Attack is the best form of defence for swashbuckling Tom Kohler-Cadmore

SAM DALLING AT TAUNTON: With the game serenely moving along at traditional four-day pace, he was the whirlwind that Northamptonshire did not anticipate. Sam Whiteman, the stand-in visiting skipper, simply did not know what to do

Attack is so often deemed the best form of defence, or at least people say as much. For most, that is a risky business. Yet for Tom Kohler-Cadmore the mantra holds true. 

Much excitement surrounded his Somerset capture. A multi-format, multidimensional star, and a man without the scars of recent batting woes. Someone to come in and lead by example. Very much Yorkshire's loss, perhaps brought about, in part at least, by their current dire situation.

Given England's current riches, it feels unlikely that Kohler-Cadmore will gain international recognition. Stranger things have happened though, and in any case those are the sort of players around whom title challenges are built.

In Somerset's opening three fixtures there have been just a couple of Kohler-Cadmore flickers, a pair of 30s accumulated at a fair lick. One such innings came in the last home game against Lancashire. James Rew and Tom Abell went on to make centuries but the latter was keen, during his post-day duties, to impress the importance of the Kohler-Cadmore provided impetus. These are the knocks that can change the wind's direction.

And that is precisely what Kohler-Cadmore did here. With the game serenely moving along at traditional four-day pace, he was the whirlwind that Northamptonshire did not anticipate. By the time the day's end drew near, there was a single slip, a man in the covers, plus seven boundary riders. Sam Whiteman, the stand-in visiting skipper, simply did not know what to do.

^{Kohler-Cadmore scored 95 runs from 71 balls [Harry Trump/Getty Images]}

The same cannot be said about Kohler-Cadmore himself, who clearly fancied this attack. There is an ease to his power. He is like an ironmonger hammering the anvil, smashing away so very delicately.

The stroke moving Kohler-Cadmore into the 80s was quite astonishing. With men back, Jordan Buckingham, most recently an Australia A tourist, was brutally bludgeoned for six over long-on. A line from the original Brian Lara Cricket sprung into the minds of a certain generation of supporters: "That's not a bad ball, it's just a super shot." It brought up a half-century partnership between him and Rew, too. Rew's contribution? Seven.

No one - bar Tom Taylor whose nine deliveries cost just three runs - escaped Kohler-Cadmore's wrath. Poor Jack White took a tonking. 37 runs came off his 22 deliveries, with eight boundaries. Kohler-Cadmore danced down the wicket so the keeper came up. So Kohler-Cadmore sat back, waited and cut away. White changed ends but fared no better. His misery was compounded late on when a skier was dropped off Buckingham with the batter 14 short of three figures.

It is the firmness of Kohler-Cadmore's striking that is remarkable. He leaves runs out there simply because of the speed at which fielders are found. There is very little drop and go. At one point he smashed a straight drive at Rob Keogh stationed at a three-quarters mid-off. There was no hope of a single. Later that same over there was some gentle manipulation, an open face giving deep point an ultimately unsuccessful chase.

His half-century was warmly applauded, having come from just 37 balls. By close he had 95 from 71 balls. There was disappointment when he had to take a single with two balls of the day remaining.

"I was a little disappointed when they put long on back in the last over," he said afterwards, grinning in the evening sunshine. "Because if he'd have bowled it full I'd have chanced it again. Live by it, die by it I say. I'm going to make sure I enjoy playing and have a smile on my face. I certainly did today!"

Kohler-Cadmore's most recent first-class century came on this ground last summer in Yorkshire colours. His impending move had already been announced and the locals purred. He will slot in nicely alongside Tom Abell, Tom Banton, Will Smeed in a powerful T20 line-up. But he is providing the red-ball impact that someone like Banton will be hoping he can add in future. Tomorrow, with another scoring shot or two, shall bring three figures.

Kohler-Cadmore's contribution was the highlight - on the field at least - of those gathered in the Long Room for former players day. The likes of Andy Caddick, Graham Burgess and Peter Robinson all donned their Friday best. There were tales of old and tales of even older.

^{Tom Taylor was the only Northamptonshire bowler to come through the day unscathed [Harry Trump/Getty Images]}

For almost an hour, Burgess rolled back the years to entertain the masses. An octogenarian as of today, he held commentary box court. Alongside him were regular Somerset voices Peter Trego and Vic Marks. The trio, between them owners of more than 1,800 wickets for the club, hung off each other's every word, the mutual affection obvious.

Marks was a young pup as Burgess was coming to retirement, while he spent hours bowling at a baby-faced, peroxide blonde Trego in the nets after his own playing days had ended. He recalled fondly the preseason at Wellington sports centre where Budgey beat each of his teammates in turn at table tennis. Remarkably, he did so while sitting.

Burgess himself recalled the picture that had been printed on the cake presented to him, and thanked the Somerset media team for cropping out the cigarette in his hand. They were enthusiastic, they were eloquent, they soothed the audience. It was county cricket in a nutshell.

And not only was it a treat for the remote live-streamers but also for those present. Courtesy of the recently introduced in-ear radios, they listened in, and did so intently. They chuckled away merrily too as Trego and Marks traded verbal blows. "That's the Mendips over there," Trego began, attempting to correct Marks' geography. He ought to have known better: "No it's not Peter, it's the Quantocks." "Oh, but the Mendips are somewhere, right?" "Yes." "Call it a draw then?!"

Northants will be a tad disappointed with their first innings efforts, and indeed their day. True, they claimed a belated first batting bonus point of the summer. And true, James Sales played some beautiful strokes during his 57. But slipping from 116 for 1 to 255 all out might see the game slip from their fingers.

A nod to Peter Siddle too, whose morning six over spell contained four maidens and only the same number of runs. He did get the wicket his frugality deserved, although Harry Gouldstone gloving a pull shot down the legside is unlikely to make Siddle's highlights reel.

Rain and lots of it is forecast tomorrow. But Kohler-Cadmore may just have shifted the plates.