Cricket round-up: Gidman shines as Trescothick struggles to sing in the rain

Alex Gidman provided Gloucestershire's second century of the County Championship season as Marcus Trescothick was once again forced to wait for his first meaningful innings in 2006.

Trescothick had to wait until mid-afternoon on day two of the Second Division opener to take guard at Bristol. When the England opener finally did so he had to start twice because of rain breaks but was unbeaten on nine as Somerset closed on 31 for 2 in reply to 437. Before then, Gidman had dominated proceedings despite a five-wicket haul for the Somerset debutant Charl Willoughby, making 103 to augment the Gloucestershire gains made on Tuesday courtesy of Craig Spearman.

Trescothick had just 24 minutes to reacquaint himself with facing the new ball before rain brought an early tea break - followed an hour later by another 19 minutes until the weather intervened terminally. The left-hander, anxious for some batting time after his abrupt exit two months ago from England's tour of India, faced a tough examination against a skilled pace attack under heavy cloud.

Simon Jones' planned comeback from injury was held up by rain. The England paceman was set to play for Glamorgan in a three-day friendly against Cardiff UCCE but the opening day's play was abandoned without a ball bowled.