AN HOUR before the close of play, Jack Birkenshaw announced in his deadpan way, a smile playing on his lips, that he would not be reporting the pitch in his capacity as an ECB inspector. Indeed not. Justin Langer had swiftly discovered it was flatter even than Taunton, less pacy than his home ground in Perth, and batted all day.

Langer finished unbeaten on 234. He is in England for only five weeks, keeping his game in good order for sterner fixtures to come. He has already become the leading run-scorer this season in the Twenty20 Cup, having never played in that form of cricket before, and now, in his second championship match for Somerset, is 40 runs short of his highest score, achieved for Western Australia against South Australia. Also, he was one of few on the ground unconcerned about the excessive heat.

Langer was as quick on his feet as ever and relished the short boundaries and facing the two leg spinners in the Surrey side. Rapacious for runs throughout, he struck 31 fours and two sixes from 279 balls.

There are four leg spinners playing in this match, but no Martin Bicknell on his home ground. He retires at the end of the season and was, he said, “desperate to play”. A cursory glance at the scorecard would suggest he should have been included.

Langer and Neil Edwards, a 22-year-old making his first appearance of the summer, had put on 227 by the 46th over, which was Somerset’s highest opening partnership against Surrey.

Edwards, who is not dissimilar to the other Bicknell, Darren, at the crease, could not have wished to bat with a more solicitous partner, nor on a more ideal pitch. This innings of 77, which included 11 fours, should ensure that he will be given a run in the side.

Langer reached his century at almost a run a ball and his double century, now partnered by Arul Suppiah, off 227 balls with 28 fours and two sixes, one of which was an easy pick-up off Anil Kumble. It was not a day for a bowler to make his debut, even for one so experienced.

One six by Suppiah, this off Ian Salisbury, hit the petrol station on the far side of Woodbridge Road. He made 71 before he was held at slip. Langer, by the close, had achieved the highest individual score at Guildford, overtaking Darren Bicknell’s 228 in 1995 against Nottinghamshire. So all in all, not a memorable day for the brothers. For Langer, more runs should flow today before he returns after one further match, relatively sated, to Australia next week.