Sellsy's Monday Supplement

I have heard some reasons before for non-selection, but, to quote: “the club’s insurance won’t cover you!” is one I have never heard before.

 

Having made myself available for the first time this season for Over Stowey’s home fixture against Buckland St Mary I found out that I wasn’t picked for the reason stated by the club’s Chairman. Ok, admittedly I am nowhere near match fit (to be fair not even fit), plus there was an abundance of players to choose from, I was somewhat bemused or even amused by the above reason.

A couple of pints of cider later I was soon laughing about it and I wondered if there are any other bizarre reasons why players have not been picked? Something to look up over the coming weeks. But hey, both Over Stowey games were called off at the weekend, so it didn’t really matter anyway.

One thing I found quite unbelievable at the weekend is how many league games Over Stowey have left, three for the 1^st XI, and just two for the 2^nd’s. Where has the season gone? It feels like it has only just started, thankfully a lot more games have been played this season, and the club managed to hold its annual outdoor fund raising event plus hold the League KO Cup Final. So, yes, a lot of cricket played, probably that’s why it went past so quick.

Off course Somerset play on right until the end of September, a very crucial period indeed. Survival in the County Championship must be paramount and there are still five games to be played, starting tomorrow away to Warwickshire. I know they have a chance to reach a Lord’s final, and I expect they would like to win every game they play – winning becomes a habit – but surely priority must be given to County Championship. The signing off Indian leg spinning all rounder Piyush Chawle may help, he needs to hit the ground running and take hatful of wickets asap, but has his visa been granted? I suppose victory against Gloucestershire next Monday may be a welcome distraction, and that will be enough to see Somerset through to the semis.

On the subject of finals, well done to Northamptonshire who won the T20 final on Saturday, destroying, in fact hammering Surrey late on Saturday night. What was even more pleasing was to see Jade ‘Girls Name’ Dernbach being smashed all around Birmingham by David Willey, Alex Wakely and former Somerset player Cameron White.

I am surprised Willey hasn’t been called up by England, however what he said about Dernbach after made me smile. To quote: “I don’t particularly like the bloke; he made an idiot of himself.” Yes we agree here in Somerset.

It’s well known that I, along with quite a few Somerset supporters, am not great fans of Surrey. Pinching our CEO, the manner that they beat us in the Lord’s final a couple of seasons ago, Gareth Batty and the one that really gets my goat is the deserter Zander de Bruyn.

The 2010 season is one I would never forget, Somerset going in to the last game off the season needing a win to make sure of their first County Championship, but du Bruyn buggered off to South Africa to play in some Mickey Mouse competition. ZDB had the knack of picking up wickets when it mattered and it showed that was sorely missed during the second innings against Durham, when not only did Durham score runs, they also took tome out off the game. Eventually Durham was all out, leaving the mighty Set an impossible target to chase down as they didn’t have enough overs or time to win. With that Nottinghamshire won the league by virtue of winning more games.

Ok, 7.50, time for a cider.  I think not, am on a diet!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Hearing that Gareth Batty has been banned for the T20 finals made my pretty dour week a bit happier. Serves him right, giving Pete Trego a volley of abuse, for no reason, when he dismissed him during the T20 quarter-finals when Surrey hosted Somerset.

Well done to the ECB as well, the code of conduct is there for a reason, just hope now they get sentimental and award him with a medal, that’s of course if Surrey reach the final. I do have this uneasy feeling that they will win the competition; their bowling attack may be a bit to good for Michael Carberry & Co.

Somerset bounced back from that disappointment by hammering Gloucestershire on Sunday in the 40 over competition. The might Set chased down 234 to win, with seven overs to spare. The inform Craig Kieswetter smashing 126 not out, which included ten 4’s and 6 6’s. With three games left in the competition Somerset are now sitting pretty at the top of the table. An away game against Glamorgan tonight, (typical Kieswetter out cheaply), then home on Thursday against Yorkshire and the finally on the Bank Holiday Monday an away trip against Gloucestershire. Come on Somerset, a home semi-final would be great, but I have a feeling it will be another nail-biter!

The County Championship and survival in Division One is still paramount. Five games remaining, two off which are at home – against Surrey and Derbyshire – and I think they need to win at least three off them, and not lose against Surrey, I wonder if Batty will play? More twitchy bum time I think, especially now Abdur Rehman will be missing as he is on tour with Pakistan and Jos Buttler along with Jamie Overton will be representing England Lions. Anyway, what would you choose? A win at Lord’s in the 40 over competition or survival in Division One? I know what I would choose.

Well done To Micheal Barrow and Jack Rich who both played in LMS (Last Man Standing) with a Somerset contingent on Friday at Minehead CC. The likes of Pete Trego, Steve Kirby played. I am told that Jack smacked a six and four off the bowling of a Somerset player!

Their experienced inspired Over Stowey to victory on Saturday as they beat Churchinford by 140 runs, with Micheal taking five wickets. Stowey are in a comfortable third place in the league, so well done to them.

Stowey hosted Finals Day on Sunday where the Hinkley Point Cup and the West Somerset League Cup was contested. Well done to Stogumber 2^nd’s and Bishops Hull 1^st’s who won the cups respectively. A good show was put on bys Stowey and I am sure they won’t be far behind in being selected next season to hold the finals. Well doen to all those who helped, great effort.

England, looks like they are going to wrap up the series, I always said Stuart Broad was a good bowler, perhaps he read my blog last week!

Ok, 7.27, time to celebrate the Ashes. There is a pint on Thatchers with my name on it, on the bat at The Cottage.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

One thing which makes cricket nearly completely different from other sports is that it is very much weather dependant. With the English weather so unpredictable and changeable who knows what will happen on the morning of a match.

On Sunday evening every forecast I read, saw or heard said that Manchester will have rain all day, even the forecast on Monday morning said there will be no chance of play today; so I check Cricinfo at about 11.45 and guess what there is play, and Cook was out cheaply as the Australians declared overnight. Since the players have been on and off, two more wickets fell, and at 4.40 the match was abandoned and the Ashes are retained! Wait ‘til the winter me thinks!

Also the local forecast said there will be rain in Taunton for most of Monday, so as I travel into the County Town, with my wet weather clothes, expecting the rain to be lashing down, what am I greeted with? Sun! So much so that Somerset resumed their innings dead on 11.00, and by 11.02 they were all out! Eventually the rain did come, and did it come down ay about tea time, the outfield became a lake and the game ended in a draw, with Somerset on 141-2 following on.

Both the games at Old Trafford and the one at Taunton had similar scenarios, two teams trying to bat out the day to save the game. The way it should be, not having the weather to help them secure a draw. I am sure this is the way all players want to play cricket at this level, so as to “test” their skill, patience and cricketing ability.

On the subject of ability, why is Stuart Broad still playing Test cricket for England, saying that, any form of cricket for England? When was the last time he has done something spectacular to win a game? The only thing he has done is to score a few runs with the bat and not walk. And to be fair, he is not in the side to score masses of runs, that is the job of the top seven; he is there to take wickets.

Broad has only taken six wickets so far this series - that is one wicket per innings - at 52. Whereas the likes of Swann and Anderson have taken a hatful of wickets at about 25 a piece. Time for Broad to go back into the Shires, and give someone like Chris Tremlett the job of knocking over the Aussies.

On the subject of scrutiny Jonny Bairstow name has been mentioned in the unpopular press about his place in the side. See their point, 17 Test match innings and still yet to hit a ton, and he hasn’t done much in this Test match either.

Somehow I think will keep Bairstow and Broad in the squad, especially Broad, but why?

Ok, enough of that, T20 quarter-final day on Tuesday, where the mighty Somerset taken on Surrey “we buy anyone” Toffs! Tough one to call this, like most T20 games, somehow I think who ever comes out top between the Surrey bowlers and the Somerset batsmen will win. Jade “girl’s name” Dernbach has got a bit predictable, but still dangerous when he gets it right. Anyhow, the bookies make Somerset favourite, so Rose and Crown on Tuesday afternoon, with my prayer mat.

Somerset contracts have also been in the news recently, speculation about Compton and Buttler off course, but it is great to see the likes of Chris Jones and Tom Abell amongst others signing deals, but what does the future hold for the club? Much discussion was had the other evening at Phil’s birthday party, everyone I spoke to had their own point of view, but the first thing they need to worry about is staying in the 1^st Division, and keeping hold of some key players. We don’t want an exodus like Leicester and Derby had in recent years, that won’t happen anyway, young talent, new blood and some old heads is a great combination. What ever happens, my support will be there as always, come on Somerset.

Enough of that and back to rain. Over Stowey’s big event where they were due to hold the West Somerset League Finals Day on Sunday had to be abandoned due to the weather. The club will get another chance this Sunday, so fingers crossed for some great weather this time. On the pitch, Phil Rich rolled backed the years scoring 93 against Bagborough on Saturday. I am told that 97% of his runs came in boundaries, but hey, well done Chairman.

Ok, 5.27, time to celebrate the Ashes. There is a pint on Thatchers with my name on it, on the bat at The Cottage.