Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

So remind me, what is that old cricketing cliché? Form is temporary, class is permanent. Kevin Pietersen certainly proved that this past week.

The Pietersen factor will always be like poking a hornets nest (another cliché!), as he tends to be some sort of enigma, you either want him to dropped or hope he succeeds and scores big runs. Always in the headlines, massive crowd puller, celebrity pop star wife and was born in South Africa, choosing to play for England.

Personally, anyone pulling on an England shirt I want them to succeed and do well, even though it does leave a little sour taste in my mouth knowing that an English born player somewhere has missed out.

KP is no exception to this, in fact I want him to succeed more than any other foreign born player who is or has played for England, frankly he just gets under the opposition’s noses and KP is the one scalp they all want, which makes things more spicier.

Having seen him play at Taunton for his former county Hampshire, you know he just oozes class and he was always knew he would get his good form back. I was refusing to jump on the band wagon wanting him dropped from the side, when it seems that everyone I spoke to in the local wanted his head.

I do think, or I should say I know, critics just want to find fault with him, the latest being that he hadn’t scored an ODI ton since 2008, a long time I know. But he does score runs, he does get starts and now the last two innings he has converted into a match wining ton. That 111 not out in the third ODI show how much it meant to him.

The recent Test series against Pakistan wasn’t his best, but it wasn’t for any English batsmen, but people do have short memories. Can anyone tell me during the recent Test series against India who the leading run scorer was? Who was top of the averages? Who (equally) hit the most tons?

KP knows he hasn’t been his best in recent months, no wonder he is usually the first in the nets, and more than likely the last to leave. Working on his technique, trying out new things and how to play left arm spin. Is he back to his best? Well we will see, there is a lot of cricket to be played this year.

Now it seems that I have put the kiss of death on Jos Buttler in last week’s supplement; he had an ODI debut to forget, we shall not dwell on that and as for the first T20, that was just unlucky due to the situation of the game, a shot he just had to play. The second T20, he spilled a difficult chance (in my eyes anyway), but did take a blinding skyer of a catch to get rid of the dangerous Hammad Azam. And we shall not mention the batting, again, whatsoever.

What made me chuckle about the first T20 is what Graham Gooch said afterwards as he was interviewed on Radio 4, he seemed to blame the defeat on Ravi Bopara. He was the man, a few runs on the board, he needed to stay in and be there at the finish to see England home. Guess what happens, he moves across his stumps, exposes his leg stump, Umar Gul says thank you very much, I think I will just clean you up and England go on to lose.

Again he was useless in the second T20, a low score, an easy miss run out opportunity and bowling stupid no balls when he is just at best military medium, there is no excuse for that.

It is not the first time Bopara has failed England, and how many more chance will he get? Anyway, it is simple for me, don’t pick him.

As for Samit Patel, are England really trying to hide him in the field? And as for his one over for 17 runs, no wonder he didn’t get another chance with the ball.

Young Jonny Bairstow steered England to a competitive score of 150 and took two great catches in the deep, which helped England win by a canter. So it is now 1-1 with one to play, I am so glad I finish work early on Monday as it could be quite a good game, come on England.

I see Nick Compton has been hard at work again, but not in the gym, but making his latest ‘Compo’s Clips’. I must admit I do enjoy watching these brief insights in what goes on off the pitch at Somerset, whether it’s the players on the golf course in India or Nick’s visit to Downtown Compton in LA, just great viewing. For the latest Compo’s Clips go just click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/SomersetCricket?feature=BF and enjoy, great insight to the commercial team. Nick – don’t forget the boys in the Centre of Excellence!

Now would you believe Somerset have their first warm up game against Glamorgan in just over three weeks time, can you believe it, the Cheltenham Festival would of just finished, I will be still aching from a tough St Patricks Day (am playing golf, quite early mind, finishing just in time for you know what opens!), and then the mighty Somerset will be having a game against our friends from over the Bristol Channel. Is the cricket season really that close?

Over Stowey had their first work out in the nets last Wednesday evening, no injury report at the moment, but I am sure the sessions will get tougher as the weeks go on, especially when this tall, quick bowler from up north comes along and starts to loosen up!

Personally I am looking forward to the 24^th March, when Over Stowey will have a pre-season get together at our main sponsors, The Cottage Inn. To have a game of skittles, a bite to eat, have a few beers and talk about how many runs we think we are going to score this season. Always an interesting time, especially when the beer starts to flow and tongues start to wag a bit more freely! Perhaps that should be on Compo’s Clips? 

Anyway, 10.57, time for Thatchers Gold I think!