Records are there to be broken and break them we did at Taunton against Somerset last week.

A stand of 291 between Robin Martin-Jenkins and Mark Davis eclipsed the county's previous best for the eighth wicket and they were parted just one short of equalling the all-time best in the County Championship for that wicket by any side. It was a truly remarkable achievement enhanced by the fact that Mark sustained a broken hand when he only had a single to his name.

It was an innings of true courage and enabled him to reach a real milestone in any cricketer's career - his first hundred. Mark is a warrior in the true sense of the word and showed all the necessary determination needed to play his part in what turned out to be a match-winning partnership for us.

Robin, the other member of the record-breaking duo, not only surpassed his previous best by some margin but went on to record a maiden double hundred in first-class cricket.

Earlier this season I predicted that Robin would represent England sooner or later but on last weekend's evidence he looks to be a lot closer to that target. Please, can the powers that be come to their senses and at least select Robin for this winter's Academy?

The whole Academy concept is exactly what Robin needs. Apart from the full-on training, coaching and playing schedule it would also be due recognition for what he has achieved, thus far, in the game and go a long way to building his confidence and stature within cricket.

Of course the victory over Somerset wasn't just about two players. In fact it was as good an all round performance as you will see and I hope the many supporters who came down enjoyed it.

Tony Cottey, back in the side for the injured captain who has suffered the consequences of trying to return too early after my knee operation, recorded his second hundred of the season and then followed it up with an even better knock at Edgbaston on Thursday.

A true test of anyone is how they perform under pressure and to be fair Tony has been under pressure for a while now to score runs. So it was a special moment for him at Taunton in front of his delighted team-mates and his parents, who had travelled over from Wales to enjoy and share a special moment for Cotts.

Although the records tumbled when we batted, I felt it was our bowlers who won the game. I reckon the pitch was one of the best batting strips I have ever seen so to bowl Somerset out twice was a truly exceptional performance. Once again it was an all-round effort. Billy Taylor, Jason Lewry and Davis took wickets at crucial times in both innings. Billy is bowling with tremendous maturity at the moment and deserves all the success he is having. Amazingly, Robin couldn't add to his double hundred with a wicket in either innings. I doubt if that will happen to him again.

The trip to the West Country wasn't all good news though. Mark's broken hand will keep him out for two weeks while Mike Yardy damaged ligaments when his knee spectacularly buckled while he was leaning into a drive. Several little strains were picked up, notably to RMJ and Kevin Innes and it seems that after four years of being relatively lucky with injuries we are experiencing all our misfortune on that front at the same time.

Still, it means opportunities for other players and if we can retain our First Division status it will be much sweeter having come through such a testing period. As you can imagine, the opportunity to put our feet up next week is one the lads are looking forward to before the final six weeks of the season. The run-in begins with two day-nighters at Hove starting on Monday week - see you there!

Saturday July 27