Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

You can always tell when it’s the holiday season in these parts, northern accents are heard in the pub. One such family from Birmingham was in The Cottage recently yapping away, and it dawned on me what they were talking about, ducks (see the link?). Yes ducks, have they not seen one before?

It seems they have about a hundred pictures of this one duck, and guess what, to such hilarity of that family, it flew! Quote from Mrs. Brummie, “I never knew ducks could fly!” followed by bouts of giggles. Oh how I wanted to join in that conversation.

Anyway, ducks, the cricketing ones, I’ve had loads of them and some golden ones as well, but never a diamond duck. I can also say with some pride, I’m a fully paid up member of the Primary Club, and have a tie to honor this achievement.

One particularly high-profile example of a duck came in 1948, when Don Bradman was playing his final Test match for Australia, against England at The Oval. In Australia's first innings, Bradman was bowled for a duck by Eric Hollies, causing his test average to fall from 101.39 to 99.94; had he scored just four runs, his average would have been 100. Shame! To make things worse for Bradman, Australia won by an innings, and he didn’t get another chance. Bigger Shame!

However, I’ve had some important nought’s in my distinguished career. Probably my greatest nought, was when I was picked to play for Haygrove School 1^st XI against Brymore School. Usually a run chase of 120 was never a problem for Haygrove, as had some excellent talent in that year, some of which went on to play for Bridgwater. However, with five top order batsmen out, and still needing another 50 to win, I stepped to the crease. At the other end was Paul ‘Fred’ Eckley, the last of the recognized batsmen, he came up to me and said, “Give me the strike as much as you can.” So I did. So much so, that after Fred smacked the winning runs, I worked out that I never faced a ball, as on the last ball of every over we scrambled a single to give Fred the strike! Nought not out, without facing a ball, of which there was a 50 run partnership to win the game! Thank you to my mathematics teacher for teaching me to count to six!

What an interesting week it has been for Somerset, having reached the quarter-finals of the T20 tournament, it was an issue whether they could be guaranteed a home tie. With matters out of their hands due to the fact they had played all their games, they could only sit and watch, with Sussex, Kent, Surrey and Essex scrap it out for the last two places.

With both Kent and Sussex winning their last games, The Set now have an away trip to Nottingham in the quarter-finals, as they could only finish fourth in the group, thanks to the rain. They must be sick of the rain at the County Ground, with four of their matches being decided by the weather, and surely a top two spot would have been a formality, ok, admittedly they did throw it away against Middlesex last Sunday when they could only tie.

So who fancies a trip to Trent Bridge in a couple of week’s time?

What a great reception Andrew Strauss received from the Somerset supporters when he walked onto the pitch on Friday to bat against the touring Indians. And how he repaid them, smashing a rapid 78 in an opening stand of 101 with Arul, and hopefully getting back his form ready for First Test on Thursday.

I do hope he does thank Jimmy Cook, the Somerset batting coach, as I believe he was with Cook for some time during some net sessions earlier in the week. Thank you to my most reliable source within the County Ground that week, Jack Rich, who I also believed told Strauss where he was going wrong!

With a tame draw against Nott’s in the County Championship, where Hildy, Kies and Compo all hit tons; plus Tres escaping a two match ban for failing to control his players, it’s just been a normal week at Taunton.

I see The Set are on TV again on Monday, where they take on Lancashire in a Pro40 game at Old Trafford. Somerset return to Taunton to take on Durham in a County Championship game, starting on Thursday.

Jugs of ale a plenty up The Club on Saturday night as young as Over Stowey got back to winning ways with victory over Hinkley Point by five runs. Young Lee Villis was the star, by taking six quick wickets, ripping the heart out of the Point middle order; earlier he scored a quick fire 37 to get Stowey off to a flyer. Also young Jack Rich made good use with his new bat (thanks to Ebay and his kind father who let he borrow his credit card!), smashing some quick runs towards the end of the innings, so that Stowey posted a respectable target.

Lee wasn’t the only one to buy a jug, as Neil Buller (for a jug avoidance) and Spud Hillman (who was at the bar at the right time) also delved into their pockets to set them up on the bar. I wasn’t complaining, but my head is this morning!

Great to catch up with an old school colleague of mine, Nick Clarke, who played for Point yesterday. Nothing changes with Nick, always as competitive as ever, even at the bar in the evening, it felt like a race who could down their cider quicker! Good to see you Nick, we’ll have to blow the froth of a few in September when Stowey travel to Point for the reverse fixture.

Right, its 10.57, time for a hangover cure!