Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

Danny Briggs, you are a legend, what was what he said, the World T20 is more important than his wedding. Good for you, cricket is just far more important! Just wonder what his future mother-in-law would say. I did notice that he is getting married in Taunton, I wonder where?

Anyway, England got off to a flyer in defence of their crown, beating the mighty Afghanistan by 116 runs. It could have been a lot more especially at one stage the Afghans were 26-8 chasing a mammoth 197 to win. England are now in to the Super 8’s, and hopefully this is where the tournament will start to get going properly.

Congratulations to Nick Compton with his England call up for the tour of India. I do hope things go well for you Nick, fully deserved especially after the summer you had, eclipsed every batsman by a distance.

Ok, this is now hard for me to do, I was wrong last week when I said England would pick Kevin Pietersen, good job, as Compo would of not got his call up. Also I said Panesar would be picked, however Samit Patel has been picked instead, why?

There were a few things I did get correct, one wicketkeeper and Jonny Bairstow as back-up, pus Eoin Morgan being recalled. One thing I am over the moon about is the non inclusion of Ravi Bopara and he is not even in the England Performance Programme squad which goes to India. So have we seen Rave in an England shirt for the last time, I do hope so.

That Performance squad shows the exciting talent coming through the counties, the likes of Matthew Coles of Kent, Roland-Jones of Middlesex, the afford mentioned Briggs and Somerset’s Jos Buttler and Craig Kieswetter.

On the subject of Somerset, many congratulation must go to Peter Trego for picking up the MVP award for the 2012 season, plus 50 wickets for the season, many congratulations. I do know you are a great favourite with a few people I know. But why wasn’t you picked for the Hong Long Sixes?

Now, shall I book up my ticket now for the Lord’s final for the CB40? Am not wanting to count my chickens, but have you seen who is in Somerset’s group for next season? Well, let me tell you: Unicorns, Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Middlesex. Surely Somerset should get through their group, surely???

A question for Mr Sortwell of Over Stowey CC. Has the square been re-laid / scarified yet? I was in a village called Avebury yesterday, and wow, was they doing some work on their square yesterday. It was in the process of being completely re-laid, and the amount of people working on it just goes to show what a good working party can do. So Mr Sortwell, my questions still stands.

Ok, 10.57, time for a Thatchers, could be a long afternoon, England on at 3.00pm don’t forget.

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

So that’s it, the 2012 season is over. With the London 2012 Olympics going on, cricket seemed to play a second fiddle quite a bit this year, hardly surprising. But the season ended with a lot more questions than answers.

 

Off course the biggest question, locally anyway, is: Will Nick Compton get his chance for England in India this winter? Personally, along with the Somerset faithful, I think he should be in the squad, but we do not have any say over selection.

The next question is that did Marcus know that Compo was just six runs short of 1,500 First Class runs for 2012, plus in touching distance of an average of 100. I think not, but surely someone would have had a word in his ear before the declaration came.

Next, will Abdur Rehman be Somerset’s overseas player for 2013? Well, he has done more than enough to convince me. 27 wickets in four matches at an average of 14 should be convincing enough and hopefully convince Andy Nash.

Will Somerset go into the transfer market, or will they keep faith in their young squad. The likes of Rory Hamilton-Brown, James Harris and Jack Brooks are looking for new counties, will Somerset be tempted?

For how long and how much will both Jos Buttler and Craig Kieswetter be missing in 2013? Both now have the world at their feet, and with the T20 World Cup starting IPL contracts will surely be up for grabs. Somehow I recall Craig is looking to improve his chances in playing for England than going to the IPL, not sure about Jos, if he goes I wouldn’t blame him.

I think Craig will be included in an England touring party this winter, now whether it will be in the senior squad to India, along with Compo who knows.

All this talk about England selection, I do wonder how James Hildreth feels. He must have been on the selectors minds since he came on the scene, and with another fantastic season, coming second to Compo in First Class runs scored he surely has done his case more good than harm. I feel he will miss out, which will be a great disappointment to him, but we shall see.

 

 

      So who is going to get selected for England to tour India, well here are my thoughts:

Batsmen: Certainties are Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell. Jonny Bairstow will go as England have already identified him as Test potential by picking him earlier in the summer, and I am sure Eoin Morgan will be welcomed back to the Test match arena. Two batting spaces left, an opener to partner Cook and a middle order batsman.

These two places will be hotly discussed no doubt, as there are quite a few candidates as opener, plus we have the do we pick or do we leave out Pietersen factor. Ok, firstly the opening spot. Three candidates, Joe Root, Michael Carberry and Varun Chopra; where I would go for the latter of the three. Root has had a good season with Yorkshire, helping them gain promotion back to Division One of the County Championship, but he has scored his runs in Division Two. Carberry is just too inconsistent for me. As for Chopra, well he scored over 1,000 First Class runs this season, helped Warwickshire win Division One, plus he always scores runs against Somerset.

So, that middle order batsman. Somehow I think Pietersen will get another chance, England need his experience and I think Captain Cook is keen to get him back. That will come as a great disappointment to many, including myself, who think his head should be dangled somewhere near Traitors Gate! Also, there will be others who will feel disappointed, Compo, Hildy, James Taylor, Ben Stokes, but they will go on a Lions tour I am sure.

So two wicketkeepers: Matt Prior and Craig Kieswetter. Craig has now gone ahead of Steve Davis, plus he can hold a bat. There may even be a case to take one keeper, Prior and take an extra batsman as Bairstow can keep wicket, or could Craig go instead of Bairstow and then chose another batsman, now I am confused.

Bowlers, they seem to pick themselves also. Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Monty Panesar, Steven Finn, Graham Onions. Yes, Monty, only as back up to Swann of course.

Well there you have it, the squad for India, not my squad, but the names which will be revealed on Tuesday.

The mighty Over Stowey finished their season in some style, with a great inter-club match, the Under 30’s v the Over 30’s for the Neil Sortwell memorial trophy. For once the youngsters came up trumps, as the trophy belonged to the older members of the club for some years. Is this a change in the guard for Stowey, does this means the Club’s youth policy is working? Who knows, just have to wait until 2013 to find out.

Ok, 10.57, time for a quick Thatchers or two in The Cottage Inn, and get ready for the World T20 which starts next week.

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

 “Crimson-faced, scrumpy-pickled men in the bleachers”, Somerset fans as described in All Out Cricket magazine this month. The article was about the worst overs in cricket, and of course Scott Boswell feature highly in that list, only the eight wides in that over during the Lord’s final back in 2001, yes our chants of “Somerset! La-la-la” must still haunt him to this day. Oh happy days!

Well the 2012 season is nearly at a close, with Somerset due to play their last game this coming week, when they take on relegated Worcestershire at the County Ground, starting Tuesday. Guess where I will be this week?

A chapter in the history of Somerset will close after this game, as Brian Rose is stepping down as Director of Cricket at the end of the season. The end of an eight year stint and it has most certainly revived the fortunes of Somerset.

When Rosie took charge back in 2004, Somerset were a club going nowhere, playing Division Two cricket in the County Championship. Rose appointed Justin Langer as captain and that seemed to transform the team. They won the Division Two title in 2007, and they now compete strongly in all competitions.

Rosie has helped steer the side to countless finals during his spell in charge, with the T20 victory in 2005 being one of high points. I have happy memories of trips to finals at Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, The Rose Bowl, The SWALEC, some great days out, how I remember is somewhat up for debate I expect, but some cracking days out, even though Somerset were runners-up in nearly all of the finals!

I would expect the County Championship in 2010 will haunt Rosie for a long time. As you may know Somerset have never won the Championship, and in 2010 they tied with Nottinghamshire. However Notts were awarded the crown as they won more games. Oh for that extra batting point somewhere during 2010.

The Somerset players are giving Rosie a bit of a send off already. In their recent match against Sussex they chased down nearly 400 runs to win, with wickets to spare. James Hildreth scoring an unbeaten ton, and Peter Trego smashing 90 seeing Somerset home with overs to spare. Yorkshire knows what it feels like, Somerset chased down two huge totals in 2009 and 2010 respectfully against the White Rose County, and I do believe Hildy scored a ton that day in 2010. Incidentally, Tres passed 20,000 first class runs during that match.

Victory against Worcestershire this week should hopefully see Somerset come runners-up (again) in the County Championship. A fitting finish for Rosie, somehow I think not.

Over Stowey have all but finished their 2012 campaign. The 1^st XI finished off in style beating neighbours Stogumber by five wickets. Jack Rich scoring 60 in just five overs to secure victory. The 2^nd’s have just one more fixture, Brompton Ralph, away, so why am I going to the Emirates to watch Arsenal I just don’t know.

On the subject of things coming to an end, surely Ravi Bopara has now had his “chips” playing for England. I must have been saying this for over a year now, but England kept on picking him, and Bopara keeps on failing, time to say goodbye to England Ravi.

Well, 10.57, time for a Thatchers and get ready for the Neil Sortwell Memorial Trophy, looks like it is going to be a nice day for it!

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

With the news of Andres Strauss stepping down from not just the England captaincy, but retiring from all forms of cricket, the biggest cricketing story of the week was missed: the dismissal of Somerset’s Alex Barrow.

In the County Championship game between Somerset and Surrey Alex was run out by Murali (turncoat) Kartik while backing-up. Surrey skipper Gareth Barry declined the opportunity to call Alex back when umpire Peter Hartley offered it.

There were angry scenes amongst the supporters after, followed by a lot of rhetoric from both sides, for me, the phrase “Spirit of the Game” comes in to question. When doing my umpires course some three years ago now that phrase and the ethics behind it was one of the first things which we was brought to our attention. 'Mankading' is regarded within the English game as being a breach of etiquette and is an unpalatable act for many players, as well as fans.

With Alex being run out like that (incidentally Alex and myself share the same birthday, May 6^th, shame fore me it is not the same birth date!), it reminded me of little incident which happened when Over Stowey took part in a six-a-side tournament at Cannington some 20 years ago. I was playing for a Stowey side who was playing against a host side in a pool match. While fielding I notice a Cannington batsman backing up quite a long way, in fact good as attempting a run or trying to steel an unfair advantage (Spirit of the Game?). In the over before mine, that same batsman was still doing this, plus the fact after one delivery he went to pick the ball up to give back to us fielders, but claimed a run as well (obstructing the field?).

Anyway, this was noticed by yours truly, so in my over, in fact the second ball, that said Cannington batsman was half way down the track, so I whipped the bails off, and appealed (quite loudly) for a run out. The umpire (from Kilve) asked if I was sure, and I replied in an affirmative, saying “It’s in the rules and he is out,” and he gave the batsman out, a bit reluctantly.

It was a bit fractious after that, I was confronted on the boundary after by the batsman I ran out, plus we have not been on speaking terms since, which doesn’t really bother me. I only want to appologise to the Kilve umpire and buy him a pint for putting him that situation.

This incident is still talked about locally, oh how we reminisce, but where was the “Spirit of the Game” there?

On the subject of the “Spirit of the Game”, Over Stowey played Bishops Hull on Saturday. A little incident happened there regarding Law 34, hit the ball twice. Stowey’s finest, Mark Sortwell, played a shot (doubt if it was attacking), the ball threatened to roll back onto his stumps after rebounding of his pad and he hit it away. Hull appealed to say he hit the ball twice, and it was given not out – correctly so.

I believe Hull was incensed by this decision, but the Law is quite clear on this. Mark could have been out hitting the ball twice as he intentionally hit the ball for the second time. However, if he hit the ball away solely in order to guard his wicket (which I believe he did) and before the ball has been touched by a fielder, he may lawfully strike the ball more than once.

Right, enough about the laws of cricket, I can feel myself dropping off to sleep now! So who is going to open the innings for England with Alastair Cook now Strauss has retired? You know how some things naturally go together like cheese and pickled onions, Strauss and Cook have been stepping out together for ages as England’s opening pair and it has, somewhat, been taken for granted.

So who will England pick? Joe Root of Yorkshire; promote Jonathan Trott or Ian Bell; or will Somerset’s prolific run scorer Nick Compton get a chance? Do England bring pack Kevin Pietersen (not to open off course). Does Eoin Morgan get a recall? And will England, and Graham Gooch, finally realise that Ravi Bopara id just not good enough to play for England, Second Division for Essex yes (just), England no.

Anyway, interesting dilemmas for the English hierarchy, but somehow I think (reluctantly) KP will be back in the England Test side for India.

Ok, 10.57, time for a pint, it is my Mum’s birthday!