Luke Wood relished the opportunity to get back into the Nottinghamshire team by picking up four wickets on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship match against Somerset at Taunton.

The left-arm pace bowler took four for 85 as the hosts were bowled out for 326.

Wood’s day couldn’t have got off to a better start, as his first delivery was edged by Azhar Ali into the hands of Steven Mullaney at slip.

“You never expect a wicket first ball but when it happens it gets you going,” he said.

“This is my first game back for a few weeks and it was nice to start off well because it builds your confidence for the rest of the innings.

“Getting one first ball sets your spell up. You’re always striving for that first one anyway when you come back into the side, so that was nice.

“It was a hot one out there,” he added. “But I think we got what we deserved by the end of the day.”

Wood confirmed that Liam Patterson-White, who was making his debut, had been unwell, so was off the field for most of the day.

“Obviously that meant we were a bowler down, so Mull had to juggle the rest of us around, but we hope he’s going to be okay for the rest of the match.”

Somerset had been reduced to 145-6 at one stage, but rallied after a century stand for the seventh-wicket between Steven Davies and Dom Bess.

“It was one of those pitches where the new ball offered a bit,” said Wood.

“Obviously this morning there was a bit of moisture around, so it did a little bit. But after then – when it got softer – it was pretty placid.

“The odd one skipped through – but nothing that you would worry about as a batter.”

Notts will begin their first innings on the second morning and Wood feels it will all be about laying a platform at the start of the day.

“If we can see off that initial new ball period for as little damage as possible, batting should be relatively good,” he said.

“We’ve got to nail down our disciplines and not think too much about it – just go out and play the game how we always play.”

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A Notts Outlaws squad brimming with international talent will commence their T20 Vitality Blast campaign against Worcestershire Rapids at Trent Bridge on Thursday 18 July, with adult tickets priced at £10. Secure your seats…