John Cleese's latest purchase

Somerset 95 for 1 (15 overs). Trescothick 68, Hildreth 9.

An opening stand of 57 in 7.3 overs ended when Suppiah, on 16, clipped Rankin to leg and Clarke took a superb catch at short mid-wicket.

Trescothick reached 50 from 33 balls in 11 fours. Anything pitched up to him he has thumped mightily through the air.

Barker, pitched into this maelstron, has bowled rather well. Clarke tidy too. Just 17 from the last four overs

Craig Kieswetter, the Bears' tormentor three weeks ago, is ruled out here by a throat infection.

Bell, by the way, was driven down here from Chester-le-Street yesterday afternoon. The ECB evidently deemed it worthwhile for him to go up and train up there for a morning via a 550-mile round trip.