"It was a fantastic feeling walking out there," Brown said, "in front of so many people and it was great to get a wicket so early, it gave me confidence. I relaxed a bit."The day seemed to mirror Brown's whole cricket career. He was snapped up by Northamptonshire as a promising 15-year-old but by 1990, when he no longer appeared to figure in their plans, he contemplated giving up the game. Durham, his home county, showed an interest, Brown reciprocated, played Minor Counties for them and meanwhile studied for his City and Guilds electrical engineering.First-class status was then bestowed upon Durham and Brown started taking wickets in earnest.

He has accumulated 292 wickets, almost three times as many as John Wood, who was also there from the start. Already this season he has 56 wickets to his name, which have helped Durham pick up maximum bowling bonus points in 9 of their 11 Championship matches to date.He certainly pleased the England coach, David Lloyd, who said: "I thought Brown was rock solid. He's got a good action and when the ball does wing for him he will be devastating. We picked a side for swing but it wasn't until later on that we did that.

It may be an inexperienced attack, Mark Ealham is playing his second Test and Brown his first, but that can be a heck of a plus in that people will strive that much harder to show what they can do And I thought they did that today.". Somerset 309 & 69-3 Yorkshire 292 The leaders had a day of mixed emotions.They lost wickets regularly, finished the first innings 17 behind Somerset, but will have been delighted to find North Marine Road's turf more responsive. A similar surface for Nottinghamshire's arrival will also cheer Yorkshire, for they were fearing that two visits here would bring two more stultifying draws. Batting again, Somerset soon lost Peter Bowler to a fast near-yorker and, under heavy pressure, they will need patience and application down the order today.The warm sun and cool wind quickened the pitch, but it remained soft enough to help the seam, while Jeremy Batty demonstrated there was turn from the rough. So, all the bowlers had hope, the batsmen enjoyed the pace, the outfield was fast and a near 5,000 crowd had that rarity: a match in near perfect balance.Somerset had a day of snakes and ladders. Michael Vaughan set off like a train, hit two superbly timed fours and stood his ground when a lifter from Andy Caddick brought an appeal for a catch behind.

Yorkshire were still 58 for 1 in the 13th over when Martyn Moxon, who had just taken 16 off one over from Kevin Shine, went back to fend off a bumper that hit his left shoulder, and trod on his stumps.Michael Bevan took three more boundaries off Shine before he lazily glided Batty to backward point. As Anthony McGrath walked in to bat, the man from the Times intoned: "I have seen this boy before, but I have yet to see him play an innings." McGrath duly cut the first ball he received into slip's hands.Once Craig White had joined David Byas, Yorkshire prospered. The captain, on his home ground, made 88 in a fashion that epitomised his strength and determination - at least four of his 16 boundaries were scored by forcing the ball from outside his off stump through mid-on.Byas added 57 with Craig White and 56 with Richard Blakey before being seventh out, bowled round his legs, while trying to move the ball to the onside. At that point Somerset were still hoping for a substantial lead but Darren Gough, swinging lustily, and then Chris Silverwood narrowed the deficit until Silverwood was last out flashing with a third bonus point eight runs away.Caddick was the pick of the Somerset bowling, using the conditions with skill, and he was well supported by Graham Rose The second-string bowling was, however, less impressive.. Leicestershire needed a courageous half-century from their captain, James Whitaker, and an unbeaten 71 from wicketkeeper Paul Nixon against Sussex at Grace Road to keep their Championship challenge on the road yesterday. Sussex had the home side struggling at 177 for 7, with Whitaker seemingly out of the match having retired hurt with a torn calf muscle after scoring 30.