Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

Lillee, caught Willey, bowled Dilley! A genuine dismissal and is probably the foremost thing I will remember the late Graham Dilley by.

His death this week came as a great surprise to nearly everyone in the cricketing world, as he was such a young age, 52, and it seems his illness was very short and sudden.

That infamous line of: Lillee, caught Willey, bowled Dilley came in the first Ashes Test of the 1979 /80 in Perth, which England went on to lose the Test and the Series.

Just two years later Dilley would be remembered for his batting heroics rather than his bowling in the infamous Ashes Test match of Headingley 1981, where Ian Botham and Bob Willis stole the headlines.

When Dilley Joined Botham at the crease England were still 92 runs behind Australia’s first innings total, with only three wickets remaining. But once at the crease he instantly attempted to attack the bowling, missing more than he was hitting; when he finally thumped the balls through the covers, Botham just laughed out loud.

Dilley started to believe in himself and started to play full-blooded drives, pulls and cuts and he was even out-scoring Botham at one stage. Botham made no bones about it: Dilley’s batting made him believe that a reversal of fortunes might be achieved.

When England were eventually all out, Dilley contributing 56, Australia were set 130 to win and were bundled out for 111. Dilley’s bowling played no part, but he did, however, take a brilliant catch at fine leg to remove the dangerous Rob Marsh. Ironically Dilley was not selected for the next Test!

Dilley was selected for the Ashes tour of 1986/87, where the newspaper correspondent, Martin Johnson, famously wrote: there are three things fundamentally wrong with this England side: they can’t bat, can’t bowl and they can’t field! England went on to retain The Ashes 2-1, and Dilley took 16 crucial wickets in the four Tests he played.

Dilley has always been a favourite in our household, especially as my father was a Man of Kent, and his batting on that day in 1981 my father was leaping out of his seat with ever ball he smashed to the boundary, shouting: “Pica, Pica, Pica!!!!” Even my good friend, Red Card Bungle, had a lot of good things to say about Dilley. For someone whose cricketing knowledge is limited (“Why don’t they just smash the thing!” when a Test is looking to be saved!), his knowledge of Dilley was impressive.

For the nearly forgotten man of Headingley, you will be remembered in this part of The West Country.

Somerset’s adventures in the Champions League are now over; where they lost in the semi-finals to the Mumbai Indians by the narrow margin of 10 runs. With the best part of a million dollars banked, Somerset can be extremely proud of their achievements.

With victories over Auckland, Kolkata (twice) and Warriors, Somerset topped their group; however they could not find an answer for the accuracy and pace of Lasith Malinga in the semis.

Malinga’s action just doesn’t look right, and the majority of the Somerset top order would off never faced anything like that. So not just his pace and accuracy, the surprise factor meant he was somewhat unplayable. The look on Peter Trego’s face after he was cleaned bowled said it all - and I thought he edged it! The defining moment of the semi was when Jos “I’ll get you” Buttler thumped the ball straight at Craig Keiswetter and smashed him right on the forearm. Instead of going for a boundary, Craig was crippled, Jos was bowled next ball and all the momentum was lost.

Somerset, you have done is proud again this season. The journey started in the Caribbean in the early parts of 2011, and has finished by putting yourselves on the world cricketing map thanks to a wonderful performance in the Champions League. The nearly men once again, however, enjoy the winter break (apart from Carig and Jos who have a small matter of England duty to fulfil) and I’ll look forward in renewing my membership for 2012.

Two major events are happening this week. Firstly the ODI’s start against India on Friday at Hyderabad and secondly it’s Over Stowey’s annual presentation evening on Saturday.

England warmed up with a scrappy 56 run win over a Hyderabad Cricket Association XI on Saturday. Bopara topped scored so it must have been a poor effort with the bat. However Steve Finn took a hat-trick to wrap up the HCA’s innings which ensured England’s victory.

So who’s going to win what at the presentation evening? With averages and individual performances already good as known, I will stick my neck out for the rest:

Players Player:                     Carl Woodley

1^st  Team Player:                 Neil Buller

2^nd Team Player:                 Rhys Satchell

Young Player:                       Lee Villis

Clubman:                               Elsie Rich

Hole in the Hand:                 Carl Woodley wants it so bad, so will it be him?

I said I will stick my neck out, and of course these are only my opinions, plus I do know who is going the win the Hole in the Hand award, as I present the trophy, the rest is just guess work.

Anyway, its 10.57, time for a pint and I’ll see you next week up the Social Club when all will be revealed.