Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

How and why am I writing this at this time in the morning, especially after last night?

Over Stowey Cricket Club held their annual presentation evening last night, and what a night, so it is beyond belief I’m doing this at this time of the morning, and I’m due on the first tee at 8.50! Why?

So what happened last night, well firstly the Chairman, Phil Rich, was unable to attend, under the knife I believe having a new (reinforced) knee, so Ashley done his speech and things ran quite smoothly. Do wish Phil a speedy recovery, and hope to see him dominating bowlers as he used to.

After an excellent four course dinner, there were some speeches followed by some awards and then talking rubbish in the bar afterwards. There were a lot of awards handed out last night, of which only one of my predictions was correct, but we all have our own opinions I suppose.

So who did win what? I can only just remember, good job I wrote it all down so I wouldn’t forget.

To start a special presentation was given to Elsie, for her services as a tea lady over the past 50 years, some flowers and a framed photograph, presented by her son Jack; then we had these:

• Doreen Prowse Cup – Highest Club Score:
  Simon Pickard
• Clive Bellamy Shield – 1^st XI Batting Average:
  Andrew Jeanes
• Sarah Connolly Shield – 2^nd XI Batting Average:
  Simon Pickard
• Pete Sells Trophy – Best Club Bowling:
  Lee Villis
• John Biffen Memorial Trophy – 1^st XI Bowling Average:
  Barrie Buller
• Ancient Mariner Shield – 2^nd XI Bowling Average:
  Julian Pocock
• Wyn Easden Shield – Most Improved Young Player:
  Jack Rich
• Most Improved Club Player:
  Micheal Barrow
• 1^st XI Player of the Year:
  Neil Buller
• 2^nd XI Player of the Year:
  Ben Enever
• Vicky and Roy Turner Shield – Clubman:
  Anthony Thomas
• Players Player:
  Phil Simms

And the booby prize – Hole in the Hand Award: Rhys Satchell

A great night had by all, great food and good company, I wonder if Spud will remember what I asked him last night!!!!!!!

Oh yes, the first tee at 8.50. Start of a stag day, my future brother-in-law, should of know better last night after having my fifth double G&T, could be a long 18 holes.

Great news from the County Ground that Roelof Van Der Merwe will return as Somerset’s overseas player for the 2012 campaign (1^st June onwards), replacing Murali Kartik. Kieron Pollard will also return for the T20 campaign.

Thank you Murali for giving us here in Somerset your wonderful service, shame we couldn’t quite give you some winners medals in return, oh so close.

Now excuse me for getting excited, but the batting order for the T20 competition looks a bit awesome, Trescothick and Kiewsetter top open, Trego three, Van Der Merwe four, Buttler five, Pollard six and still need to fit in the likes of Hildreth and Compton. Just hope they have enough balls at the County Ground, can see a lot going in the River Tone! Must remember to park my car a distance from the ground as it might not be safe!

So who will Somerset draft in for April and May? Personally I think we are still lacking a quick strike bowler, but with the IPL being played during that period it will be difficult to get hold of someone as I’m sure they would have been snapped up by one of the franchises.

Dale Steyn is rated the number one bowler in the world at the moment, somehow I don’t think he will be available as Deccan’s money will have its say. So the next best ranked overseas player? Morne Morkel. But again the IPL will be first pickings as he is contracted to Delhi.

The next best is Mitchell Johnson and he has no associations to any of the IPL franchises, is he worth a punt? Maybe as the Aussies have no international fixtures after March, plus the fact they are in England in June 2012 it may suit Johnson (or any Aussie in fact), to get used to the English conditions before their ODI’s against England.

Now don’t get me wrong here, I am not a great lover of Johnson, or any Aussie in fact, however, if it is to help Somerset win that elusive you know what, he may be the right choice.

Another alternative is to get a batsman. Will Ricky Ponting be available? We shall see know doubt. As I said, the Aussies have no internationals between March and June, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see an influx of our antipodean friends in the counties in the early parts of the 2012 county season.

Somerset have now returned from the Champions League tournament in India, now it’s time to have a break and party I expect! Craig and Jos will have to wait for their well earned rest as they are representing England in India, plus Pete Trego is off to Hong Kong for the world six-a-side tournament. Lewis Gregory described their feat in the CL as a humongous achievement (used last night in my speech), which it certainly was and it was very enjoyable to have a season extended by another month.

The coverage of the Champions League in the national papers have been shocking to say the least, with odd paragraph here and there in the qualities, thankfully we have the locals to give us the latest from India and also the web. Plus Eurosport came up trumps with the TV coverage. Perhaps this tournament, with all the prize money at stake didn’t quite strike home with the national media because it’s Somerset?

Did anyone see England play India in an ODI on Friday? Well you didn’t see the first two and a bit overs. There was a blackout of live feed out if India due to a dispute over payments from the broadcaster to the government agency responsible for up linking live telecasts out of India. What an absolute shambles.

All that can be heard was David Lloyd commentating down a phone line. When we got live pictures we couldn’t have the Sky TV commentators, as, according to a Sky source, they were awaiting government clearances before being able to broadcast live out of India.

Cricket in India is an absolute passion to say the least, with over one billion people claiming to be Sachin Tendulkar’s number one fan. With all these fanatical people, there is a lot of money to be exploited out of the game and there are ‘people’ in India (and elsewhere) who are willing to do this. The match fixing scandal being played out in court is another prime example.

The way England played I wish there was no TV coverage at all. Sloppy in the field, too many wides and a batting display which was not up to the mark. Let’s see what happens in the second ODI.