As ever there has been much anticipation down in Taunton, mixed with exasperation that the start of Somerset’s season should be delayed by four sessions. A vibrant young side, augmented by a few thirty- and fortysomethings had the stoics, wrapped up in their overcoats in the Trescothick Stand, salivating. And then the cricket started.
Somerset were bowled out for 171 by Kent in 48 overs, losing their last six wickets for 41, an outcome that had some of the most tolerant fans in the country raising their eyebrows at the batting, and the naivety of their own burgeoning optimism. A few members may have gone on to the club’s Q&A with the coach and chief executive but they would have shunned the “where’s it all gone wrong?” question. It is still the first week in April.
Even so, after all that yearning for the start of the season the first two sessions were a grave disappointment for the home supporters. It was far too easy for the newcomers to the first division.
Kent managed to dispatch a promising-looking batting lineup without the services of the Kiwi Matt Henry, who caused so much havoc in the second division last year. Instead, the ever-willing journeyman Mitchell Claydon snatched five for 46 with able support from Harry Podmore (two for 36) and Matt Milnes (three for 40), who was particularly impressive on his debut for Kent.
The innings began with a collector’s item. The two oldest county cricketers on the circuit were in opposition. Marcus Trescothick and Darren Stevens, who was given the new ball alongside Podmore, share 86 years, and they treated one another decorously.
Stevens barely exceeded the national speed limit as he wobbled the ball towards the River Tone. Trescothick moved forward watchfully. For all the expertise involved it was the type of contest that you seldom witness in first-class cricket.
Neither of these grand veterans had much influence. Trescothick, aiming to the leg-side, soon lost his off-stump to Podmore; Stevens was wicketless. Azhar Ali, who on 20 stood his ground when Kent were celebrating a “catch” to first slip, departed after adding four runs when edging a catch to the same fielder, Sean Dickson, in Milnes’s first over.
James Hildreth, in the manner of James Vince at Hampshire, has been eager to go up the order so that he might display his England credentials. He raced to 27, mostly via the middle of his bat before edging to the slip cordon. Only Tom Abell suggested a significant innings though his dismissal on 49 from a top-edged hook was yet another source of exasperation. The late decision to replace Jack Leach with a batsman, George Bartlett, because of the truncated nature of the match, did not bear fruit.
Kent fared much better when they batted. Their bowlers had demonstrated that their team could live in the top division. Forget survival; here was a game to be won. Before long Sean Dickson, on 10, was dropped at first slip by Hildreth off Gregory, an aberration that reflected a hapless day for Somerset. The opening pair added a resolute 71 before Craig Overton dispatched Crawley for 37 and Josh Davey dismissed Podmore, the nightwatchman.
By 5.30, there was extensive cloud cover but the players remained on the field as the new floodlights sprang into action. This was just about the only aspect of the day that went according to plan for the home side.