Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

England run riot in Birmingham during the week, and Cook’s bat was on fire! No we are not talking about the riots and looting, England have made it to the top of the world, by becoming the number one Test team.

After the third day of the third Test at Edgbaston the result was never in doubt, as England had a commanding lead, thanks to Alastair Cook’s 294, as they piled on a massive 710 runs for just the lost of seven wickets, leaving India a mammoth task just to draw the game.

Two unfortunate dismissals on day four set up victory for England. The first when Rahul Dravid edged his bootlace and was given out caught behind; secondly Sachin Tendulkar was run out backing up – will he ever get his 100^th hundred? England go on to win by an inning and 242 runs and rightly claim the number one Test team status.

I would like to know the thought process of the England selectors in picking Ravi Bopara, apart from three centuries against a poor West Indies side, he has not had one score over 50 for England in his 11 Test matches. Surely England have given him enough chances, and with only a score of seven in this Test match, it just makes me wonder what goes on in those selection meetings. Something to do with Graham Gooch and Essex?

There are a few notable facts about the third Test: this was England’s third highest Test score, 903-7 being the highest against Australia. Cook, with is 294, becomes England’s sixth highest score in an individual innings, with Sir Len Hutton leading the way with 364, again against Australia.

Also, there was a king pair (and we are not talking Kelly Brook here – that’s a nice pair!). Virender Sehwag, after travelling 4,000 miles to play in the third Test, faces only two balls in two inning, and was out both times. Seems like a wasted journey to me! The last king pair in a Test, well it had to be an Aussie, Ryan Harris in the second Ashes Test in the winter.

England deserve to be called number one in the world in my mind, with eight series victories (including this one) out of the last nine, the only blip, if you can call it a blip, was a drawn series in South Africa. Is this the greatest ever England team? Now that is open to debate.

The last time England lost a series was in 2008/9, when they lost to the West Indies, but there was that debacle with Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores. Since then wins there have been series wins over the Aussies (twice), Bangladesh (twice), West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and now India.

With a trip to the sub-continent in the winter and South Africa visit these shores in 2012; our number one status will surely be challenged. The Proteas boast a very strong bowling attack with the likes of Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, plus the batting of AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis, tougher tasks lie ahead for England.

Revenge is in the air for Somerset, as they have drawn Hampshire in the T20 semi-final. Hants beat the Set in last years final of the last ball, when all Somerset had to do is whip of the bails, oh well. The quarter-final last week against Notts was compelling to say the least, with four overs to go, the Set need 12 an over, that’s two a ball, and then came Kieron Pollard and Jos Buttler, whack-a-day cricket and the Set march on to the semis – what an afternoon we had at Bungle’s Bar!

Notts play Somerset at Taunton this week, are they looking for revenge, with a floodlit CB40 game on Sunday and a County Championship game starting later in the week.

Keen Somerset supporters, like myself, would have had one eye on the Durham v Hampshire County Championship match being played this past week. Durham needed a win to cement their place at the top of the championship, plus Hampshire was looking for their first win in the County Championship. However the rain intervened and there were only a handful of overs bowled on the first two days. Hampshire batted all day on the third day and a draw seemed favourite. With both sides looking for any kind of victory, the two captains got together to contrive a result. A false declaration, followed by two forfeited innings, a run chase was set up on day four. Hampshire bowled out Durham, hurrah, and the County Championship is again blown wide open.

Both Over Stowey sides were in action on Saturday. The 1^st XI took on near neighbours Cannington and ran out comfortable winners by four wickets with loads of overs to spare. Phil Simms smashed his way to 67, before he was out in unfortunate circumstances, the ball being clearly above waist height and no ball should have been called. However, this did not distract Stowey as they steam rolled to victory.

The 2^nd XI was not so fortunate, as they went down by 26 runs against Fitzhead a much better performance with the bat than last week.

Now with cricket tour just around the corner it’s tempting to do some reminiscing, but surely what goes on tour stays on tour! The club first went on tour in 1992, when Stowey visited Torquay. There has been plenty of laughter and silliness since then, with some cricket thrown in for good measure.

This year’s itinerary has been arranged, with a game against Budleigh Salterton and Cornwood on the Thursday and Friday respectively and then a day of leisure around Torquay on the Saturday, watching Somerset in the T20 finals in some dodgy bar I expect. I have been given the mantle, again, of fines master, so watch out, especially the tour virgins! The good thing about being fines master is that I can’t fine myself, and anyone challenging that rule will be over ruled by the fines master and will be fined themselves!

With great regret and disappointment to you all there will be no Sunday Supplement next Sunday as I’m going to a music festival, but watch out in the week. However, the following Sunday I plan to do one on tour from our hotel in Torquay (Fawlty Towers), so watch this space, as it will be the Hangover from Hell Sunday Supplement!

Ok, its 10.57, time for pint and some tour practice!