Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

 “Crimson-faced, scrumpy-pickled men in the bleachers”, Somerset fans as described in All Out Cricket magazine this month. The article was about the worst overs in cricket, and of course Scott Boswell feature highly in that list, only the eight wides in that over during the Lord’s final back in 2001, yes our chants of “Somerset! La-la-la” must still haunt him to this day. Oh happy days!

Well the 2012 season is nearly at a close, with Somerset due to play their last game this coming week, when they take on relegated Worcestershire at the County Ground, starting Tuesday. Guess where I will be this week?

A chapter in the history of Somerset will close after this game, as Brian Rose is stepping down as Director of Cricket at the end of the season. The end of an eight year stint and it has most certainly revived the fortunes of Somerset.

When Rosie took charge back in 2004, Somerset were a club going nowhere, playing Division Two cricket in the County Championship. Rose appointed Justin Langer as captain and that seemed to transform the team. They won the Division Two title in 2007, and they now compete strongly in all competitions.

Rosie has helped steer the side to countless finals during his spell in charge, with the T20 victory in 2005 being one of high points. I have happy memories of trips to finals at Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, The Rose Bowl, The SWALEC, some great days out, how I remember is somewhat up for debate I expect, but some cracking days out, even though Somerset were runners-up in nearly all of the finals!

I would expect the County Championship in 2010 will haunt Rosie for a long time. As you may know Somerset have never won the Championship, and in 2010 they tied with Nottinghamshire. However Notts were awarded the crown as they won more games. Oh for that extra batting point somewhere during 2010.

The Somerset players are giving Rosie a bit of a send off already. In their recent match against Sussex they chased down nearly 400 runs to win, with wickets to spare. James Hildreth scoring an unbeaten ton, and Peter Trego smashing 90 seeing Somerset home with overs to spare. Yorkshire knows what it feels like, Somerset chased down two huge totals in 2009 and 2010 respectfully against the White Rose County, and I do believe Hildy scored a ton that day in 2010. Incidentally, Tres passed 20,000 first class runs during that match.

Victory against Worcestershire this week should hopefully see Somerset come runners-up (again) in the County Championship. A fitting finish for Rosie, somehow I think not.

Over Stowey have all but finished their 2012 campaign. The 1^st XI finished off in style beating neighbours Stogumber by five wickets. Jack Rich scoring 60 in just five overs to secure victory. The 2^nd’s have just one more fixture, Brompton Ralph, away, so why am I going to the Emirates to watch Arsenal I just don’t know.

On the subject of things coming to an end, surely Ravi Bopara has now had his “chips” playing for England. I must have been saying this for over a year now, but England kept on picking him, and Bopara keeps on failing, time to say goodbye to England Ravi.

Well, 10.57, time for a Thatchers and get ready for the Neil Sortwell Memorial Trophy, looks like it is going to be a nice day for it!