Somerset v Kent, Day 1

Kent had Sky Television pundits to thank for facing a fired-up Andrew Caddick on the opening day of the Championship match at Bath.

After taking 6-57 to help dismiss the visitors for 261, Caddick admitted that criticism of his Test Match performance against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge had stung him into a swift response.

"Hopefully, that has shut a few Sky TV commentators up," he said. "One minute you are God's gift and the next it is back to normal as far as the media are concerned.

"I didn't bowl well in the Test, but it was mainly because the run-ups were so wet. I felt really uncomfortable running in and never got into any sort of rhythm.

"A lot of rubbish was talked about the new policy of resting centrally contracted players in the build-up to international games. But everyone should be behind Duncan Fletcher and Nasser Hussain in what they are trying to achieve.

"How I bowled at Trent Bridge had nothing to do with preparation. Everyone should be entitled to one bad game and it annoyed me to hear it being analysed to intently."

Kent's batsmen suffered the backlash after Matthew Fleming had won the toss as Caddick bent his back and extracted far more life from the Recreation Ground wicket than any other bowler on either side.

Only Indian Test batsman Rahul Dravid had the technique to cope for long. He needed one or two moments of good fortune, but displayed skill and courage in combating a succession of threatening deliveries during the morning session.

Thanks largely to his world class ability, Caddick was frustrated at first, taking 1-26 from his initial nine-over spell. Robert Key helped add 62 for the second wicket and by lunch Kent were handily placed at 102-2.

Caddick removed Alan Wells soon after the interval. But Dravid blossomed against the other bowlers, stroking 14 fours on his way to 90 before getting a faint leg-side deflection off Graham Rose to wicketkeeper Rob Turner.

It was a high quality innings and particularly praiseworthy for the fact that Dravid had only arrived in England the previous morning having represented India in the Asia Cup.

From 170-3 the Kent innings subsided in disappointing fashion. After tea Caddick took 4-22 from seven overs, sending back Mark Ealham and Min Patel in the space of three deliveries.

Extra bounce undid most of his victims as he made use of a slight ridge in the Festival pitch. "I wasn't looking for it, but it was apparent on occasions," he admitted.

The final total of 261 was made to look modest as Somerset openers Jamie Cox and Marcus Trescothick launched a confident reply. Cox set the tone by square cutting the opening delivery of the innings from Ealham for four and the Australian looked in ominous form.

Left-hander Trescothick is gunning for England honours this summer and appeared equally untroubled as the home side posted 47 without loss from 20 overs in blustery conditions.