Groenewald crows as Yorkshire’s collapse signals a change in the wind

Yorkshire 306 for 9 (Lyth 106) trail Somerset 562 for 7 dec (Hildreth 166, Trescothick 97, Trego 94, Rogers 51, Allenby 51, Rashid 4-160) by 256 runsScorecard

“If the cockerel’s arse is in the grass then it’s going to rain.” So revealed one of the Taunton stewards, gesturing at the weather vane on the top of St James’ Church which had its back firmly turned on the exertions below on the County Ground. “That was one of the first things I was ever told when I started working here. It sounded quite rude at the time.”

When the cockerel swung round just enough for play to resume under sullen skies it presaged a remarkable passage of play in which Somerset claimed five wickets for 11 runs in 29 deliveries with the second new ball. Tim Groenewald stood out on a freshened pitch, only for Yorkshire to refuse to yield in a felicitous, unbroken last-wicket stand of 69 between Steven Patterson and Jack Brooks. Somerset still lead by 256 – the follow-on seemingly inevitable – but failure to make inroads into Yorkshire’s second innings might have cost them a chance of victory.

Presumably such an unexpected twist would have disappointed the cockerel which can be presumed to retain a Somerset affinity, even if its roost came under attack in 2003 when Ian Blackwell, one of the cleanest hitters in the county’s history, struck the church tower during the fastest first-class 200 ever made by an Englishman.

This slice of Somerset folklore will prey on a few minds on the final day. The forecast is for more prolonged bursts of rain and it won’t require too many “gurt big …

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