Sellsy's Monday Supplement

This Thursday sees that start of the Test series between England and India, being played, off course, in India. This much anticipated series will see two quite evenly matched sides take part in a four Test series.

India, no doubt, will start as favourites to win, purely because they have home advantage, but England will fight like tigers not only to win in India for the first time since I can remember, but also take a giant step forward to regain the number one Test team in the world, which was taken off them by South Africa back in the summer.

England has one massive hurdle to overcome if they are to succeed against India, which is to play spin; we all know what happened last winter against Pakistan. The answer? No idea. Perhaps rotate the strike, score off the bad balls, and frustrate the Indians. Now I could be head coach, couldn’t I?

What have we learnt in the warm-up games? Not a great deal. The spinners played in those matches were second rate to say the least, nothing what the batsman can expect when they go out to bat on Thursday.

One thing I have learnt is that Nick Compton is almost certain to make his England debut on Thursday, after a healthy string of scores in those warm-up games. I will be keenly watching on Thursday morning, like many other here in Somerset. All the best for Thursday Compo.

On the subject of Somerset, I see they are back in training already for the 2013 season. I wonder if Over Stowey will follow suit. Not only are they back in training, they have announced a new overseas signing for the first part of the new season. South African international Alviro Petersen will take to the field for Somerset up until the start of the domestic T20 competition, hopefully playing more matches than his South African counterpart, Vernon Philander, did in 2012.

The batting line-up looks very strong, but where are those 20 wickets going to come from to win County Championship matches and take Somerset to their first ever title? Plus who is going to replace Brian Rose. I am sure we will find out in due course.

I have no doubt the Somerset faithful will give Petersen a warm and friendly welcome, as they do for all their overseas players. When are the fixtures out so I can start to plan 2013?

Ok, that’s about it for now. This supplement will move to a Monday for the winter months, so instead of SSS, it will be SMS!

18.46, Time for a pint before skittles I suppose! Oh I can’t, The Cottage Inn is closed all day today, darn!