Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

So England limply bow out of the World T20 in the Super Eight stage, not hardly surprising, they never competed in all areas of the game, in fact it was just awful to watch and the only two teams they beat were Afghanistan and New Zealand (no disrespect there NZ). And to think I planned my days off work around their fixtures, it turned out to be a complete waste of my holiday entitlement.

We can look at all aspects of their game, the batting, bowling and fielding, but we could be here all day and I would get bored in repeating the same old stuff time after time. There is no doubt we have not progressed as much as other nations since England became World Champions two years ago, plus the likes of Collingwood’s retirement and Pietersen not being selected has not helped. It was embarrassing to watch some games; it was like rabbits in the headlights.

There were a few things which angered  me: Firstly, the amount of wides bowled. In the shortest format of the game giving the opposition extra runs and balls to score runs is just criminal. In England’s five games a total of 24 wides were bowled, compared to just 12 from the opposition in those games, twice as many. These games can go down to fine margins, especially if things do come down to the last over or even NRR, so giving runs away in the form of wides is just utter rubbish. 

Ok, the bowlers are themselves looking for fine margins, trying to bowl in areas where the batsman can’t hit the ball, but some of the deliveries which balloon over the batsman’s head are just laughable. 

Next, the batting, well where do I start. The only World Class batsman England has, in this format of the game, is an Irishman! And why do the still pick Ravi, he looked so poor I thought it was a club cricketer out there. It just mystifies me why he gets picked. People say he is a talented player, well he may well be against Division Two bowling in The County Championship, but he is just not international class. His last six games for England Ravi has scored just 30 runs, including three ducks and one score in double figures. You can work out his average yourself and England still pick him! And I wonder what James Hildreth must think.

The English batmen seem to be petrified when a spin bowler appears. The Indian bowlers must be licking their lips when the Test series start in a few weeks time (I know, different format and perhaps a completely different batting line up, but do you remember last winter against Pakistan?), but these batting strips in Asia are just a spinners paradise. Surely the England coaching team knew this and it would be trial by spin, and the batsman couldn’t hit the ball.

Other batsmen are young enough to learn from this experience and will probably make up some of the squad for the next World T20, but they have a lot to learn and fast. Others, like Ravi, may have had their day. But who is there to replace them? 

The fielding, at times, is good, but other times it is just sloppy and they get the basics wrong. I know it is tough conditions out there in Sri Lanka (believe me, I know, it is just baking hot out there), but we are talking international cricketers now, and they should be able to adapt to any conditions, surely? Somehow I think England may have chosen the wrong type of player as captain of the T20 side, a bowler. In this format of the game he needs to be thinking all the time in the field about where he should put his players and he can’t do that while he is bowling as well. Eoin Morgan should be given the chance as captain, he is great in the field, an inspiration in fact, and with his experience he would make a better leader than Stuart Broad.

I hear Kevin Pietersen is being re-integrated back into the England set-up. He may off charmed the hierarchy, but it’s the dressing room that counts. Enough said about this the better, wonder what Somerset’s Nick Compton is thinking about it.

Abdur Rehman, Somerset’s overseas player for the later part of the 2012 season, has seemed to let everyone down. To quote, "I apologise to my family, the PCB, the ECB, Somerset County Cricket Club, my team-mates and my fans," he said. “It was an error of judgement on my part that will cost me dearly and I would like it to be a lesson to all others in sports elsewhere. I will do my best to stay fit and focused during my suspension, and God-willing, will be available for selection for the India series should the PCB see it fit for me to be selected." Apologies accepted.

On the subject of being let down, I remember on a cricket tour to Marldon, near Torquay one year, when Les Biffen had a drop to drink one Saturday afternoon, falling over the kit bags and then being bundled into the back of the bus. He subsequently fell asleep for the rest of the evening. Next day, Phil Rich said to Les, “Les, you have let me down.” Les replied “I was only having a drink with my friends!” In which Phil said “not the whole of Marldon Les!”

Awards night next Saturday, when Over Stowey’s finest come together to celebrate the 2012 season at their annual presentation evening. For me, one of the highlights of the year, I wonder who's going to win what. I have a hunch that Dave “Rabbit” Rowsell will pick up a few awards, but we shall see.

Ok, that’s that for this week, sorry about last week, was hanging somewhat. It's not quite 10.57, so I will have to go and clear the drains instead! Next week, a presentation evening special.