sweeping the South African, who had by then already picked up his first wicket of the season.

That had taken just six balls, Lewis Gregory nicking behind. Given he was bowling in a Test match in Port Elizabeth as late as Monday, that Harmer is even back in the country is impressive. He will barely be on first-name terms with Steketee. Testament to what has been built at Chelmsford; trophies have been earned both through talent and togetherness.

Any suggestion of demons in the pitch were put to bed by Essex. Alastair Cook brought up 25,000 first-class runs with a cut for four. He had been put down by Abell at third slip off Craig Overton on 23 – it was travelling and at head height but the fielder's disappointment was telling. He closed on 59 unbeaten.

Overton would pick up a couple, Nick Browne edging to Abell who initially juggled but recovered. Westley too was caught at the wicket, tickling down the legside to Steven Davies. Somerset bowled well enough, Peter Siddle frugal as they come. The issue is, they have little to bowl at.

^{A poor day at Taunton for Somerset (Harry Trump/Getty Images)}

It is early for doom-mongering. Mid-April after all is, to many minds, too early for cricket in England full-stop. That is a different tale for a different day.

But one didn't need to be listening too carefully to hear the home members – of whom there are many – grumbling something a little more expletive than 'same stuff, different year'. Five shellackings on the spin will most likely become six.

For a team supposedly with title ambitions – and given the strength of Division One this season that feels, well, ambitious – Somerset's batting is simply too fragile. Forget one brings two; one brings five.

Only twice in the last dozen red-ball innings have they passed 181. The ink has only just dried on Lachlan Stevens' two-year contract as batting coach. Time off might need to come in lieu come 2023; he has much work to do. "Clearly it was a very difficult day for us," he said afterwards. "The boys are frustrated and we're disappointed. I understand the frustration of the playing group and the supporters alike but all I can say is that we'll go out there every day and keep working to try and find answers." In fairness, it is about all he can say really.

No such frustration for the visitors. In fact, Essex will be delighted. Their aim will be to bat once and be home early. Sunday has been re-christened 'Harmy Day' in Chelmsford, the off-spinner's exploits often allowing the squad to enjoy 18 holes on day four.  On this evidence, first will come another Saturday night courtesy of Sam Cook.

Related Topics

• Championship Digest: Thursday, April 14, 2022