Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Ashley Giles England’s new Head Coach is like saying Jade Dernbach is a world class T20 cricket player. For crying out loud, what kind of performance was that against Holland? The less said about it the better, but I am sure plenty of critics have got their pencils sharpened right now!

England have yet to appoint a successor to Andy Flower, and with the lack of strong candidates coming forward it looks as if “The King of Spain” is nailed on for the position. From what I can pick-up in the social media the likes of Gary Kirsten, Ottis Gibson and Stephen Fleming have made themselves unavailable – do you blame them, the choice between IPL riches or the highest profile job in international cricket? Think I know what I would choose.

Why not go back to Peter Moores. Since he parted his way with England over the Kevin Pietersen affair he has done a remarkable job at Lancashire (albeit one relegation) or even Nottinghamshire’s Mick Newell, but not Giles.

I know he has enjoyed success with Warwickshire; hence he got the position of ODI and T20 coach for England. But what has he done for England since? Not a great deal, I don’t know the statistics, but I would like to wager England have lost more than they have won in the shorter version of the game.

So England bow out woefully off World T20 at the Super 10 stage, did we really think they would win, I suppose the Sri Lanka game and the brilliance of Alex Hales gave us supporters some hope, but surely reality is England have gone backwards somewhat under Giles.

Ok, they were unlucky against New Zealand, they ran South Africa close and there have been a host of injuries, but this tournament and the Dutch result sums up England’s miserable winter, a winter where we all had high hopes.

The rebuilding of England’s Test side should be happening now, but without a Head Coach how can this be possible? Sri Lanka are over here from May for a T20, a host of ODI’s and then a couple of Test matches in June, but who will be in charge and who will line-up for England in the first Test?

Well here is my punt at the England starting XI for the first Test in June: Alastair Cook, Sam Robson, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson, Scott Borthwick and Steven Finn.

As you can see, some survivors from the Ashes, some new faces and a welcome return to Trott, he is England’s best batsman, so he should be picked despite walking out on the Ashes tour in the winter because he was burnt out – but how will the dressing room react to his selection, if picked off course!

Middlesex’s Sam Robson just looks class, he scored a shed load of runs for his County last summer, and when I have seen him at Taunton he just looks so at ease and comfortable, a natural opener. SO to select him poses a question in what to do with Joe Root, down the order I think, he does adapt well.

Ben Stokes had a cracking winter so deserves his place. Whereas Matt Prior didn’t and doesn’t, hence the selection off Jos Buttler. But it is the bowling that worries me and taking 20 wickets. Jimmy Anderson will love the English conditions and will take a hatful. Borthwick to me is a very rare commodity, an English legspinner, and we need someone to replace Graeme Swann. And as for Steve Finn, somehow I think playing county cricket for six weeks at the start of the County Championship season may do him more good than harm. But somehow there seems to be a lack of quality English bowlers.

Ok, enough of that, time for a cider me thinks, well it is 5.27ish! Next week a Somerset preview.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Just as I predicted last week, the winner of the Ireland Netherlands game would go through, but admittedly I didn’t predict the circumstances in which the Dutch would qualify! Cracking game and boy did the men in Orange give the ball a thump!

Now off course England got off to an expected defeat against New Zealand on Saturday, but the circumstances were very harsh indeed. Nobody wants to see games decided on the “Jack” Duckworth method and whether England would off won is a different matter. For once I agree with Stuart Broad, players were at risk with all the lightning flying about, the players should off come of earlier and one point each would have been fair.

So who next for England, Sri Lanka, talk about a must win game. Don’t worry England, Craig Kieswetter is on the way. By the time he gets out there, England will be packing their bags to come home! Oh what a pessimist I am.

So who is going to win the T20 World Cup? Me thinks either India or New Zealand. The Indians play this style of the game nearly all the time and the Kiwis have a very good unit led by the awesome Brendon McCullum. But in this format who knows, Pakistan could throw up a surprise, like they did when they beat Australia the other day, shame.

On the domestic front Somerset had a bit of a interesting start in their warm up match against Worcestershire last week. At 82-7 at lunch on the first day I began to wonder, but in the second innings Nick Compton showed his international class by scoring a classy century, with contributions from Kieswetter, Marcus Trescothick and James Hildreth.

As you may know to win the County Championship you need to win First Class games and to win First Class game you need to take 20 wickets. For me Somerset have an ideal attack to achieve this. The pace of the Overton twins, the guile of Alfonso Thomas the trickery of Pete Trego, the ever improving Craig Meschede and the spin of George Dockrell. Watch out Division One, Somerset are going to prove a lot of people wrong this season.

Meschede has come on leaps and bounds over the past two seasons. Not only is he improving with the ball, but is also a handy batsman coming in lower down the order. This could be a defining season for Craig. Can the likes of Alex Barrow and Chris Jones step up a level as well, if so, what a team Somerset will have.

Ok, those who have decided to bet on Somerset to win all three monies by the end of the week please, contact me via Facebook or my mobile and I’ll tell you how much and how to get payment to myself.

5.27....time for a cider me thinks!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

First some disturbing news, my Twitter account has seemed to hijacked by person or persons unknown, I have never heard of Nugraha Jalu Pratama, Pudrete Flanders or anyone whose name I can’t pronounce let alone read, and it seems that I am following them. Well, as from now I am not!

Ok, rant over. You may be (or may not) be aware that the ICC World Twenty 20 has started in Bangladesh, where England are looking to regain the trophy they won some four years ago. Yes four years when England won their first International piece of silverware; how long until the next one?

At the moment there is a host of First Round matched being played; two groups of four, with the top of each group going into the Super 10 stage, which includes England. Ireland is one of the sides who are playing on the Group stages and had earlier today won their first match against, arguably, their biggest threat by three wickets, winning off the last ball. Happy St Patrick’s Day!

They now face the UAE on Wednesday then the Netherlands on Friday, which is likely to be a winner-takes-all match if the Dutch win their opening two games. The group winners will then go in the same group as England in the Super 10 stage, and we don’t need reminding in what happened in the World Cup a couple of years ago when Kevin O’Brien thrashed England single handed. Oh well, something to look forward too I suppose.

England have been decimated with injuries, Stuart Broad, Joe Root and now Ben Stokes due to a hand injury when he punched a locker! Stokes, I believe, was sent home for disciplinary reasons when he was on tour with the England Lions back in January last year. Not a great start to his England career, but hey I have fait in him, he was the only bright light from the recent Ashes tour and I believe he will be one of England’s greats in years come.

Oh well, roll on Saturday when England take on New Zealand, Brendon McCullum and all that, but no Jessie Ryder!

That’s it for me this week, a bit under the weather at the moment, but hey, I am sure England will hep to improve my condition over the next few weeks, come on England!

5.27....time for a cider me thinks!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

With the cricket season just around the corner I am at lost in what to write about this week. It’s not because I have nothing in my locker to express my views and opinions, but some of it just seems so repetitive.

For example, England doing poorly before a major international tournament; why is Ravi Bopara even in the England set-up, let alone playing for the Three Lions!

Then we have Surrey, or should I say Division Two Surrey, or even Money Bags Surrey, and what’s the other one, Batty’s ..............??!? With Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Smith playing, surely they cannot fail this year – let’s hope so, roll on Sunday May 18th.

Next up is the mighty Over Stowey and preparations for the forthcoming season, training starts Sunday, new faces welcome etc..... On the subject of Stowey, and following on from last week, it was nice to see Chairman Phil Rich at Buckingham Palace at the weekend, picking up another award no doubt.

One thing which has caught my eye this week is former Over Stowey player Nik Kosy taking cricket to another corner of the world, representing England’s Barmy Army against a Chilean XI in Chile itself. Fascinating updates from Santiago via social media, shame about the results, but well done to you Nik, I believe you can call yourself an International Cricketer?

Now, with my Somerset membership recently arriving in the post, plus I got a car sticker to go with it as well, the season is in touching distance. Somerset are due back from South Africa where they have been preparing for the new campaign. And guess what, looking for some outside preparation, and it rains, whereas back here in Blighty the weather is scorching!

Oh well, the countdown is on, and the Sellsy annual bet is soon to be placed. Thanks to those who also are coming in with the bet, will be asking for your stake money soon.

5.27....oh and England won a game of cricket!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

The Chairman turned 50 years at the weekend, happy days! Yes, Over Stowey Cricket Club’s Chairman, Phil Rich, has reached another half century, this time without smashing a ball to kingdom come! Happy birthday Phil, here’s to the next 50!

Phil has been the backbone of Over Stowey cricket for some years now, leading the way with bat and ball when he was younger, fitter and slimmer; now in more recent years chairing a very active and vibrant cricket club – and he still turns out every Saturday.

It’s only right we reflect on a few highlights in Phil’s illustrious career at Over Stowey, crikey, this sounds like an obituary!

Cricket tour to Torquay, when Phil slayed bowlers all around Devon. One six against Marldon cleared the ground, bounced on the road, went through the pub window and ended up in someone’s lunch! However it was the innings on the Sunday against Cockington which stands out most for me on that tour.

Phil had just scored back to back centuries against a Duke of Marldon XI, then Marldon themselves and then it was the match on Sunday. Now, I will say what goes on tour, stays on tour especially what happened on that Saturday night. Everyone was very rough on the Sunday and no one really wanted to play cricket, and to make matters worse the sun was beating down.

We were in the field first, the home side piled on the runs and to say we were a little lethargic was somewhat an understatement. Chasing 280 was a very tall order, Phil said: “leave it to me!” and literally we did. 190 not out with balls flying all over Cockington, we mustered the other 91 runs, with help to byes, wides and leg-byes and  Stowey won and stayed undefeated on tour!

Another occasion was when I had the privilege in sharing a 153 opening partnership with Phil, of which I scored 13! This was against North Newton in a Sunday friendly fixture. Stowey won the toss, batted and I was chosen to open with Phil. He faced the first over and promptly smacked the first ball for six.

Phil reached his 50 within four overs, I hadn’t even scored a run and in fact I can’t remember if I hit the ball off the square or even hit the darn thing. Balls were smashed all round North Newton, at one stage he was on for six sixes in an over, only to miss time one which went for four instead! After I was out, Phil went onto hit a double ton and retired.

Phil has scored countless tons and double tons, plus has taken hatfuls’ of wickets as a bowler. He has represented the pick-of-the-league at least twice and won numerous awards through the league and has picked up countless trophies at the presentation evenings at Over Stowey.

To say it has been a privilege is an understatement, well his character off the pitch just sums him up, very warm and welcoming, with a few social drinks to go with it. Here’s to your next 50 Phil!

5.27....oh and England won a game of cricket!