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.