Sellsy's Monday Supplement

It was nice to see All Out Cricket magazine take my lead and do an article on New Zealand cricket, off course what I wrote last week has no influence on what was written in AOC, but it goes to show what a hot topic of conversation the fall out in NZ cricket is. 

Now I don’t know about you but I was quite enthralled by the latest England match on TV Sunday morning, but it wasn’t the blokes it was the English women. It looked like it was going to be a nail biter, but Katherine Brunt ripped through the lower middle order helping England to win by 30 runs. 

Earlier in the game captain Charlotte Edwards score a magnificent century, which saw her become the highest run-scorer in women’s one day internationals, congratulations to her. 

With this victory the group is wide open, with each of the four sides played two and won one each, so the game against the West Indies is some what crucial on Tuesday morning, ah good job I have a day off! Best of luck to Charlotte and her side, I will most definitely have one eye on the game. 

I looked up some of the ladies on Twitter, Charlotte Edwards was quite to find, and hence I decided to follow her, along with about 16,000 others. Sarah Taylor was a bit difficult, seeing that both Sarah and Taylor are quite common names, but when I found her to my surprise and delight I find out she is an avid Gooner, good for you Sarah. 

Katherine Brunt was quite interesting indeed as somehow I don’t think she is on Twitter as it looks like some poor girls in America is getting mixed with her, quite amusing, it reminds of the Ashes Twitter account which made the headlines back in 2011 when England hammered the Aussies. 

Anyway, that’s enough about that, 6.57, time for skittles and a pint or two of Thatchers!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement (SMS)

A tale of two Craig’s, two of Somerset’s Craig’s. Firstly, congratulations must go to Craig Overton who has been selected for the England Lions tour of Australia, but unfortunately for Craig Kieswetter he has been omitted from all of the England squads for which he was originally selected for the tour of New Zealand.

 

I am pretty sure Kiesy will be bitterly disappointed by his omission, however he will be more determined to get his place back, and that can only help Somerset this season. Craig’s county team mate Jos Buttler took his place behind the stumps for the last two ODI’s v India. I hear Jos had mixed emotions taking Craig’s place, but I suppose he can only do what the selectors ask off him.

England have a couple of warm up games in New Zealand before the first of three T20 starting on February 9th, starting, thankfully at 6 in the morning instead of stupid o’clock! But wait until the Test matches start, no doubt it will be a midnight start, so that will be the listening to Test Match Special through the night lying in bed, I may even watch it on my new iphone, but we shall see, bleary eyes at work coming up!

New Zealand cricket is in some sort of turmoil with a disastrous Test series against South Africa, which included being bowled out for just 45 in the first Test. There is a lot of finger pointing going on to say who is to blame for the misfortunes of the Black Caps, I even hear that former New Zealand legend Martin Crowe threatened to burn his NZ cricket shirt in disgust and protest in how things are being run.

I suppose more will come out over the next few weeks while England are over in NZ, but we shall see.

Right, 6.57, time for skittles and a pint or two of Thatchers!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Would you believe 80 years ago diplomatic ties with our friends from down under were strained to say the least. Yes 80 years ago was the infamous Bodyline series, where Douglas Jardine and his English team whipped some Aussie arse to win the Ashes in Australia. 

Now 80 years on the old foes do battle yet again, with an unprecedented back-to-back series. The Aussies visit our shores first, and then a trip down under for Christmas and the New Year. 

The Australian team seem to be in a bit of a rebuilding process with a lot of the old guard handing up their boots. Ricky Ponting has now gone, along with Mike Hussey. There seems to be some uncertainty who are going to replace these two great players? Plus the whole side seems to be a bunch of no-names, Michael Clarke the only exception.

Now those words could come back to haunt me, and knowing how my luck has gone so far this year a lot of Aussie new names being rammed down my throat. But hey, we shall see, somehow I think England already have the measure for the Aussies, with a very settled side and some promising youngsters ready to move into the team if someone fails!

Well, today I am pretty excited as I have now renewed my Somerset membership. Walking through the County Ground this lunch time cricket seems a long way away, with the whole ground covered in snow. Hey ho, high hopes and the fixtures are firmly in my diary. What shall we expect this season? One thing is for sure quality cricket and another rollercoaster ride. Silverware at the end? I do hope so.

With this in mind Alfonso Thomas reached another final of a T20 competition, this time in the Australia Big Bash, playing for Perth Scorchers. Guess what, another runners-up medal for Tommo, he must be getting used to it by now I think!

Right, 6.57, time for skittles and a pint or two of Thatchers!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement (SMS)

Somerset’s Alfonso Thomas takes to the field for Perth Scorchers on Wednesday morning as his side takes on the Melbourne Stars in Australia’s Big Bash League semi-final.  

Alfonso has had a huge impact for the Scorchers as lies third in the table for most wickets taken in the whole competition with 12 and has a healthy average of 10, equal first. Not bad eh, just hope he brings this form with him this summer, not just in the T20 competition, but the whole summer. Somehow I think the guys from the IPL are eyeing him up, if he hasn’t already been snapped up.  

Tomorrow morning there is even more cricket fun when England take on India in the 2^nd ODI from Kochi, so that will mean another early start, and hopefully I will be able to see the end of it when I get home from work on Tuesday afternoon. If it is as exciting as the last ODI, it should be a thriller. 

Well done to England in winning that 1^st ODI, it seems all the experts gave the tourists no chance as a score of just over 300 wasn’t going to enough, experts eh, and well done to James Tredwell, not only did he take wickets his economy was good, better than Samit Patel (not exactly difficult was it!).  

New Zealand are having a bit of a torrid time in South Africa, having been bowled out for just 45 in the first Test at Newlands and thus losing by an innings, a similar score was on the cards in the second Test. All out for 121 in the first innings and if it wasn’t for Bradley-John Watling’s 63 who know what the Black Caps would have been bowled out for. Incidentally, he scored the same in the second innings. 

New Zealand lost the Test by an innings again, and guess who goes to NZ in February, yep England. Now that is what I call an early start to watch those Test matches, midnight, will I really go to bed at 6pm to watch the Test? Who knows? 

Right, 6.57, time for skittles and a pint or two of Thatchers!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement (SMS)

Happy New Year to one and all, and the two weeks since my last blog it has been a very busy time in the cricketing world, and to cap it all off Shane Warne through his dummy out of the pram. 

For those of you who haven’t seen it he had a spat with Marlon Samuels in Australia’s Big Bash Twenty20 competition, it is hilarious, have look on this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/20930680 Incidentally Warne’s side, Melbourne Stars went on to lose the game, but could still qualify for the semis, where they could meet Samuels’ side Melbourne Renegades, now that could be worth watching. 

The last two weeks saw the loss of two great cricketing commentators, in Tony Greig and Christopher Martin-Jenkins, with two very contrasting styles. Greig is also noted for the way he helped transform cricket to what we know it now, with all the coloured clothing, floodlights etc by joining the Kerry Packer World Series Cricket.  

As for CMJ, my memory of him is always being late for his stint in the commentary box, or maybe, as it did happen once, turning up at the wrong ground for a Test match. 

Now with Christmas, New Year and the Winter Solstice out of the way, the days will start to get longer, the nights shorter, which means one thing, countdown to the cricket season.  

The next few months no doubt I will be getting me head around the work I need to do for Over Stowey, getting ready for the new season does involve quite a bit. Website to update with fixtures, contacting vice-presidents and sorting out the Sponsors, to name but three. But hey, I am ready, and I am sure the club’s Chairman, Phil, will give me his support in every way he can! 

Now the other dilemma I have is my Somerset bet. It will yet be placed yet again, Somerset to win all three competitions, the dilemma is to do it each-way or to win outright. I hate to say I feel confident, but with the re-signing of Abdur Rehman and the new signing of South Africa’s Alvrio Petersen they will strengthen the squad no end.  

David Nosworthy is an interesting choice to replace Brian Rose as the new Director of Cricket. Unheard off in this country apart from those in the know, but has a good pedigree in the Southern Hemisphere in South Africa and New Zealand, having won trophies and reached finals in both countries. Vic Marks seems pleased with the capture of Nosworthy, so who am I to disagree, which I wouldn’t do anyway. Will he be the man to help lead Somerset to glory in the County Championship, give them that little bit extra to help spur them on in one day cricket, wow, shall I book up my seat for Lord’s now? 

Ok, nearly time for skittles, 6.27, time for a few ciders at the Cottage Inn before the trip to Watchet!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement (SMS)

Not wanting to sound like Geoff Boycott the dropping of Samit Patel for the fourth Test against India was something I predicted in my blog last week. Plus in a roundabout way I also suggested that England should pick Joe Root as his replacement. So the news which broke in the early hours on Thursday morning came as no real surprise to me as it did to some of the experts in the media.

Root’s contribution in England’s first innings turned the games in the tourist’s favour, not only the runs scored but taking time out of the game ensuring that Test would be a draw, thus a series victory for England.

Root will now be in touring party to go to New Zealand where I am sure he will continue his role in the number six batting position and if he does well he we no doubt put pressure on Nick Compton to open the innings, something he already does for his county Yorkshire. Compo will also go to NZ as first choice opener with Captain Cook, rightly deserved with a good debut series averaging just under 35. How long he can stay as first choice opener will be intriguing indeed, especially for us Somerset supporters keen for Compo to succeed.

The majority of the Test squad will now fly home, with only a handful of them being picked for the T20 matches starting on Thursday. There may be a few sore heads on that plane back to Heathrow. Well done to you all and hopefully I will see Compo at The County Ground before Christmas to give him my congratulations.

Coming right down back to earth the West Somerset Cricket League fixtures are out for the 2013 season. Over Stowey 1^st XI start their Division Two campaign with a home fixture against Roadwater, however the fixture on June 22^nd will be the most anticipated when Stowey travel to Bishops Hull. The fixture last season was somewhat tainted and with comments made at the league AGM it seems that the value of the spirit of the game is completely lost by Hull. I could go on, but it is just my opinion, not that off Over Stowey.

A nice short one tonight and that will be it from me until the New Year. Have a good festive season, I know I will!

Right, 7.57, time for a few Thatchers before skittles.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement (SMS)

Douglas Jardine, two words that sends shivers down the spine of all cricket loving Aussies, will always be remembered for the infamous “Bodyline” series in the 1930’s. However, little may you know, he was the first captain to lead England to series win in India.

The present England side, led by Alastair Cook, are on the verge of history in India. They are 2-1 in the series, with one to play and with the present Indian side (and the cricket mad nation) in utter disarray, surely a series win is England’s to throw away.

A lot of credit, and rightly so, will go to Cook. He has led from the front, not only scoring hundred’s for fun, but lifting his side after a crushing defeat in the first Test. Boy, how the others responded, great batting, excellent bowling and this has been matched by wonderful support in the field.

The final Test starts on Thursday and England will travel to Nagpur aiming to win the series 3-1. Now this start date will mean that I may miss the third and fourth days, due to some festive celebrations going on, so my only hope is that the cricket goes in to the fifth day so that, hopefully, I will see some cricketing history.

With the Indian media putting the majority of the present team out to dry, including MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, the English media are heaping praise in every department, a bit different than what it was three weeks ago. I can’t foresee many changes for Thursday, if any at all. Steven Finn is now fully fit and will keep Stuart Broad out for sure, and with Ian Bell’s cameo to win the game on Sunday his place is now safe. The only possible change would be to drop Samit Patel for another batsman. Samit has contributed little with the ball, apart from a few overs so the front line bowlers can have a break, and his batting doesn’t inspire whatsoever. His saving grace is that he has been playing in a winning team, whereas bringing in a batsman like Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root or Eoin Morgan could be tricky as they have had no or very little time out in the middle to prove their worth.

This is just a minor detail compared to what Indian team will be selected for Thursday!

All this and not one word about Somerset’s Nick Compton! Just goes to show what an impressive start he has made to his Test career, averaging about 42, I am sure he will be delighted with this return, plus he has been in the middle when the winning runs have been scored to win the last two Tests. Expected he is absolutely thrilled to bits about proceedings.

Ok, enough superlatives about England, lets talk about the other end of the scale, Australia. Well, in fact Ricky Ponting. You may be aware that Punter has now hung up his international boots and with that all the tributes started to poor in. This included his international captain, Michael Clarke, who I am led to believe broke down in his own personal tribute to Ricky. Haven’t we seen this before with other Australian captains?

Ponting, for me, will be remembered for a few things. His utter brilliance in playing for Somerset, scoring runs for fun and the introducing the likes of Justin Langer to the county, where, then after, Somerset never looked back. His three Ashes defeats as captain and lastly the look on his face as he was caught out in the first Test in 2005 at Lord’s, as it was Somerset’s James Hildreth who took the catch, and he was only on as a substitute fielder! Thank you for the memories Ricky.

Right, 5.57, time for a few Thatchers before skittles.