County Championship 2023. Division 1. Nottinghamshire v Somerset. 13^th,14^th, 15^th and 16^th April. Trent Bridge.

Nottinghamshire. H. Hameed, B.M. Duckett, B.T. Slater, J.M. Clarke, L.W. James, S.J. Mullaney (c),T.J. Moores (w), L.A. Patterson-White, B.A. Hutton, S.C.J. Broad, D. Paterson.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.B. Abell (c), T. Kohler-Cadmore, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle.

Overnight. Nottinghamshire 256. Somerset 28 for 2. Somerset trail by 228 runs with eight first innings wickets standing.

Third day 15^th April – Déjà vu

On the third day, Somerset slipped further behind Nottinghamshire. The old fragilities in the top order batting re-emerged with several batters out missing or edging drives. At 87 for 8, still 179 runs in arrears, they were in the deepest of trouble even with the loss of the second day to rain. Early season déjà vu for Somerset supporters. The conditions were ideal for bowling, as they had been on the first day, and the iron discipline of Brett Hutton and Dane Paterson reaped its rewards against Somerset’s swishing bats. Only Josh Davey, batting at nine, with support from Jack Leach and Peter Siddle, kept them in the match. His innings was an object lesson in disciplined selective hitting, if against a softening ball.

Nottinghamshire is a talkative county. It was when I worked there nearly fifty years ago. It is still. There was a group of four Nottinghamshire supporters sitting a couple of rows behind me in the Radcliffe Road Stand. I had positioned myself there because it gets the benefit of any sun the day long. I had done my tour of duty in the frozen wasteland that was the Fox Road Stand on the first day and it promised to be no better on the second. The group of Nottinghamshire supporters talked continuously throughout the day. Not an uncommon occurrence in these parts. As much about football as about cricket. Notts County in particular. After four years in the National League, Notts County had been involved in a season-long tussle with Wrexham for the single automatic promotion place to the Football League and had lost a crucial game between the two sides only days before.

As to the cricket in front of us, Somerset struggled from the outset. They added eight runs in the first four overs, but the bat was badly beaten three times to gasps and a cry of, “Come on Broady!” In a harbinger of what was to follow, Tom Abell drove hard at Paterson and missed. For a Somerset supporter, it was an uneasy quarter of an hour. It came as no surprise when Cameron Bancroft literally walked into a leg before wicket decision. Beginning to advance up the pitch to Paterson he was struck on the pad to an instant appeal. “He’s got no place getting out like that. If he had walked another yard, he might have got away with it,” the comment from behind. Somerset 37 for 3. Bancroft 27.

When Stuart Broad beat an expansive drive from Tom Kohler-Cadmore, the comment was, “And again. Keep going.” Abell responded with drives off successive balls from Paterson, one through the covers, “Lovely shot!” from behind, and the other through the on side. The next ball was of the same length but noticeably wider. Abell attempted to drive again but could only edge the ball wide of Ben Duckett at second slip who dived spectacularly to take the catch just above the ground. Somerset 50 for 4. Abell 13. Deficit 206. Tom Kohler-Cadmore, in at the fall of Bancroft’s wicket, was on the charge by the fall of Abell’s. Broad was driven spectacularly through the covers to the Fox Road Stand and Hutton was on the receiving end of a straight drive of equal pedigree. They were strokes to raise the Somerset spirit, but Kohler-Cadmore was leg before wicket to the next ball, another of perfect direction and length from the ever-threatening Hutton. His bowling was the epitome of the old Brian Statham adage, “You miss. I hit.” Somerset 70 for 5. Kohler-Cadmore 10.

Lewis Gregory had pegged Nottinghamshire back with the ball, and now his first ball, also from Hutton, was steered neatly past the slips for four. “Did you see that?” the Nottinghamshire comment.” His first ball and he played it and placed it perfectly.” But Gregory was soon swept away, another victim of Hutton’s gnawing persistence, losing his middle stump for five while attempting another expansive drive. The stump replaced, Craig Overton came half-forward to his first ball and was struck on the pad, the umpire’s finger rising shortly afterwards. Leg before wicket in that way is not an unusual Overton dismissal. Somerset 80 for 7 and Hutton had figures of 9-3-27-5. “Would you put them back in? Batting like this?” the Nottinghamshire question from behind me. It was the second half of the question that hurt.

James Rew had tried to bring some stability to the Somerset innings, scoring 18 in nearly an hour including a cover drive to the Fox Road Stand off Paterson which brought him applause from around the ground. Now, Hutton, still gnawing away, bowled an inswinger of perfect line and length. It passed between Rew’s bat and pad and clipped the off stump which ended up leaning precariously behind the middle stump. “Brett just sets himself and keeps going. Others come round the wicket if they struggle. He just stays over and shows what you can do.” Somerset 87 for 8 and talk of the follow-on, still 20 runs away, did not seem entirely fanciful.

At least, until Josh Davey set about bringing some order to the Somerset innings. The most remarkable thing about Davey’s bowling is the unremarkable way in which he goes about it. The description of Brett Hutton just setting himself could equally be said about Davey’s bowling. The same could be said of his batting. He scored 60 from 66 balls in 70 minutes but there was no fuss or exuberance about it. He just, as it were, showed what you can do. Even when he struck Lyndon James for two huge sixes in three balls, one straight back over the bowler’s head and one over midwicket, there were no frills, he simply walked back to his crease and awaited the next ball. He had some luck, “He didn’t know where that had gone,” when an inside edge went for a single. Although, “Davey is playing properly,” when he pushed into the covers for a single was more reflective of his performance. There were five fours, of which a cover drive and an on drive through midwicket stick in the mind. Another was driven nicely through backward point with an open face to take Somerset past the follow-on total. A two to bring up his fifty brought, “You are never through this lot until you get the last one,” and, “A good, sensible innings from Davey,” heralded the end of a 30-minute extension of the morning session because only one wicket remained. In the end, Davey and Siddle walked off still not out. Somerset were 161 for 9, still 95 behind but a far cry from 87 for 8.

Lunch involved the highly valued pleasure of spectators being allowed access to the outfield. Trent Bridge is always very welcoming in this regard. A lazy circumnavigation just inside the boundary rope was the choice of many. It seems almost to be a tradition at Trent Bridge. A little further in, children were, here and there, playing mini games of cricket. It is how so many of today’s lifelong supporters of county clubs began their association with their counties. “It’s lovely to see children playing on the outfield,” the comment from behind me when I returned to my seat, the glow of memories of a childhood long ago perhaps reflected in the faces of the four chatterers.

Davey and Siddle returned after lunch but did not tarry long. Davey was finally out edging a drive off Paterson straight to Hutton at first slip with Somerset still 83 runs behind. Jack Leach made ten and kept Davey company for half an hour. A lofted straight drive for four off Broad brought cheers from the few Somerset supporters who had made the trip, the excruciatingly cold forecast and weather perhaps keeping some away. Peter Siddle had stayed nearly an hour for a determined 15 before Davey was out. He and Davey had added 55 runs for the final wicket in a display of batting which both lifted Somerset supporters and raised some anxiety that the pitch might be flattening ahead of Nottinghamshire’s second innings.

With nearly five sessions left in the match and with an 83-run lead, Nottinghamshire found themselves with an opportunity to at least try to force victory in a match which at the outset of the third day, with the loss of the second, had looked destined to be a draw. It was a hotly contested afternoon’s cricket, but Nottinghamshire’s first innings advantage gradually pressed down on Somerset. Somerset began with Overton and Davey. Overton seemed strangely off colour and lacked his usual penetration. Davey was as persistent as ever. He seems to wear rather than break batters down and he gave little away here. For Nottinghamshire, it was Haseeb Hameed who found the boundary, especially against Overton who he straight drove to the Radcliffe Road End boundary in the first over. A cover drive off Davey brought the comment, “Beautiful shot,” and an on drive off Overton, “I love watching him bat. All class shots and no rubbish.” Duckett, a charge down the wicket to drive Overton to deep cover apart, was more measured in his strokes, but when Siddle replaced Davey, he clipped his first ball straight to Tom Lammonby at midwicket and Nottinghamshire were 30 for 1. Duckett 15. Lead 113.

With tea approaching, the scoring rate slackened, although a straight drive from Hameed off Siddle brought the comment, “That’s a good shot.” Siddle, bowling as straight as ever, beat the bat several times and earned the accolade of, “He’s bowled well, hasn’t he?” from the commentary team in the seats behind me, but Hameed and Ben Slater survived until tea. As the pace of the match slowed, the ongoing discussion behind me turned to matters other than the match in hand. The talk was of a suggestion that Nottinghamshire might play more matches away from Trent Bridge to create space for ground-filling matches, although the source of the suggestion was not revealed in the conversation. Tea was reached with Nottinghamshire on 55 for 1. A lead of 138 with four sessions remaining.

After tea a cover drive for four from Slater off Davey was met with a shout of, “Come on boys!” But when Hameed attempted to defend with the straightest of bats against Gregory, he edged low to the left of Kohler-Cadmore at slip and Nottinghamshire were 72 for 2. Hameed 34. When Gregory’s first ball to Clarke resulted in a huge leg before wicket appeal and the next was edged along the ground through the slips for four, it was Abell who was shouting, “Come on boys.” Two overs later, Clarke was leg before wicket to the persevering Siddle. “Casually walking down and didn’t play a shot,” the comment from behind. Nottinghamshire 83 for 3. Clarke 7. But the lead was now 166, and still the ball was beating the bat. When Slater, on 24 after an hour and a half at the wicket, attempted to open the face to drive Overton he edged the ball low to Bancroft’s right at second slip. Bancroft dived, arm outstretched and caught the ball an inch or so above the grass. It was a sharp catch, Nottinghamshire were 93 for 4, 176 ahead, but suddenly, Somerset were making progress and hope began to rise, in this Somerset supporter at least, that Nottinghamshire’s lead might be kept within bounds.

Lyndon James, in at the fall of the third wicket, now began to play with some intent. Siddle was played down and neatly wide of the slips and Overton driven through the covers twice in an over, once with the smoothest of bat movement, all for four. As the afternoon brightened, James continued to look for boundaries, Davey also being driven twice through the covers. Five cover drives, all beautifully played to mounting applause. With Mullaney playing a more defensive role the batters looked to be gaining control, “They’ve calmed it down a bit, these two. The ball is getting a bit older.” Then Leach replaced Overton at the Radcliffe Road End. For his second ball he pushed mid on and mid off a yard or two deeper and James mistimed a straight drive straight into Leach’s hands. Nottinghamshire 126 for 5. James 32. Lead 209.

Now Mullaney began to attack as Nottinghamshire continued to pressurise Somerset, pulling Davey into the Fox Road Stand. Three balls later, Davey pulled up as he ran in, immediately left the field, and Somerset were a bowler down. Gregory replaced him. When he delivered a yorker to Mullaney, it was just dug out and flew off the bat to the point boundary. In Gregory’s next over Mullaney pulled him over a despairing jump from Overton on the boundary and into the Fox Road Stand for a second six. When Liam Patterson-White was rushed into a defensive stroke by Gregory, the ball flew straight at the chest of Overton at gully and Nottinghamshire were 161 for 6. Patterson-White 12. Cut and thrust, but the lead was now 244 and by the close Mullaney and Hutton had taken it to 270 with Nottinghamshire on 187 for 6 and, with four Nottinghamshire wickets remaining. Somerset would already need the highest score of the match to win. Failing that, they would probably need to bat for around five hours on the final day to save the match.

With that prospect in mind, I made my way back to the station and a train to Derby where I joined a lengthy queue for a taxi, one of the joys of travelling from railway station in a city centre to a hotel on a Saturday evening. I had just reached the head of the queue when, as the next taxi arrived, a fight between two youths broke out over a minicab about 30 yards away. The elderly woman behind me looked perturbed and was very grateful when I offered her the taxi. By the time she was driven off, two groups of youths ran furiously towards the fight, dragged the two participants apart and shepherded each up a different street. It was as sharp a piece of impromptu policing as I have seen. My reward for giving up my taxi was a ten-minute wait for the next one. Ten minutes in a taxi queue on a Saturday night I discovered is an eternity. I imagined another eternity at the cricket the next day as Somerset fought to salvage a draw.

Close. Nottinghamshire 256 and 187 for 6. Somerset 173 (J.H. Davey 60, B.A. Hutton 6-45, D. Paterson 3-50). Nottinghamshire lead by 270 runs with four second innings wickets standing.