ralphindevon

In the second over the Essex comms said “Somerset run rate already looking worrying at nearly 12 an over. It was a run a ball a few overs later

Chasing 187 to get it down to 32 off 42 is pretty good going

I hope they remember it’s only 7.5 an over needed. It started a big total but they’ve reduced that run rate to comfortable

There always seems to be someone to chuck them back at Taunton. They’ve had to get new balls here

Just mammouth hitting

I’ve watched a lot of cricket at Taunton but I’ve never seen so many lost balls than at Cheltenham in the first 5 overs of Somerset’s innings tonight. That reverse switch hit from Banton just now was extraordinary.

Either Smeed or Banton will get six sixes in an over one day

Well Henry has put that dreadful over in the last game behind him with great figures of 3 for 24 off his 4 overs. All or nothing with that boy

And a very good start he has too. 2 for 7 off 9 balls so far

Going into the final day and any result is possible. Cracking test match.

Crikey! Jack Brooks has played for everyone in the last few weeks and tonight he’s even turning out for Somerset

Needed that but overall it’s not looking good. As predicted Moeen doesn’t look like he’ll bowl many now his finger has opened up, Root warming up needs one of his magic spell’s

Yeah at the end of the day we’re debating because that’s what the forum is for but none of us really know all the ins and outs. Plus we’re using hindsight, I’d have been quiet about Foakes if Bairstow had kept as well as he can admittedly. As for the test overall, I’m a fan of Bazball but there has to be a time when you look at the game and do what’s best to win the test at that moment and I don’t think we’ve executed those skills well enough in this test.

Should we be picking players that aren't ready for test cricket? We dont have time to play players into form. Same as Moeen, though replacements for him are slim admittedly. Could he have played in the last Yorkshire game maybe? Love Bairstow but asking him to keep in an Ashes test clearly under prepared seems odd to me

Jimmy’s got to strike early for me, usually I’m patient but we can’t be waiting as long as the first innings for him to strike. Or Broad to get Warner nice and early

Foakes has a a good test

This is the first time I've felt we're well behind. It feels to me our tale us way too long. So much resting on these 2

At some point in test matches even Bazball needs to realise this. Root could have comfortably built a big lead then.

Yes but I think Taunton Dean could beat poor old Middlesex at the moment.

Poor day for Surrey, that’s T20 for you. Gonna be tight at the top.

It was a bit better than the day before but wasn’t offering much I don’t think. Certainly nothing compared to having to bat in those rain effected dark spells. But you have to take what’s thrown your way, it looked like Crawley let it get the better of him, shaking his head as he walked off like he should never have been out there batting. We should have decent conditions when we bowl next just hope we’ve got enough runs to play with and the bowlers available to exploit it.

In a well matched series it may come down to who gets the rub of the green. We had it with the toss but having to go out and bat then was nightmarish for England

Always listen to Steve Smith……….and use up your appeals in no time

This weather isn’t doing us any favours. Horrible time to bat

Joe Root might be our most important player for the rest of this match. Forgetting his batting for a moment, with Moeen looking unlikely to bowl a shed load of overs Root might be asked to bowl more than he would have been expecting. He’s got wickets before for us.