Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

A Happy New Year to one and all, hope you had a great Christmas, I know I had a Boxing Day never to forget.

2012 has kicked off with a bang, Michael Clarke smashing 329 not out in the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground for Australia against India. Not to be out done, Jacques Kallis hit 224 for South Africa against Sri Lanka in the deciding third Test at Cape Town. With centuries being scored for fun by both the Australian and South African batsmen, runs are a plenty so far in this year.

Now, Michael Clarke, he declared early on day three while he was still not out, and he had the world record in his sights. For me, I would have been really selfish and batted on and on and on until he eclipsed Brian Lara’s total. There was still time in the game to dismiss the Indians, in fact well over two days, this was proved as the Aussies won with just under four sessions to go. But no, he declared and will probably regret it for the rest of his life….. What an absolute idiot!

So how will England fair in 2012? They have a busy schedule ahead of them this year, playing 15 Test matches, at least 18 One Day Internationals and countless T20 games (mainly due to the T20 World Cup in the September). So I am going to stick my neck out and give you my England predictions for this year.

First up..... Pakistan, away in Dubai and Abu Dhabi! Three Test matches, four ODI’s and three T20’s. A couple of warm up games and then the first Test starts on January 17^th. So what will happen? A few no balls, no doubt, will be greeted with amusement from the Barmy Army! Aside from that, England will win the Test series, 2-1, losing the first Test; get stuffed in the ODI’s 3-1, winning a token match at the end, and then the T20’s, who knows?

Back in December I predicted the England line up for the first Test, with Tim Bresnan now injured my prediction could be wrong, Steve Finn is likely to take his place. In my defence, how can you predict injuries?

Then Sri Lanka, away, for two Tests. Difficult to predict; first Test in Galle, then off to Colombo. Will take a 1-1 now, as the Sri Lankan’s have proved their worth in South Africa recently. Have they been paid yet?

When England return home they have a series against West Indies, three Test matches, which I would think England will comfortably win 3-0; three ODI’s, again England will win 3-0, and a T20. The West Indians are slowly rebuilding their team, they will soon be a force to reckon with, and that quite remarkable result in the final Test against India before Christmas shows they have a lot of fire in their belly. Somehow I think England will be to strong for them.

Next up, an unexplainable five ODI’s against the Aussies, why? I tell you why, money. The ECB have sold out again. Enough has been said about this in the past, so not going to linger on it again, but South Africa deserves a five match series. And the outcome of these five ODI’s…… I don’t really care.

With that in mind, South Africa are up next, in just three Test matches, followed by five ODI’s and three T20’s. Too many ODI’s again. Anyway, a tough series for England, as South Africa are now ranked the number two Test team, behind England. Their bowling attack looks very threatening and very settled, with Dale Steyn, Morne Morkle, Somerset’s Vernon Philander and the spinner Imran Tahir (Somerset supporters remember him from the CB40 in 2010).

Jacques Kallis is still a force to be reckoned with. His batting still looks strong; if England can get him early I think England will win the three Test series, 2-0. The ODI’s South Africa will win, and the three T0’s, well, again, who knows.

England, amongst the South Africa series, fly to Scotland to take on our friends from north of the border in an ODI at the Grange in Edinburgh. England should win this comfortably, but knowing the Scots, they will put up a very admirable performance and make England fight hard for their win.

After the summer England fly to Sri Lanka to defend their World T20 title. Will they defend it? It will be a brave man to stick their neck out to say who will win it, too many good teams, and a lot of shocks on the way. Just wish them well for the tournament.

If you think that should be it for the boys, well they then go to India for four more Test matches. I am just exhausted in thinking about it. However, at the end of the year England will still be rated the number one Test team. Why I say that? The side is very settled, bit like those all conquering Aussies back in the 90’s when they dominated.

Somerset – will win all three competitions this year – money soon to be placed on them. I just expect the odds will be shorter, again, this year. If they can get of to a flyer in the County Championship in April and May, who knows what will happen. Am just looking forward to another roller coaster summer watching cricket at Taunton.

As for my local side Over Stowey, I predict a very enjoyable summer, with a new 1^st XI captain in Steve Easden and he has a lot of promising youngsters coming through. When I see the likes of Micheal Barrow and Jack Rich, they just get taller and taller and could be a real handful with the new ball.

I wish Steve well in his first season as 1^st XI captain. Carl Woodley will no doubt support him as 2^nd XI skipper, and now they are in Division Five, hopefully things could be a lot easier on the pitch, especially with yours truly looking to make a come back this season.

Yes, you have heard it hear first. I have a plan:

·         Lose weight

·         Get fit

·         Find a wide bat!

The first part of the plan starts on Monday 9^th January, when I get weighed in. A strict diet will then take place for seven weeks. By then indoor nest will commence, and would off hoped to have shed two stone. During those long and arduous seven weeks, there will be no cider drinking (apart from the 14^th January), a lot more dog walking and will just have to tweak what I eat a little.

I was thinking about doing the Stuart Broad diet which has been widely reported in the papers this past week, he undertook a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet and could still enjoy a beer. Somehow I don’t think that would work somehow!

Will give you all updates as the weeks go on, so next Sunday, will be first report on my campaign to get myself playing cricket again.

Ok, it is now 10.57, and for nearly for the last time, its time for a pint!