Sellsy's Monday Supplement

After years of turmoil, humiliation, drubbings in the hands of Australian cricket, is this new recent dawn becoming a wonderful time for English cricket? Especially those who have followed England to all corners of the world and especially down under to see them get humiliated.

Those dark days of 5-0 drubbings, three captains in a series, Derek Pringle opening the bowling etc., are becoming a distant memory, especially now that England have won three out of the last four Ashes series.

Whereas England have gone from strength to strength since the 2005 Ashes series victory, the Aussies have somewhat plummeted. Their aura has evaporated, no longer can they chuck the ball to Warne or McGrath for some quick wickets, no longer have they a wicketkeeping batsman who can come in to bat and just take the game away from the fielding side, no longer does the top order send a shiver through your spine and wonder where the next wicket is coming from.

The sacking of Micky Arthur came as no surprise; the only surprise is that it took Cricket Australia so long to do it. 16 days before an Ashes Series, surely the South African should have walked straight after their humiliation in India, not only because of the 4-0 drubbing but the homework saga to go with it as well.

It is easy for us English to kick a 'kangaroo' while he is down, but don't you just love it.

Darren Lehmann has been appointed as Arthur's successor; at least they have chosen an Australian who knows a thing or two about what it means to wear a baggy green, as it seems this current bunch don’t.

Should us English take heed of these developments? Can this wounded kangaroo bounce back? (The best I could do, I promise!). Well it has put some extra spice into the Ashes, the series is almost upon us, and some might even say that it is here now! Come on England, put the knife in, surely those Aussies can’t get up from this, can they?

Now that's enough for now about Australia, I am sure it will be some kind of media circus on Wednesday when the mighty Somerset take on the Aussies.

Today's blog was going to be all about the history of Somerset playing Australia, but it seems my idea has been hijacked by the Somerset website, anyway how was they to know and I was going to do a different slant on things anyway, so there!

On the subject of Somerset, a first County Championship win today, hurrah! With a lot of time taken out of the game due to weather and Derbyshire only just starting their second innings a draw seemed favourite, especially as today was the fourth and final day. But Somerset went through the hosts batting and with 145 to win; the mighty Set knocked them off with four wickets remaining. At last, and now it is T20 season!!!!!

Yasir Arafat has joined the county as Somerset’s second overseas player for the T20, a useful all rounder, but more off T20 in a few weeks time.

So see you on Wednesday at the County gGound for the even more anticipated game against the Aussies, shall we dare mention the name of David Warner or even Ricky Ponting, who cares, lets enjoy the four days and see Nick Compton putting them to the sword and a timely selection reminder!

 

Anyway, it's 5.32, time for a Thatchers before an evening meal at my sisters, scrum yum!