SAM DALLING AT TAUNTON: Wells just keeps going; he is, apparently, the most sledged man in county cricket, but there will not have been many words said today
Taunton: Somerset 441, Lancashire 302-1 - Lancashire trail by 139 runs with nine wickets remaining
Serenity. Courage. Wisdom. Three words Luke Wells has etched permanently on his muscular forearm. It is a paraphrasing of the Serenity Prayer, a three-part mantra that can be applied to all walks of life. Follow that simple model, and one's troubles are supposed to ease.
The first step is to accept the uncontrollables, the things that cannot be dictated. There are many of those. For Wells, in this context, it was that by sitting back, by trying to see off Jack Leach, he looked crabby. There would have been just one winner of that contest.
Leach's first delivery brought a tentative Wells push and sharp turn. James Rew, from his perch directly behind them, could not believe the stumps had not been troubled. Jack Leach held his hands to his hairless head. Tom Abell had mentioned the pitch's ragging potential the previous evening, but this was above expectations.
The next delivery but one brought more sideways movement and the bat beaten. The ball ricocheted off Wells' pads and almost onto the stumps. Wells looked in trouble. But twice almost bitten, did not by any means bring shyness.
The second step involves possessing the courage to change the things that are alterable. Here that meant taking the fight to Leach. So, Wells tried a reverse sweep, and it whistled away for four. So, he tried it again. Same result.
Stoically, Leach refused to tinker with the field. This is the new-fangled Leach, the "try it again, I dare you" kind. But Wells did, for a third consecutive delivery, dare. Out came the reverse again, only this time the ball sailed over the ropes, almost knocking Tractor, Somerset's immovable supporter, from his customary position leant against the heavy roller. Leach and his teammates looked bewildered.
Jack Leach in action for Somerset (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Then, finally, comes the wisdom, the wherewithal to distinguish between what one can and cannot alter. Wells realised what was within his power, and how he should continue his work. So, he continued to attack.
Aptly, it was another reverse that took him past fifty. Soon, he was waltzing towards Leach and boshing him into a hospitality box atop the Lord Ian Botham Stand. A short delay was necessary while the next door suite’s occupants scrambled to return the ball.
Thrice more Wells hot-stepped at Leach, each time swatting straight boundaries. It was effortless and risk free. Or at least less risky than sitting back and prodding tentatively. In all, Wells took 44 runs from 33 Leach deliveries. That is some way to treat England's form spinner.
Wells' opening partnership with Keaton Jennings is a strange juxtaposition of opposites. He does not, at least against spin, possess the defence of Jennings. But then few batters can say that they have a barrier to match the one Jennings erects around those five sacred chunks of wood. Only the Pentagon has similar security.
Jennings ended the day with an unbeaten century, the first half coming in 105 balls, the second taking just another 53. Having made 318 hundred when these sides met at Southport last summer, Somerset will be sick of the sight. Already it was Jennings' third time passing 50 this summer: the selectors will be watching.
They may also have an eye on Josh Bohannon who finished unbeaten 73. He got off the mark with a slog-swept six and just kept going. It must have been a difficult day for Bohannon: a close friend's funeral took place elsewhere, and he, plus his teammates, wore black armbands. Lancashire's dominance will hopefully have brought him some comfort.
Luke Wells was in fine form for Lancashire (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
And not that the eye of judgment needs casting, but kudos to James Anderson. He has taken five of the 11 wickets to fall across two days, including another magnificent spell on the second morning. We already knew Anderson bowled beautifully, but the context - that being a flat pitch – means further plaudits are necessary.
Back to Wells. He is a significant at-crease presence. Tall but often quite gamely, his long arms come with a decent amount of footwork. There was an elegant punch off the back foot to get him going; a nonchalant flick to hit Jack Brooks for six, and a textbook straight drive off Peter Siddle.
The common denominator of all Wells' boundaries, was that he barely left his crease: as soon willow and leather connected, there was just one outcome. That enabled him to idiosyncratically re-mark his guard.
He did not get the three figures he deserved - instead falling, and softly so, for 82 on the stroke of tea - but he changed the tempo of this match. And he virtually man-marked Leach out of it.
Lancashire were delighted to capture Wells ahead of the 2021 summer, and he was equally enchanted with the move. Seldom do opening batters of his quality, those tried and tested against the Dukes ball (he had 18 first-class centuries at the time) but without international commitments, enter the open market.
It was a surprise he left Sussex. He had a young family and was settled on the south coast. His familial roots at Hove ran deeper still, with both his Dad (Alan) and Uncle (Colin) representing the county with aplomb. He never expected to leave.
Somerset toiled at Taunton (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
But having come back from smashing 290 in Australian Grade cricket (the second-highest score in 115 years of the Sydney District / Premier competitions) he was left out by Sussex for the pandemic riddled 2020 summer. No one, externally at least, knows what happened. There was clearly a breakdown of some sort. But all parties, to their credit, maintained a dignified silence. That is exactly how it should be.
Several times offers were dangled but nothing came of them. That left Wells wondering if he was done, before Old Trafford called. You do not say no to Lancashire.
Wells' renaissance there has been a joy to watch. He feels genuine love for the club, puppy love, the wide-eyed first teenage crush kind. He has turned himself into a middle order, leg-spinning allrounder in white ball cricket.
And with the red ball, Wells just keeps going. He is, apparently, the most sledged man in county cricket. But there will not have been many words said today.
Wells' late mother never saw him play professionally, and he seldom posts about her on social media. He did so once, in 2017, to mark the 10-year anniversary of her passing. "I hope I've made her proud," he said. Undoubtedly, he has. And he continues to.
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