Sellsy's Monday Supplement

The criticism flying around Captain Alastair Cook seems to be, in my eyes, very unfair indeed. Should he of made New Zealand follow-on? Should he off declared earlier? Has he looked at the weather forecast? Is he getting too defensive? I could go on and on, but I think the words printed and said are very harsh. In ten years time when reflecting on this series result it will say 2-0 to England, not whether he should off declared, made NZ follow on etc.

If I was Cook I would be quite happy with that type of criticism, not that he takes much notice in what is printed, as England are not losing Test matches if they were every aspect of his captaincy would be scrutinised to the finest detail, so if that is the best they can do, well, the critics have to justify their salary I suppose.

With the series already won and an impending back-to-back Ashes series coming up, some cynics even suggested that England were giving time at the crease to the likes of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow so as to get them used to batting at the highest level. That is not for me and it sounds a bit stupid, winning the Test match is upmost in their minds, whether they would have done the same against Australia, I don’t know. But Australia is a five Test series, and if England were 1 up and this was the final Test they would be batting as long as they could!

At present England are not performing as strong as they like with the bat and I know the opening position of Somerset's Nick Compton is under debate as we speak, but who will take his place, or will they go with a settle side. Added to that problem we have Kevin Pietersen coming back from injury very soon.

Talking of Somerset, what is going on? Losing to Sussex within two days, making only 184 runs in two innings and no one scoring above 30. Then to cap of a very trying week, losing to Leicestershire in the 40 over competition after posting a massive 323, by six wickets.

Again people have their own opinion, a very delicate mixture of an ageing side with too many inexperienced youngsters, no strike bowler are a couple I have heard recently. For me a lack of confidence is running through the side, especially the batting in the longer version of the game. I wonder if we would be talking about this if Somerset secured fixture over Warwickshire a few weeks ago.

Anyway, they still have my strong support,this week thay have Yorkshire in a four day game, followed by Glamorgan on Sunday, then a trip to Lord's on Tuesday next week for a floodlit game against Middlesex in the YB40. Come on Somerset!!!!!!!!

Anyway, 5.57, time for a Thatchers or two in The Cottage.