Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

This will be my last Sunday Supplement for 2011, something to do with the festive celebrations over the next two weeks. It now gives me time to reflect what has happened over the past 12 months with England, Somerset and Over Stowey, all three I have a great passion for. Plus I will have a brief look of what has happened in the cricketing world over the past year.

England are on top of the world!  A comprehensive Test series win against India in the summer saw England reach of the summit of number one Test playing nation. Ever since Andy Flower took over as England supremo in 2009, his ultimate goal was to deliver that number one status and with the appointment of Andrew Strauss as captain, they became the definitive driving force both on an off the pitch.

You cannot underestimate the victory in Sydney meant to England in gaining that number Test match status. With the Ashes already retained in Melbourne, England could off quite easily taken their foot of the gas, defeat would of tied the series and things would of been a bit more difficult to reach number one. Defeating Australia in their backyard laid these fears to rest and victory by an innings proved this.

English players now dominate the Test rankings, with both bat and ball. Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen all in top ten Test batsmen; James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad are all in the top five Test bowlers – which is encouraging as bowlers win you Test matches.

With being so strong in Test cricket, Andy Flower must be somewhat perplexed about England’s performance in the one day game. In 2012 England played 23 ODI’s (not including the World Cup), and could only win eight of them. They did win two series, both at home, 3-2 against Sri Lanka and a 3-0 victory over an under strength India. But defeats away in Australia and India, 6-1 and 5-0 respectively, shows up England’s shortcomings in the shorter version of the game, especially away from home.

The World Cup was another disaster for England earlier this year, with humiliating defeats against Ireland and Bangladesh, then a right proper stuffing in the Quarter-Final against Sri Lanka (losing by 10 wickets).

It seemed that every game England played in was a thriller: almost chasing down 338 to beat India, instead the game was tied; Kevin O’Brien’s tremendous innings off 113 off 63 balls to turn the game on its head in Ireland’s favour as they chased down 328 to win; getting bowled up for 171 against South Africa, then bowling them out for 165. There is never a dull moment being an England supporter.

Anyway, at the end of 2011, England are not only top of the Test rankings, but also top of the T20 rankings, so a successful year, just sort out the one day game, or is Graeme Swann right in what he recently said?

Somerset’s season stared in January when they travelled to the Caribbean and it ended in October in India, plus they reached the two domestic finals to boot as well. So I had to watch and go through a lot more pain, ecstasy and agony for longer this season, but wouldn’t off swap it for anything. I would of thought of counties were looking at Somerset with some envy these past 12 months.

Getting to a final and losing is now becoming beyond the joke, and I am starting to hear comments like: “All ways the Bridesmaid”, “Perpetual runners-up”, etc. I have now watched Somerset in nine finals, and have only seen them win two; in fact the last three T20 finals I can’t even remember seeing them!

Winning the County Championship is the monkey which Somerset supporters and players would like to see off their backs, having come so close in 2010, they were heavily tipped in 2011 to win it. However, a very poor start in April losing to both Warwickshire and Lancashire by an innings saw Somerset on the back foot almost immediately.

With Alfonso Thomas and Murali Kartik playing in the IPL and the whole hearted Steve Kirby just finding his feet, the Somerset attack looked young and week. I know I have said this earlier, to win in the longer version of cricket you need to take 20 wickets, and those first few games you just wondered where the next wicket would be coming from.

In 2010, Somerset drafted in Damien Martin for a spell before Kartik arrived, they had a good start, and should off gone on to win the County Championship. Now they have drafted in the very promising Vernon Philander from South Africa to act as overseas player, until Roelof van der Merwe becomes available. Hopefully he will bring with him the form which he has produced in recent Test matches, where he has burst on to scene taking five wickets in each of his last three (and only three) Test matches. Wins early in the season are vital as Lancashire proved this past season, so let’s hope for a cracking start to 2012.

The T20 and CB40 campaigns proved to be very exciting again, some fantastic wins – Notts away in the T20 Quarter-final at Trent Bridge comes to mind – and another trip to Lord’s for the CB40 final where Somerset never seemed to turn up and they lost a one sided final to Surrey. Roger Shepherd admitted to me after that he has never seen Somerset win a final, so he is undoubtedly to blame for any final loss where he has attended.

The bitter disappointment in losing the CB40 final and then they had to travel to India the next day seemed, at the time, one competition to much. How much was I proved wrong, as Somerset took on the best the world could throw at them as they reached the semi-finals, where they narrowly lost to the eventual winners the Mumbai Indians.

There is so much potential in that Somerset side and so many names to mention and my membership for 2012 was quickly renewed. One thing for sure, I will place my usual bet for the forthcoming season.

Over Stowey – the team I feel least stressed about in watching cricket, because you just know what is going to happen on a Saturday afternoon – yes, I will have too many Thatchers! Oh, the 2^nd XI will talk a good game and still lose!

Over Stowey have so many great attributes, smashing ground, great youth set-up, a lot of senior players to choose from every Saturday, great teas and a fantastic summers’ party; sometimes it is a shame they cannot reproduce this consistently on the pitch.

The 1^st XI did perform well during 2011, and finished a very respectable 5^th in their first season back in Division Two, with some really promising youngsters leading the way in the bowling and batting.

Lee Villis and Jack Rich both won games for the 1^st XI during 2011with some great individual performances, now they have got a year older, and what I can see of it a couple of foot taller, 2012 could prove to be somewhat exciting for Stowey. The seniors did carry a lot of injuries throughout 2011, so these youngsters came up to the mark with flying colours, and I know they have the hunger to succeed.

One of Stoweys’ finest retired at the end of the 2011 season, at 60, I don’t blame him. Roger Shepherd hung up his boots, pads, bat or whatever; he can now enjoy his cricket in the Cider Tent and watch in luxury from the boundary. Roger has produced some great cricketing feats for Stowey, I can even remember him as a youngster smashing the ball to all parts of Over Stowey, and then not satisfied in scoring a century, will come on and take five or six wickets a game. Fond memories Roger, you, in my book, are already missed.

During the latter part of 2011, world cricket was in the papers for the wrong reasons: the convictions of three Pakistan cricketers for spot fixing. Enough said about that the better.

However, the game soon picked itself up with three recent cracking Test matches: South Africa v Australia, India v West Indies and Australia v New Zealand.  Coming down to the last day all three matches could off gone either way: win, draw or lose (and possibly a tie) and they were compelling viewing, especially the Black Caps beating the Aussies this past week.

In the first instance, the Aussies were reeling after being bowled out for 47 by South Africa in the first Test and losing by eight wickets. However in the second Test things were much closer, and having been set 310 to win, the match went down to the wire and they scrapped home by two wickets, with 18 year old Pat Cummings showing a lot of character in smashing the winning runs and squaring the series.

In India, the game was nailed on to be a certain draw, as the West Indies in their first inning scored a massive 590, in which India replied with 482, and there were only a day and bit left to play. With the pitch taking spin, the Indian spinners skittled out West Indies in their second innings for 134, leaving them 243 runs to win, in just 64 overs. The Indians started off cautiously and when they started to get some momentum, the West Indies would take a clutch of wickets. With all four results still possible going into the last hour, everyone watching was on tender hooks. It came down to India needing two runs off the final ball to win, they ran one, and going back for the second one of the batsmen was run out, leaving the game all square and finishing in a draw, as the Indians were not all out, phew!

In Tasmania, the Aussies were on the wrong end of a thriller as New Zealand won for the first time on Aussie soil for 26 years. In a low scoring affair, the Aussies were set 241 to win, with acres of time left in the match, and at 159-2 they looked well set. Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell then went through the Aussie batsmen, taking eight wickets for 74 runs, and winning the game by seven runs. Well done the Black Caps! Always like to finish on a high, the Aussies losing!

Finally, who exactly reads this blog? I have statistics where this is read, USA, Russia, Canada, Australia, Germany, India, Israel, Singapore, Poland to name just a few countries, plus the UK as well, but who are you? And thank you.

Well, all have a great Christmas, and I will be back in the New Year. It is nearly 10.57 and time for a pint!

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

Do you remember what happened twelve months ago? I will give you a clue: it is to do with cricket!

This time last year the greatest cricket, in fact sporting, event was going on, The Ashes! And England had just won the 2nd Test to one up in the five match series.

This was a very poignant series for England, not only was it a massive step for them to become the number one Test team, it was the first time in 25 years that England won a series down under.

Despite the Aussies levelling the series in the third Test, England went on to retain The Ashes winning by three to one.

The first Test at Brisbane was eagerly anticipated by cricket lovers everywhere in Stowey, and perhaps around the world. So much so, myself and a few friends watched the first session of the first day in our local, and it was on a school night, so was hanging a bit the next day at work.

In a nutshell, Andrew Strauss out first over, Peter Siddle takes a hat-trick, England make a mediocre first innings score, Aussies reply with 481, England bat for two days in their second innings only losing one wicket with all three batsman scoring a ton (Strauss 110, Alastair Cook 235no, Jonathan Trott 135no), the Aussies survive to grind out a draw! And I finished with terrible bags under my eyes through lack of sleep.

Down to Adelaide for Test number two. Win the toss and bat, exactly what Ricky Ponting chose to do, and by 11.05 he was back in the pavilion, with the Aussies two wickets down, with zero on the board, which was soon to be three down, with just a paltry three scored.

The Aussies were all out just before the close, then England batted for over two days, scoring 620-5, Kevin Pietresen comes to the party scoring 227, and another ton for Cook, this time a modest 148. Graeme Swann takes a Michelle on the fifth day and the Aussies lose by an innings.

Perth for the third, Aussies win, one all in the series, enough said!

Boxing Day, Melbourne, fourth Test: 80,000 drunken Aussies, plus a few thousand more refined English. Aussies all out for 98 before tea, the English got drunk, the Aussies went home! England bat into day three, Trott scoring another unbeaten ton. Aussies are bowled out on day four, England win by an innings, again and retain The Ashes..... Start the sprinkler!

Sydney, the fifth Test, did the Aussies changed their flag to all white? More centuries for the England batsmen, Cook 189, with Ian Bell and Matt Prior scoring 115 and 118 respectively. England win by an innings, again (boring), making it the third time in the series.

What great memories, a bit like 2005 and 2009. Somehow I think it will be different in 2013, just seeing how the new look Aussie bowling line-up are taking wickets for fun against New Zealand.

On the subject of the future, why oh why have the England selectors given Ravi Bopara another chance in the squad announced on Friday for the series against Pakistan? How many more times are they going to pick him? How many more times is he going to fail? The likes of James Taylor, Jonny Bairstow must be wondering why as well.

Monty is back, so the selectors think the wicket will turn? Will he bowl in tandem with Swann? The jury is still out for me on Monty, even though he has been playing well in Australia I am led to believe.

Here is my line-up prediction for the first Test, so here we go: Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Morgan, Prior, Broad, Swann, Bresnan and Anderson.

Well, that’s about it, I know it is not 10.57 and time for a pint, it is 2pm, and I’m going for a lie down, just come back from London, exhausted!!!

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

Date in my diary, Sunday, 19th August, Scotland away; let’s hope it is in Edinburgh. The only trouble is I think it is right in the middle of The Fringe, oh well sounds like a party to me!

Other notable dates are the 27^th August where Somerset play Surrey which sees the return of the turncoat Kartik in a CB40 game, plus the day after the start of a four day game against the same opposition. The only disappointment is there isn’t a fixture on my birthday, oh well, I am sure I will find something to do that weekend (and it’s a bank holiday!).

Somerset have been very busy off the pitch this past week. First it was announced that the Club will be hosting an evening celebration at the County Ground when the Olympic Torch Relay arrives in Taunton on 21^st May next year. The evening event will offer people from around the county to mark the Olympic Fame’s arrival and celebrate in the Olympic Spirit.

Somerset can also boast a new signing which was announced earlier in the week: Elton John!!! Elton will be performing an open air concert at The County Ground on Sunday 3^rd June. Another great coup by the County, especially as tickets are priced at £85 – would rather go to a festival!

Lastly the Club hosted its annual awards night on Friday, the same night as our skittles team Christmas party, so sorry I couldn’t attend, double booked and all that, plus the Port went down a bit too easy! Awards went to Arul Suppiah, Jamie Overton, Steve Kirby, Jos Buttler and Marcus Trescothick.

More awards were handed out this week, as England coach Andy Flower was named UK Coach of the Year at the 2011 UK coaching awards. He was also named UK High Performance Coach of the Year in recognition of his role in helping England to a first series win in Australia for years and becoming the number one Test side in the world.

Listening to his comments on the radio he seems to be a no-nonsense type of man, getting the right people in the right positions within the England set up. Well done to him, somehow I think he may get Coach of the Year at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year on 22^nd December.

With Sports Personality changing its name to Sportsman of the Year, it was great to see both Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss both being nominated. Somehow I don’t think they will win, as their performances in Australia last winter may long be forgotten by the voters. Plus the cricket vote will be split between the two off them. If I had to pick between the two I would go for Cook, purely for the amount of runs he scored in Australia, which not only helped to win matches it helped to save them.

With Australia in mind, their bowling attack is starting to look dangerous. 18 year old Pat Cummins took a match winning seven wickets on debut against South Africa recently; this was followed up by 21 year old James Pattinson also achieving a match winning performance by taking six New Zealand wickets, as the Aussies cruise to a nine wicket win. Should us English start to get worried?

They also have unearthed another young spinner by the name of Nathan Lyon. The 24 year old has already taken 19 wickets in his first six Tests, six on his debut against Sri Lanka. With 21 year old Mitchell Starc also making his Test debut against the Kiwis, their bowling attack has a very young and rugged look about it. With Mitchell Johnson now injured, these guys have already stepped up to the plate and performed well at the highest level. The Ashes in 2013 should be something to savour.

With that in mind, I think it is time for a pint, it is 10.57 you know!