Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

What do you believe in the papers? Answer: Not much.

It was reported this week that Surrey are close to securing the singing of Murali Kartik, the former Somerset left-arm spinner, as an overseas player for the 2012 season. After he played his last game for Somerset in the Champions League it was reported via another media source that Murali has played his last game, not only for Somerset, but in County Cricket and he will return to play cricket in his native India.

So who do you believe? What has changed? Did anything change? What has attracted Murali to the multi-million, mega-bucks spending Surrey, whose salary bill remains the largest in the county game? Who is the Chief Executive of Surrey who likes to wave his cheque book at any county player who does well? Why did Rory Hamilton-Brown leave Sussex for name your price Surrey? Answers on a postcard please to Jack Rich, who told me the other night that this would happen and I didn’t believe him! What does a 16 year old kid know anyway?

2012 will be another exciting season for Somerset, especially as Craig Kieswetter is doing his best not to be England’s Number One ODI wicket-keeper, after a not so convincing start to the England tour of India. My membership renewal reminder hit the doormat this past week. I would like to thank Somerset for not hiking up the prices for next season - it may have been tempting; I’m pretty sure I’ll get value for money next summer. I may do another bet on Somerset as well!

Glamorgan have re-signed Simon Jones for the umpteenth time, a forgotten man from the 2005 winning Ashes side. His reverse swing was the difference between the two sides as England won the Ashes for the first time for 20+ years. It was sad to see his career blighted by injuries as he could have made a massive impact on the world scene. The guy is all muscle, having seen him in his Speedos in a pool in Port of Spain, Trinidad. He was diving into the pool like an Olympic diver, and I was doing my bombs, a bit like Peter Kay!

So England are 3-0 down against India in a five match one day series and are playing the fourth ODI today, (if you have forgotten, as there is a little thing called the Rugby World Cup Final going on!).

This has been a noticeably bad-tempered series for England, with Tim Bresnan being fined for snatching his cap out of the umpires’ hand, I think more out of frustration than rudeness. MS Dhoni has stirred up the hornets nest a little as well by saying how undisciplined England are, with some sledging going on, (coming from him!). But coach, Andy Flower, has defended their attitude. Batsman Jonathan Trott has suggested that the problem may be that England have not been doing the basics well enough.

Over Stowey have their AGM tonight (Sunday), I do hope it is a quick one, somehow I think not. As AGM’s go I think Stowey have the longest I know of, it will start at about 7.30 and time it will finish I will probably go straight to work, as I start at 6am. If only they could be like the skittles league AGM, one only lasted 10 minutes, or even our own skittles team annual meeting, can last up to all of two minutes, with the quickest being 30 seconds. Oh well, lets see what happens, I am sure a lot will be said and not acted on!

A bit off fall out form last week’s Presentation Evening, Spud did forget what I asked him last week, so had to remind him on Friday. Plus the golf I played the morning after could only best be described as Chinese water torture, don’t mind an odd game, but with a stinker of a hangover, never again.

One last thing, if you are a Somerset supporter and need a bit of cheering up, here is a clip from the 2001 C&G Cup Final. What ever happened to Scott Boswell? http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=mZtLJbC42e4

Well, it’s 10.57, time for a pint I think.

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

How and why am I writing this at this time in the morning, especially after last night?

Over Stowey Cricket Club held their annual presentation evening last night, and what a night, so it is beyond belief I’m doing this at this time of the morning, and I’m due on the first tee at 8.50! Why?

So what happened last night, well firstly the Chairman, Phil Rich, was unable to attend, under the knife I believe having a new (reinforced) knee, so Ashley done his speech and things ran quite smoothly. Do wish Phil a speedy recovery, and hope to see him dominating bowlers as he used to.

After an excellent four course dinner, there were some speeches followed by some awards and then talking rubbish in the bar afterwards. There were a lot of awards handed out last night, of which only one of my predictions was correct, but we all have our own opinions I suppose.

So who did win what? I can only just remember, good job I wrote it all down so I wouldn’t forget.

To start a special presentation was given to Elsie, for her services as a tea lady over the past 50 years, some flowers and a framed photograph, presented by her son Jack; then we had these:

• Doreen Prowse Cup – Highest Club Score:
  Simon Pickard
• Clive Bellamy Shield – 1^st XI Batting Average:
  Andrew Jeanes
• Sarah Connolly Shield – 2^nd XI Batting Average:
  Simon Pickard
• Pete Sells Trophy – Best Club Bowling:
  Lee Villis
• John Biffen Memorial Trophy – 1^st XI Bowling Average:
  Barrie Buller
• Ancient Mariner Shield – 2^nd XI Bowling Average:
  Julian Pocock
• Wyn Easden Shield – Most Improved Young Player:
  Jack Rich
• Most Improved Club Player:
  Micheal Barrow
• 1^st XI Player of the Year:
  Neil Buller
• 2^nd XI Player of the Year:
  Ben Enever
• Vicky and Roy Turner Shield – Clubman:
  Anthony Thomas
• Players Player:
  Phil Simms

And the booby prize – Hole in the Hand Award: Rhys Satchell

A great night had by all, great food and good company, I wonder if Spud will remember what I asked him last night!!!!!!!

Oh yes, the first tee at 8.50. Start of a stag day, my future brother-in-law, should of know better last night after having my fifth double G&T, could be a long 18 holes.

Great news from the County Ground that Roelof Van Der Merwe will return as Somerset’s overseas player for the 2012 campaign (1^st June onwards), replacing Murali Kartik. Kieron Pollard will also return for the T20 campaign.

Thank you Murali for giving us here in Somerset your wonderful service, shame we couldn’t quite give you some winners medals in return, oh so close.

Now excuse me for getting excited, but the batting order for the T20 competition looks a bit awesome, Trescothick and Kiewsetter top open, Trego three, Van Der Merwe four, Buttler five, Pollard six and still need to fit in the likes of Hildreth and Compton. Just hope they have enough balls at the County Ground, can see a lot going in the River Tone! Must remember to park my car a distance from the ground as it might not be safe!

So who will Somerset draft in for April and May? Personally I think we are still lacking a quick strike bowler, but with the IPL being played during that period it will be difficult to get hold of someone as I’m sure they would have been snapped up by one of the franchises.

Dale Steyn is rated the number one bowler in the world at the moment, somehow I don’t think he will be available as Deccan’s money will have its say. So the next best ranked overseas player? Morne Morkel. But again the IPL will be first pickings as he is contracted to Delhi.

The next best is Mitchell Johnson and he has no associations to any of the IPL franchises, is he worth a punt? Maybe as the Aussies have no international fixtures after March, plus the fact they are in England in June 2012 it may suit Johnson (or any Aussie in fact), to get used to the English conditions before their ODI’s against England.

Now don’t get me wrong here, I am not a great lover of Johnson, or any Aussie in fact, however, if it is to help Somerset win that elusive you know what, he may be the right choice.

Another alternative is to get a batsman. Will Ricky Ponting be available? We shall see know doubt. As I said, the Aussies have no internationals between March and June, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see an influx of our antipodean friends in the counties in the early parts of the 2012 county season.

Somerset have now returned from the Champions League tournament in India, now it’s time to have a break and party I expect! Craig and Jos will have to wait for their well earned rest as they are representing England in India, plus Pete Trego is off to Hong Kong for the world six-a-side tournament. Lewis Gregory described their feat in the CL as a humongous achievement (used last night in my speech), which it certainly was and it was very enjoyable to have a season extended by another month.

The coverage of the Champions League in the national papers have been shocking to say the least, with odd paragraph here and there in the qualities, thankfully we have the locals to give us the latest from India and also the web. Plus Eurosport came up trumps with the TV coverage. Perhaps this tournament, with all the prize money at stake didn’t quite strike home with the national media because it’s Somerset?

Did anyone see England play India in an ODI on Friday? Well you didn’t see the first two and a bit overs. There was a blackout of live feed out if India due to a dispute over payments from the broadcaster to the government agency responsible for up linking live telecasts out of India. What an absolute shambles.

All that can be heard was David Lloyd commentating down a phone line. When we got live pictures we couldn’t have the Sky TV commentators, as, according to a Sky source, they were awaiting government clearances before being able to broadcast live out of India.

Cricket in India is an absolute passion to say the least, with over one billion people claiming to be Sachin Tendulkar’s number one fan. With all these fanatical people, there is a lot of money to be exploited out of the game and there are ‘people’ in India (and elsewhere) who are willing to do this. The match fixing scandal being played out in court is another prime example.

The way England played I wish there was no TV coverage at all. Sloppy in the field, too many wides and a batting display which was not up to the mark. Let’s see what happens in the second ODI.

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

Lillee, caught Willey, bowled Dilley! A genuine dismissal and is probably the foremost thing I will remember the late Graham Dilley by.

His death this week came as a great surprise to nearly everyone in the cricketing world, as he was such a young age, 52, and it seems his illness was very short and sudden.

That infamous line of: Lillee, caught Willey, bowled Dilley came in the first Ashes Test of the 1979 /80 in Perth, which England went on to lose the Test and the Series.

Just two years later Dilley would be remembered for his batting heroics rather than his bowling in the infamous Ashes Test match of Headingley 1981, where Ian Botham and Bob Willis stole the headlines.

When Dilley Joined Botham at the crease England were still 92 runs behind Australia’s first innings total, with only three wickets remaining. But once at the crease he instantly attempted to attack the bowling, missing more than he was hitting; when he finally thumped the balls through the covers, Botham just laughed out loud.

Dilley started to believe in himself and started to play full-blooded drives, pulls and cuts and he was even out-scoring Botham at one stage. Botham made no bones about it: Dilley’s batting made him believe that a reversal of fortunes might be achieved.

When England were eventually all out, Dilley contributing 56, Australia were set 130 to win and were bundled out for 111. Dilley’s bowling played no part, but he did, however, take a brilliant catch at fine leg to remove the dangerous Rob Marsh. Ironically Dilley was not selected for the next Test!

Dilley was selected for the Ashes tour of 1986/87, where the newspaper correspondent, Martin Johnson, famously wrote: there are three things fundamentally wrong with this England side: they can’t bat, can’t bowl and they can’t field! England went on to retain The Ashes 2-1, and Dilley took 16 crucial wickets in the four Tests he played.

Dilley has always been a favourite in our household, especially as my father was a Man of Kent, and his batting on that day in 1981 my father was leaping out of his seat with ever ball he smashed to the boundary, shouting: “Pica, Pica, Pica!!!!” Even my good friend, Red Card Bungle, had a lot of good things to say about Dilley. For someone whose cricketing knowledge is limited (“Why don’t they just smash the thing!” when a Test is looking to be saved!), his knowledge of Dilley was impressive.

For the nearly forgotten man of Headingley, you will be remembered in this part of The West Country.

Somerset’s adventures in the Champions League are now over; where they lost in the semi-finals to the Mumbai Indians by the narrow margin of 10 runs. With the best part of a million dollars banked, Somerset can be extremely proud of their achievements.

With victories over Auckland, Kolkata (twice) and Warriors, Somerset topped their group; however they could not find an answer for the accuracy and pace of Lasith Malinga in the semis.

Malinga’s action just doesn’t look right, and the majority of the Somerset top order would off never faced anything like that. So not just his pace and accuracy, the surprise factor meant he was somewhat unplayable. The look on Peter Trego’s face after he was cleaned bowled said it all - and I thought he edged it! The defining moment of the semi was when Jos “I’ll get you” Buttler thumped the ball straight at Craig Keiswetter and smashed him right on the forearm. Instead of going for a boundary, Craig was crippled, Jos was bowled next ball and all the momentum was lost.

Somerset, you have done is proud again this season. The journey started in the Caribbean in the early parts of 2011, and has finished by putting yourselves on the world cricketing map thanks to a wonderful performance in the Champions League. The nearly men once again, however, enjoy the winter break (apart from Carig and Jos who have a small matter of England duty to fulfil) and I’ll look forward in renewing my membership for 2012.

Two major events are happening this week. Firstly the ODI’s start against India on Friday at Hyderabad and secondly it’s Over Stowey’s annual presentation evening on Saturday.

England warmed up with a scrappy 56 run win over a Hyderabad Cricket Association XI on Saturday. Bopara topped scored so it must have been a poor effort with the bat. However Steve Finn took a hat-trick to wrap up the HCA’s innings which ensured England’s victory.

So who’s going to win what at the presentation evening? With averages and individual performances already good as known, I will stick my neck out for the rest:

Players Player:                     Carl Woodley

1^st  Team Player:                 Neil Buller

2^nd Team Player:                 Rhys Satchell

Young Player:                       Lee Villis

Clubman:                               Elsie Rich

Hole in the Hand:                 Carl Woodley wants it so bad, so will it be him?

I said I will stick my neck out, and of course these are only my opinions, plus I do know who is going the win the Hole in the Hand award, as I present the trophy, the rest is just guess work.

Anyway, its 10.57, time for a pint and I’ll see you next week up the Social Club when all will be revealed.

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

Did you know Somerset have a world record holder amongst them, in the form of Arul Suppiah? Back in the summer Arul, in a T20 match against Glamorgan, took six wickets for only five runs. Well Arul, talk us through your over against Kolkata last week!

I believe it went something like this: 1, 6, 6, 6, 6, 5 wides, dot ball (phew!). 30 of his only over, our world record holder got smashed all round Hyderabad, no respect from the Kolkata batsmen, I ask you.

Anyway, it didn’t matter, I expect Somerset were giving them a few runs to make the run chase a bit challenging, which The Set timed to perfection. Ruelof van der Merwe paving the way with a hard hitting 73 of 53 balls, Somerset won with two balls to spare.

Somerset was due to play South Australia on Saturday, but boy did it rain, I was so looking forward to an afternoon watching Somerset in my arm chair. Oh well, one more point, and still in second place in the league table.

A couple of things which was noted, despite the rain: The toss was made; the Aussies won it and decided to field. The TV guy’s interviewed Alfonso, asked him about his team selection, and he said live on Indian TV, that Lewis Gregory has Delhi Belly!! One strange thing which I have never seen before was that on Cricinfo. It said that the match was abandoned with the toss being made; now I have never heard that before.

Somerset’s Nick Compton has been a busy boy while he is not scoring runs in the middle; he has found another niche with a camcorder. Compo’s Clips, as it has been called, has given us supporters a great insight in what goes on behind the scenes at Somerset, and, for me, it has been compulsive viewing.

To view this click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/SomersetCricket The latest features Steve ‘Tango’ Kirby in India, which is quite amusing. However the insight into the T20 Finals Day at Edgbaston was compelling to say the least, seeing Kieron Pollard singing the Blackbird song with some bemusement on face is something to look out for. Good work there by Compo.

Going back to Suppiah he really and truly became a member of the 20 club, a club which was formed by the cricketers of Over Stowey. Where, as the name implies, if you get smacked for 20 or more of an over, you automatically become a member of this prestigious club. Many a Stowey cricketer are members, including myself and that was the last time I brought myself on for the last over an innings!

The saddest news I heard this week is that of our Chairman at Over Stowey, Phil Rich, looks like he is going to miss the presentation evening in a few weeks time, due to having a much needed operation on his knee.

So who is going to step into his shoes and do his speech? Now, call me a traditionalist, surely this is where the Vice-Chairman should step up to the plate? So who is the VC of Stowey? Oh no, it’s Sorty! Can someone else do it instead? Please!!!!!!!

So England have decided to rest Jimmy Anderson for their tour of India, but have recalled Kevin Pietersen. Strange decision to rest Jimmy as he is bang in form, however with all that cricket and touring he has done over the past twelve months, they have their reasons.

As for KP, why is he an enigma? Great player, again another player right in form, scoring runs for fun during the summer, England rest him and now he is back on the plane to India.

It is good to see the likes of Jonathan Bairstow, Chris Woakes and Stuart Meaker getting involved with this England squad, and with our Jos Buttler and Nottingham’s Alex Hales joining the party for the T20, it shows that England have a lot of very gifted young talent emerging. Just need to get rid of Ravi Bopara!

With these players and the likes of James Harris, Tom Maynard, James Taylor and Scott Borthwick all being named in the England Performance Programme, following England over the next few years could be quite exciting. Just need Ben Stokes to get fit! I might try to pick the next England squad for the next World Cup, something for next week perhaps?

One final thing, good luck to my cousin Jamie, who is doing a fundraising run over the next week or so; believe its 160 miles in 10 days. Good luck Jim, look forward to you updates!

Anyway, 10.57, time to cool down with a pint, as it’s far too hot for October!

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

Champions League, we’re having a laugh, Champions League, we’re having a laugh….! Are you watching you cheating Foxes? Taxis to the airport for Leicester!

Yes, Somerset are now in the Champions League proper and Leicester failed to qualify. After the disappointment of Lord’s last Saturday, the boys flew to India almost immediately, without Craig, Jos and Marcus, to play two qualifying games for the Champions League.

They Set hit the ground running with victory over firstly against the Auckland Aces and the secondly against the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders, Brett Lee, Jacques Kallis et al.

The victory against the Aces came of the very last ball, with Alfonso (The Fonz) Thomas smacking the ball over the infield for a single to win the game and to avoid that much dreaded one over eliminator.

Peter Trego came into his own against the Knight Riders almost carrying his bat on his way to a magnificent 70, only to be run out off the final ball of the innings. Somerset coach Andy Hurry said Trego's innings was "the best he's ever played".  His knock, with support from Roelof van der Merwe, who hit a quick fire 40, enabled Somerset to set a competitive 166.

The Knight Riders fell 11 runs short and Somerset qualified undefeated, along with, ironically, Kolkata who finished as best runners-up. They now have games against South Australia, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Warriors and first up will be a rematch against Kolkata.

After being absolutely dejected after last week’s loss at Lord’s (seen Somerset in nine finals now and only seen them win twice), qualifying for the Champions League proper has given me a new sense of excitement. Especially with Somerset playing against the best India, South Africa and Australia can throw at them in this format of the game – a lot of counties will be looking at The Set with some envy I would expect. I have even marked out my diary for the next few weeks and have cancelled all appointments!

This season’s first class averages do not make good reading, with only Tres making any sort of impact in the tables. Tres has been named as county cricket's Most Valuable Player for the 2011 season and named PCA player of the year at a recent award ceremony, some comfort, but hardly surprising as he smashed over 2,500 runs.

Averages are all important for a villager cricketer, as I would testify. I do wish, however, my bowling average was my batting average and vica versa, I would be one hell of a village cricketer. I do think that I managed double figures for batting only twice over the years I have played for Stowey, both of those seasons I was captain and guess who worked out the averages!!!!

The great Don Bradman has the best Test average by some margin, averaging 99.94, and the closest guy to him is on 60! The Don would off averaged 100 if Eric Hollis didn’t get him out for a duck in his final Test match, because of this achievement Warwickshire named a stand after Hollis!

Over Stowey’s annual presentation evening is getting nearer, the greatest dilemma for me is what to have to eat and, of course, who am I going to be sitting with so I can bore the pants of them all night. There are plenty of awards which are handed out that evening. For me the most important one is the Player’s Player award, which is voted for by the player’s themselves. I would usual vote for Gary Thomas, but as he has been absent for most of the season, I have to think of someone else; looks like I’ll be voting for myself then!

Well, it’s 10.57, time for a pint and with more cricket in TV this afternoon, England and Somerset, I’ll know what I’ll be doing later!

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

The journey home from Lord’s on Saturday evening was probably the longest trips home I have had from any final. How many more times? How many more lesson’s are there to be learned? - I must not drink all my cider by Membury Services on the way up and have none for the return trip – huge lesson to be learned! It’s no wonder cricket commentator’s and journalist’s describe the supporters of The Set as cider laden, cider fuelled etc.

Yes, four litres of Thatchers Gold disappeared by 8.00am, and had to tackle lager on the way home, but not just any ordinary larger, Stella! Plus a few G&T’s and a bottle of wine just to kill my taste-buds once and for all!

I think the boy’s from Taunton St Andrews CC gave it a good go as well, but I did see quite a lot of Natch being taken off the coach when we returned back to Taunton.

The perennial losers Somerset, as described in much if the media this morning, did not deserve to win yesterday, never enough runs to defend, and if Jos didn’t perform I’m sure we would have been in the local bars a lot earlier or even a trip to The Griffin may have been I order!

Having won the toss, or skipper Marcus decided to have a bat first. Now I’m not a man to be telling Marcus what to do (not fit to lace his boots!), as I’m sure the hierarchy in the Somerset camp would have discussed what they would do if they won the toss. But surely history would have told them to stick in the opposition at Lord’s in September, when conditions suit the bowlers. Plus the added fret of rain does tend to help the side when Duckworth / Lewis kick’s in.

I even heard the great (sic) Martin King of Bagborough rumbling on in one of the bars at the Nursery End saying things like: “Might as well go home now, as Somerset are batting!”

Well the crux of it all was that Somerset did not score enough runs, despite the best efforts of Jos (who’s one of us) Buttler, and Surrey ran out comfortable winners by five wickets.

So Lord’s, my sixth visit (have only seen Somerset win their once, perhaps I’m a Jonah!), and every time I walk down the Wellington Road outside of the Nursery End, I get this little tingle of excitement. Lord’s can best be described as the last bastion of Englishness, the Empire, the Commonwealth or whatever!

It is very unique to say the least, just walking around the ground before the game and at the innings break you get a massive sense of tradition, just by peering into the Long Room you can feel and almost touch it. However the members are just a different breed of people all together, no wonder Ian Botham has no time for them!

So my memories of Lord’s 2011, well there are a few:

• The stubbornness of stewards when it started to rain.
• Rob Key autographing my flyer when I wanted him to take it to the press box to get a mention on TV.
• JJ from St Andrews CC not wanting to do a song as we don’t sing in tune!
• Jade (girl’s name) Dernbach getting a bit heated with Alfonso and subsequently the Somerset supporters after.
• Picking out four horses in the morning, not putting a bet on, and then discovering that all four win!
• The chicken tastes like rubber (not that I’ve eaten rubber!).
• Meeting up with a few old Over Stowey players, the likes of Dave Richardson and Alan Prowse (Steve Darch was somewhere in the ground I was assured!).

What next for Somerset. Well they fly to India today (Sunday) attempting to qualify for the Champions League proper, without Marcus, Jos and Craig. If they qualify, the Champions League will start in earnest straight after – more agony rather the ecstasy I expect.

After, well a lot of sole searching and hopefully some big decisions will be made so as to get Somerset over the finishing line, so as not to be continuously labeled as bridesmaids. Questions will have to be asked about the future of not just the players who have under performed, but the whole structure from top to bottom, even Brian Rose must ask himself questions about his role, has he taken the side as far as he can and it now needs a new man at the helm.

Andy Hurry must continue in his role as Head Coach, but he does need fresh blood around him within the coaching team, and possibly players as well. Am not exactly asking for a cull, but runners-up in six competition’s in three season is not what the patient Somerset supporters want, as it is now wearing a bit fin.

My biggest concern is will we keep hold of Jos Buttler? I’m sure counties with more financial clout will be waving their cheque books at him, asking him to name his price. Especially with Somerset having the luxury of two quality wicket-keeper’s, I’m afraid two into one does not go!

Expect big announcements at Taunton over the next few months.

Just a few other things:

• Congratulations to Lancashire for winning the County Championship, fully deserved, best side / unit and it was proved at the end.
• Why do England keep on picking Ravi Bopara when he has done his best to throw away the game by throwing his wicket away at crucial times? Players such as Hussey, Dhoni, and Kallis would have seen their team home.
• Over Stowey’s season is now at an end, with the 2^nd XI finishing off their fixture schedule on Saturday.

Lastly, I would like to thank the guys from Taunton St Andrews CC, especially Richard Brice, for an enjoyable trip to London. The Glamorgan team coach was a bit special, and it was never going to be used by them anyway!

Oh well, it’s 10.57, time for a pint to cure this massive hangover and think about the winter months!

Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

Arrest stops play. Mother is held on pitch – a headline from the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday which caught my attention this week. The story is of simmering tensions between a local mother and the cricket club which spilled onto the pitch as she protested of balls flying into her back garden. She was subsequently arrested and was given a penalty notice for public disorder and being verbally abusive.

The lady in question, along with her husband, only moved to the village of Bearsted Green, in Kent, some five years ago and has since been locked in a long-running dispute with the cricket club since they bought their £1.2 million property facing the village green.

How wonderful they must have thought when they found this ideal property in a beautiful village, as the moved from the city. Unfortunately lady, my views, along with most others I would think, is that cricket has been played on that village green since 1749 and you come waltzing in from nowhere and try to get it stopped – oh dear! Only one winner there I think.

The funny thing about this story is that two of the cricketers are policeman who subsequently handcuffed her as she remonstrated on the pitch; now the matter is in the hands of her Solicitors. Now if they had done their job correctly in the first place, wouldn’t they off pointed out the fact the property is bang opposite a village green where cricket is played. Or surely the couple would of noticed that themselves when they visited the property before the purchased the place.

A similar thing happened to Over Stowey while they played a tour fixture away to Marldon in Devon some 20 years ago. If you don’t know Marldon, it’s a lovely little village just outside of Paignton, and has everything any village would have – church, quaint cottages, a Post Office, a wonderful pub, a local cricket club and people who move in from the cities who try to change things without thinking about it.

This couple from London purchased this property right next to the cricket ground, in fact on cow corner (target practice!), and balls do end up in their garden. Marldon Cricket Club to their credit has erected a net to minimize the problem, but the odd one does get over. On this particular afternoon Stowey’s Phil Rich was in full flow, smashing the ball to all parts of Marldon, one even went through the pub window and landed in someone’s Sunday dinner!

However Phil’s favourite shot is over cow corner (no disrespect there Phil), and unfortunately more than a few balls ended up in this city boy’s garden. He came over to remonstrate, but this fell on deaf ears as he was told in no uncertain terms to go back to London!

Lord’s – ticket purchased, coach booked, cider in the fridge and bridesmaid dress at the ready! Surely this is now Somerset’s time to win a final after losing in the last four they played in the past three seasons. I see that some bookmakers have made Surrey favourites to win, which is quite understandable the way the qualified. Saying that Somerset was clear favourites to beat Leicestershire in the T20 final and we know what happened there, Ken Pook put £30 on Leicester to win!

With the elusive County Championship quest now over (where are these experts who said Somerset would win it at the start of the season), after Somerset lost to Yorkshire and both Warwickshire and Lancashire winning, the best position Somerset can hope for is fourth. Making things difficult for Lancashire next week must be high on the agenda for Somerset, especially with Cup Final places up for grabs.

As Somerset can’t finish any higher than fourth my 2011 bet looks a bit desperate. However a win on Saturday and I will have a small profit, which, after last season is better than a kick in the shins!

Have you noticed how the critics have gone all quiet about Alastair Cook’s captaincy? When he was appointed the knives were out for him, saying things like “he wouldn’t even get in my one day side”, or “he has never made a one day ton”; well all I have to say is where are those critics now?

His form as ODI captain has been more than good, with eight wins out of 11 games played, scoring at nearly run a ball and averaging over 60. Cook will be England’s next Test captain when Andrew Strauss decides to call it a day (probably after the next Ashes series), so why not make him ODI captain, great experience and a cracking batsman as the last 12 months have proved (he has even hit two sixes!).

Over Stowey’s season is all but at an end, with the 1^st XI playing their last game on Saturday when they visited Hinkley Point. Scoring a competitive 195 off their 40 overs, Stowey seemed to posted a good total; however Point knocked them off with overs to spare, giving them a fighting chance of avoiding relegation.

The 2^nd XI has the dubious honor of playing the last game of the season, when they entertain West Monkton on Saturday. Best of luck to Carl Woodley’s boys on Saturday, sign off with a win and we can then turn our attention to the presentation evening and who is going to win the Hole in the Hand award – a lot of candidates this year I think.

Well, it is 10.57, time for a pint and for those of you travelling to Lord’s next week, I’ll see you in the Tavern Bar, I’ll be the one wearing the bridesmaid dress!