Sellsy's Monday Supplement (SMS)

Would you believe the cricket season starts in earnest on Wednesday when the mighty Somerset travel north to play Durham in their first County Championship match of the season. For those of you who keep a keen eye on the weather it is blooming freezing out and I hear it has been a bit grim up north as well!

It has been so cold that I haven't even ventured over to watch the mighty 'Set' in any of their warm up games, apart from the odd stroll through the ground after I had finished work. Hopefully the time Somerset play their first home match on April 25th the sun will be belting down its rays to warm us all up.

So who will feature in Somerset's line-up to face Durham? Will Compo play? When does Alviro Petersen arrive? Did anybody actually go and watch any of the warm-ups? If so, how cold was it? With all these unanswered questions, plus more like: will I eventually go to the bookies and pick up money on Somerset winning the County Championship? We are in for another rollercoaster season I am sure.

The volunteers from Over Stowey have been hard at it recently getting the ground ready for the new season. Despite the cold weather it was good to see people, young and old, at the ground over the weekend, rolling up their sleeves and doing whatever to help.

I did contribute some what, as I picked up a handful of twigs which were lying about on the outfield, while others were hard at it mowing, rolling, painting, sweeping etc; I believe I contributed in some small way.

Stowey’s season starts in just under four weeks time, and I have a bit of a dilemma; should I start to get a little fit, knock the woodworm out of my bat and scrape the mushrooms of my boots and make myself available for the second team. Or shall I just go to the opticians, to get my eyes tested and do a spot of umpiring, decisions, decisions, what do I do?

Anyway, for the final part of Sellsy’s Further Adventures in New Zealand. Last week I left it as when Marcus was been stared at by the huge grizzly type Kiwi whose (unknown at the time) wife he was talking too. As I entered the bar area Marcus called me over and introduced me to this lady and with the same breath the big grizzly Kiwi came over and introduced himself as Bob Coonis, the former New Zealand Test player, and then summariser for NZTV and in the same breath he introduced his wife to us. Marcus got up shook his hand, made a light joke of the matter and we started to get on like a proverbial house on fire. Drinks were bought, conversations about cricket, the trip around New Zealand and then the topic came up about tomorrows One Day International at Eden Park.

Marcus quipped up “Sellsy has one,” he said, “but I can’t get my hands on one.”

 

“Don’t worry about that mate,” Bob replied, “have a couple of these and you can sell your ticket on the gate!”

Bob was holding up a couple of press passes, which entitled us to access anywhere in the ground. Stunned, we didn’t know what to say, so we bought him a few more drinks, thanked him over and over again and we thought we better retire to bed, it was 2.30 in the morning, had to be up early in the morning for breakfast and the game you. I wonder if he did ever mention us on NZTV.

Waking up next morning and going to breakfast was a bit of a dilemma, as were on the 22^nd floor, and it seemed last night we got the lift to my room on the one which goes outside the hotel, but when the lift doors opened to take us down, we took one look at it and opted for the lift which goes inside the building, we were somewhat worse for wear.

After breakfast we hopped in a cab, he drove us to Eden Park clutching the two press passes, discussing how genuine they were, plus I had my Barmy Army t-shirt on, so I didn’t quite look like press, especially with the mother of all hangovers.

“Oh well” Marcus said, “let’s see if they work.” We walked up to the one of the gates, flashed our press passes, and we were stopped. “Where did you get those from mate?” asked the gateman. “Bob Coonis” Marcus replies.

“Bob Coonis?” the gateman questioned and at time we began to fear the worse, “that bloke prints his bloody own!” That was it, our entry was blocked and there was no way in getting in as had just sold my ticket. “Only kidding,” said the gateman, “just wanted to see your faces. In you go.”

What a relief and in we went. I could go on, a lot more stories about cricket in New Zealand; perhaps I will write about it one day!

Anyway, it’s 6.57, time for skittles and a nice pint of Thatchers Cider or two!!!!