Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

This week’s Sunday Supplement was written before the tragic accident which happened on the M5, just outside Taunton on Friday evening. This has, for me, has just put everything into perspective. My thoughts, along with so many, go to the families who lost loved ones in the most horrific circumstances that evening.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The game I love is, again, being dragged through the mire this week with the guilty verdicts of three Pakistani cricketers for their parts in a conspiracy to bowl deliberate no-balls in a Test.  Ex-Pakistan captain Salman Butt is jailed for two-and-a-half years, Mohammad Asif for one year and Mohammad Amir for six months.

Along with the three cricketers, the agent Mazhar Majeed, was also found guilty of conspiring to cheat and conspiracy to make corrupt payments and was sentenced for two years and eight months.

A lot has been said and written since they have been found guilty and for the past five days I have been trawling through the column inches to see if I can make any sense in this torrid affair.

What I can make out is this is only the tip of the iceberg, with other cricketers being named. I am sure more allegations and accusations will follow, followed by charges, more court cases and more convictions.

The ICC (another self-governing body, like FIFA and the IOC), hasn’t been strong enough in their actions. Andrew Strauss described the anti-corruption unit of the ICC as a toothless tiger. "The unit hasn't got the resources," said the England Test captain at a charity dinner. "They can't do sting operations like the News of the World, they can't infiltrate these betting networks. I'm hopeful only a minor percentage of cricketers are involved in it but the truth is we really don't know."

Ian Botham has also been critical of the ICC. Sir Ian says the ICC needs to take action to tackle match-fixing in cricket, starting in Pakistan. Former England captain Botham said: "I think the ICC have just sat on their hands and pretended it's not there. Well now they have got to act. It has got to start with Pakistan, who have to sort out their own back yard. Then other sides will follow. You have got to cut the head off the snake if you want to kill it."

Automatic life bans in all forms of cricket comes to mind, give a deterrent, so if caught your career is over and you can never play the game again. Hansie Cronje and Mohammad Azharuddin are two players that come to mind who received this penalty, need more action like this, plus a jail term as well.

But how do you route out the illegal, greedy, backstreet bookmakers who approach players to throw a game or whatever? One thing the ICC could do is to make it easier for players to be whistleblowers, and give them complete amnesty and protection as a result of their actions.

However will this stop them? In fact, if the likes of the ICC and courts give out tougher penalties for anyone being caught, the stakes will inevitably become higher, as the risk and penalties are greater and larger amounts of monies are put under the noses of players – ‘an offer they can’t refuse’ to quote a line from a quality film.

Zulqarnain Haider seems to be a forgotten man in all this. The interview he gave to David Bond about a year ago sent a shiver down my spine. He and his family had received threats from gangsters involved in match fixing. He immediately gave up the game he loved and fled to London in fear of his life. A very brave man indeed and I expect he is still looking over his shoulder now.

Mohammad Amir is probably the only one of the three I have an ounce of sympathy for and it is only an ounce on a very small scale. A young, naive man, coming into a dressing room where corruption seems to be rife, wanting to make an impression and a name for himself; the captain comes up and tells him to ball a no ball at a certain point in the game and there will be a brown envelope in his kit bag if he does. What does he do?

Pakistan cricketers are one of the lowest paid amongst the Test playing nations, so it looks like greed and keeping up with the ‘Jonses’ has helped influence their decision to take the monies. Saying that I hear the players from Sri Lanka haven’t been paid since about March!

We need to bring back the pride factor in playing for your nation, not the money factor. Test cricket is the undermining reason which cricket players are remembered for, it must be the ultimate in any players mind. When looking at a players’ playing statistics, I always look to see if they played any Test matches first, to see what their average is.

Everyone will have their own view on this matter, one last thing I will say on the subject is that during my cricketing career I have never been offered any money to play badly and / or bowl wides at certain times during a game, as I do this anyway! In fact I was in more danger in getting sued under the Trade Description Act by calling myself a cricketer!

In fact I think the powers to be in the West Somerset Cricket League should investigate Rhys Satchell and the number wides he bowled this season, I am led to believe it totalled seven overs worth!

Ok, that’s enough about that; let’s crack on with some more sad news, Charl Willoughby. It was announced earlier in the week that the left arm fast medium bowler is leaving Somerset by mutual consent.

I have good memories of Charl, always a tryer, never gives up and the 2007 season proved this. Along with Andy Caddick, they spearheaded the Somerset attack that went on to claim the Second Division title. Plus I would get a lot of freebies at the end of the season when unused clothing is handed out. A lot of my Somerset gear has the initials CW on it somewhere! I wish Pup well for the future.

With Charl’s departure the need for a quality bowler becomes more apparent now, especially with Murali Kartik having also left the County Ground. Will Brian Rose put his faith in the likes of Lewis Gregory and Gemaal Hussain to take 50 Championship wickets in a season? What I saw of them last season they are not quite the finished article, however Lewis is showing great potential to go further and make it as a First Class cricketer. However I will still feel more comfortable if a quality quick bowler joins Somerset.

Well it’s 10.57, time for a pint!