Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Monday 17^th November

I was sad and shocked to hear on Friday that Nick Compton is to leave Somerset by mutual consent. Nick has been a great servant for Somerset scoring bags of runs and rightly getting a well deserved England call up where he most certainly didn’t let his Country down.

From what I can understand Nick has become somewhat disillusioned with the County Game, hardly surprising the way England have treated him. How many runs does he have to score to get in the England side, and please don’t say Taunton is a friendly batting track, that was some years ago now.

So with Nick looking at other opportunities, the media and Middlesex looks favourite (please not Surrey, bunch of xxxx!), a hole has appeared in the Somerset batting line-up which is a major blow for the mighty Set.

With Arul Suppiah retiring due to injury, Chris Jones joining his family business and Jos Buttler going to Lancashire there seems to be a sudden shortness of batting within the county. Another added ingredient to the batting quandary is that Somerset have opted for an overseas bowler this summer rather than a batsman. That is fully understandable as Somerset struggled, in recent seasons, to bowl side out twice in the County Championship.

So who is going to replace Nick’s 1,000 First Class runs over the next season or two? And what will the bating line-up look like. Well at the moment it looks something this: Trescothick. Myburgh, Abell, Hildreth, Kieswetter, Trago, Gregory, Meschede, Overton, Thomas and Rehman. Not forgetting spinner's Jack Leach, Max Waller and George Dockrell could quite easily step in.

Ok, not a bad line-up what so ever, but somewhat inexperienced at the top, plus quite a few all-rounder’s which is ok for the shorter version of the game. Tom Abell most certainly deserves a chance, could this be the making off the youngster? You know the saying about doors closing and opening. Kieswetter at five? Somehow I like to see a wicketkeeper come in at six, saying that though Craig is a quality batsman.

Anyway, I have great faith in the squad, but will Matthew Maynard look to bring in someone who can give some balance to the side and score those 1,000 run? The next few months will be interesting indeed.

Anyway, I wish Nick well in whatever he does, a pleasure to watch him bat, but please do not go to Surrey.

Ok, Skittles and Thatchers, top of the table clash tonight, and it’s not even Christmas!