Lewis Gregory is probably the least known of the England squad selected for the match against Ireland in Dublin on 8 May – beyond this part of the world.
However, in the West Country (which does not start at Bristol, by the way) they are already familiar with him. He was born in Plymouth (now that is the West Country) and he captained England Under-19s, primarily as a batsman. But last season he made a name for himself as a brisk and skiddy bowler, who can swing the ball. He took 43 wickets at an average of 26 as well as cracking breezy lower order runs. This season he already has 11 wickets (and one maiden).
He is wonderfully potent rather than boringly persistent. He must have enjoyed himself at Taunton on Tuesday in the knowledge he had just been selected for an England squad.
Gregory snatched two wickets in the morning thereby finishing with six for 101 from 23 overs. He then announced his delight at his selection by saying: “It’s hugely exciting and a massive honour. I’m absolutely buzzing at the moment. Last year was really good for me and it’s been a solid start to this summer so far. Hopefully I can go there and show them what I can do”.
Then he could sit back for a few hours, watch Somerset’s batsmen set Middlesex a sizeable target (402 in a minimum of 103 overs, weather permitting), while attending to crucial new matters – like informing the powers that be of waist and chest dimensions.
Alongside minor celebrations of Gregory’s call-up there is an entertaining cricket match going on out there. The pitch has enough pace to keep all parties interested and in three days there has yet to be a dull session.
Middlesex were denied the services of Tim Murtagh who acquired a back problem overnight. He neither batted nor bowled, which puts into doubt his availability to play for Ireland against England next week. His absence may have contributed to Somerset’s progress being a little more controlled than in the first innings.
They were bolstered by a first innings lead of 91 but they did have five batsmen on a pair. All of them avoided that indignity with varying degrees of desperation and there were more contributors this time around but the key men remained the same as in the first innings. Marcus Trescothick hit 76, which included two consecutive sixes off Steven Finn; the first just cleared third man (Trescothick knows the geography of this ground pretty well by now), the second sailed over long leg. James Hildreth advanced calmly with a variety of more frenetic partners before being caught on the midwicket boundary off Finn for 86.
The new arrivals at Taunton with an Antipodean twang produced cameos, Tom Cooper hitting 42 and Jim Allenby a breezy 28.
Peter Trego briefly peppered the building site where the oldest of the pavilions once stood and Gregory, whose progress we must now note in detail, hit 12 before holing out against Ollie Rayner.
Middlesex, a bowler short, stuck to their task manfully. James Harris, disappointing in 2014 at a fresh county, has started much better this season and has taken eight wickets in the match. Finn’s figures have not been quite so good despite picking up the tail last night. His rhythm has looked good and, even though he may have been cut and carved too frequently, he has bowled with impressive pace.
There were seven overs to bat at the end of the day and these caused Somerset greater concern than the Middlesex batsmen.
After bowling seven balls Jamie Overton, so impressive in the first innings, hobbled off and he is therefore not guaranteed to participate on the final day. At the close Middlesex were 31 for nought and all four results are still possible.
