Second day: Warwickshire lead Yorkshire by 246 runs with eight second-innings wickets in hand
Jason Gillespie must hate Edgbaston. If it wasn't for the indignity of the Ashes loss, or the embarrassment of being out-bowled by Anthony McGrath, he has now suffered the humiliation of a Neil Carter assault.
Carter, a regular pinch-hitter in one-day cricket, was promoted to open as Warwickshire began their second innings 100 ahead and eager to rub Yorkshire's noses in it.
The move proved a master-stroke. Carter (27 balls, three sixes, two fours) pulled, carved and drove them to distraction. Twice in an over he pulled Gillespie for sixes, while an impossible back-foot carve over extra cover off Tim Bresnan produced another.
His cameo left Yorkshire shocked. Gillespie is not used to such punishment, while his team-mates' confidence wilted.
Their fielding is below average and they looked demoralised by the close.
Carter's promotion was just one episode in a day where nearly everything went as planned for the hosts.
Central to Warwickshire's performance was an outstanding debut by Tim Groenewald.
The 22-year-old earned a two-year deal with the Bears after a couple of years of solid cricket for Sutton Coldfield and a decent season for the seconds. A decent prospect he looks, too. Bowling an excellent line, he found just enough swing at fast-medium to trouble all the batsmen.
He should have had a wicket in his first over, but Jonathan Trott dropped a low chance in the slips; two overs later, however, Michael Lumb was well held, poking at one that left him.
Moments later he claimed the big wicket. Darren Leh-mann drove wildly at a wide ball and was brilliantly held by Trott, diving to his left in the slips. Craig White should have followed off the next delivery but Tim Ambrose dived in front of Trott and put down the chance.
Raised in South Africa, but the holder of a British passport thanks to his mother, Groenewald was at school with Kevin Pietersen. It would be optimistic to hope that he could reach such heights, but Groenewald might ease the inevitable transition as Dougie Brown leaves the game.
Yorkshire will be disappointed with their total. With the sun out, the ball moved around far less than the previous day and too many batsmen played a part in their downfall.
Matthew Wood drove at an outswinger, Richard Dawson was bowled round his legs and Gerard Brophy's fine recovery was ended when he dragged on a sweep in Alex Loudon's first over.
Perhaps Joe Sayers and White were unlucky. Sayers squeezed an inside edge on to his pad only to see it balloon to the slips, while White was run out backing up when Groenewald got a touch on Brophy's straight drive.
McGrath was the victim of a fine piece of bowling. Carter nipped one back and won an excellent lbw decision as the batsmen prodded forward, pad first.
Jimmy Anyon was a disappointment, however. Of all Warwickshire's young seam-ers, he is the one with the most potential but is struggling to maintain the line and length required at this level.
He did at least hit a perfect length to take the edge of Bresnan's bat and will surely learn from these experiences.
Warwickshire capitalised on their advantage with Cart-er's savagery, but Ian West-wood hung his bat out at one he should have left and has now scored 36 in three Championship innings this season.
Westwood is a decent cricketer. At his best, he is compact and well-organised and he should have a long future in the game. Yet he is prone to shuffling in the crease and playing at balls he should be leaving; fatal flaws for an opener.
Mark Wagh is waiting in the wings, but the club have entrusted Westwood with an early run in the side and should now stick with him.
Jonathan Trott and Nick Knight batted beautifully, however. Freed of the shackles of captaincy, Knight is batting with greater fluency than for several years and catching brilliantly. Maybe he might be persuaded to think again before retiring in September.
