It's obvious that Burgess is a far better (championship) batter than Mousley or Bethell, he should be coming in at 6.

If you look at the scores around the country we appear to be doing better than most…

Brilliant last session, to score 370 odd after losing the toss and being 40/4 in tough conditions is terrific.

Yes, I would say a terrific recovery, begun by Barnard and Rhodes and carried on by Burgess, well supported by Chris Woakes.
I'd like to get some tips from the Somerset groundsman because I'd love to get my lawn looking as green as that pitch. How much help it will give to the Warwickshire bowlers remains to be seen.

Devon_Bear wrote:

It's obvious that Burgess is a far better (championship) batter than Mousley or Bethell, he should be coming in at 6.

Think it’s obvious to everyone other than Robinson.
Somehow this week after a great innings he actually went down a place in the order.

The pitch doesn't look dissimilar to the one from a few years back when we collapsed against the off-spin of part-time bowler Tom Cooper. It's very green in the middle but brown and scuffed at the ends. It'll be interesting to see how it plays later in the game. With the weather forecast for the next few days being overcast, an in-form Chris Woakes could have a lot of fun.
A very, very good day for us. There was a lot of nibble off the pitch in the morning but Rhodes & Barnard saw it through and then we ended completely on top. Having put us in, Somerset will be feeling that they missed their chance.

Anyone know what's going on there? Seems very little rain from BBC radar. Any repeat of the shenanigans last year when they used their outfield as a ploughed field to sow vegetables or owt?

Early lunch taken at 12.30

An hour of solid rain between 11 and 12. Looks like they will start again soon, which is actually a pretty good effort. Still rather dark overhead, though.

From 4-40 to getting 4 batting points is some achievement.

What a magnificent innings by Michael Burgess to score 147 batting at number 8. Credit to Woakes and Booth too for backing him up and taking the score past 400.

I hadn't watched Booth bowl before but he's certainly got something about him

Booth has made an impressive start, and looks like he could develop into a really useful player, in all departments of the game.

Surely it would be better to concentrate on his development, than waste money on two overseas players who have been injured more time than they are available?

Devon_Bear wrote:

What a magnificent innings by Michael Burgess to score 147 batting at number 8. Credit to Woakes and Booth too for backing him up and taking the score past 400.

Problem is he’s not a number 8. I’d love to see him back at 6, I’m pretty sure that’s where he batted when we won championship, or 7.
Too often he gets stranded with 10 & 11, and hits out to try get quick runs at the end, seen it happen a few times over the years.

Highveld wrote:

Booth has made an impressive start, and looks like he could develop into a really useful player, in all departments of the game.

Surely it would be better to concentrate on his development, than waste money on two overseas players who have been injured more time than they are available?

He is an overseas. But no I agree with you.

Could do with a tune out of Woakes...

Problem with Booth is that he is raw.
Lots of potential. Bowls some beauties, but rarely seems to be able to maintain for a whole over. Just struggles to keep that pressure up. Patience as a bowler is a skill in itself, being able to bowl multiple maidens, bowling to a plan. Something he’ll hopefully develop because all the ability is there.
Doesn’t help that Woakes at the other end isn’t exactly his usual disciplined self.

Well, there's an unexpected late bonus! Two nightwatchmen gone.

Those are big wickets. We saw how Woakes and Booth were able to stick around to score valuable runs.
With them having to start again tomorrow morning and the new ball due soon, hopefully we can really apply the pressure and put ourselves in a strong position.
We kept at it all day and got our rewards late on.

We've looked very much the better team here but will we be able to capitalise? The weather forecast for Wednesday is poor so we need to crack on tomorrow. Have to enforce the follow on if we want to win.