Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Surrey are relegated, national holiday follows, well celebrating in the streets of Somerset instead. Goodbye Gareth Batty, you’ll not be missed – unless there is another twist to the tale.

With time being lost during the Surrey match against Warwickshire and with relegation looming, “Money bags” Surrey managed to persuade Warwickshire to do some declarations, thus set up a run chase. Surrey knew the only way to have a chance of staying up was to win the match, and those declarations set up a run chase in which Surrey had to bowl out Warwickshire was the only way to do it. But it failed, as Warwickshire knocked off the runs.

It did leave me a bit bitter on Thursday to see what was happening, did the Warwickshire captain, Varun Chopra, understand the implications on other counties when he agreed to this? But it seems to me that he backed his batsmen to score the runs required and they did. Now, no favours for Derbyshire this week, please.

Yes, it’s the final round of matches this week, and with Durham winning the County Championship last week – well done to them – focus is now on who goes down. Derbyshire are in the relegation spot, 15 points adrift off Nottinghamshire and 16 off Somerset. So basically Derbyshire have to win, if they win then bonus points come in to play between all three counties. There are so many different scenarios, ifs and buts etc; there is even a scenario where all three teams could finish on the same points. I am sure we will have a better idea after the first innings have been completed, knowing who has scored what points, but who knows? Come on Somerset.

Ashes squad announced today – good to see Gary Ballance and Ben Stokes in the squad; why did they pick Monty Panesar and Michael Carberry? Also no place for Graham Onions and Nick Compton, did the selectors have a look at the County Cricket averages for 2013 before selecting the squad? Somehow I think not. Onions omission is crazy, top of the averages, taking wickets for fun which helped Durham win the County Championship, and surely he is better than Chris Tremlett and Boyd Rankin, surely? And surely Compo is a better opener in the longer form off the game than Carberry. “The door is not closed on Compton” - Yeah and I’m a Dutch virgin – to quote legsidelizzy on Twitter!

The Performance squad looks exciting, especially as they have picked some players worthy of the main squad itself, players like Moeen Ali, Chopra, Sam Robson and David Willey. Off course we must mention Jos Buttler and Jamie Overton who have also made that squad, well done guys, and Jos, just sign that new contract please.

Ok, that’s it from me for a couple of weeks – on holiday and then moving to Kilve. Don’t worry Rocket, only moving house, not moving my allegiances to another cricketing village, unless they give me a better offer!

5.27, time for a Thatchers before skittles. Have a good couple of weeks.