Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Don’t Panic! I know England got a hammering in the first Ashes Test, but the score is 1-0, if we lost by 20 runs it would still be 1-0 (am clutching already?!?).  

Since the defeat a lot has been written in the media, said on social networks and discussed over a few pints in the Cottage Inn; it seems that everyone has an opinion, including me. 

But I am not here to rip in to selection, individual performances, who should play in Adelaide, lets look at the positives……………………………. Ok, let’s rip in to them or should I talk about flower arranging instead! 

What annoys me the most is that I tried my best to stay awake through these cold winter nights either listening to TMS or watching the coverage on Sky. All that practice I done in arranging my sleep pattern, don’t the England players know what sacrifices us dedicated supporters go through for the sake of English cricket. 

The news of Jonathan Trott leaving the tour because of a stress-related illness has certainly put the game into perspective. The comments of David Warner saying Trott’s display was “poor and weak” and he had “scared eyes” was certainly disrespectful at the time they were made, it has now added more fuel to flames the next time these two meet in under a fortnight’s time. On this occasion Warner has certainly got it horribly wrong. Trott has certainly made the right decision to return home, and I hope to see him back in an England shirt whenever he is ready. 

With Trott on his way back to the UK, his departure has echoes of the 2006/7 tour where Marcus Trescothick left the tour for the same reason, and England went on to lose the series 5-0. The backbone of the side was horribly exposed during the first Test, now it is surely broken. 

Trott along with Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson have been the main cogs in this well oiled Test side in recent years. After the first Ashes Test some of these cogs have seemed to have got rusty. Swann and Prior are not working like they were 12 months ago; the batsmen, who have wonderful Test records, are not going on to score big runs to take the team total over 400; and the bowlers are no longer performing as a unit. 

On the subject of bowlers, Stuart Broad. Why does it take some awful journalism to pump him up and make him unplayable? Surely pulling on an England shirt should be enough, not some shoddy newspaper articles. 

Time for wholesale changes? Well someone has to take Trott’s place at number three, probably Ian Bell will be promoted and one off Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow or Ben Stokes will go in at number six. Apart from that I wouldn’t do much more, but Prior needs to step up his game before it is too late and the Ashes are lost. Who is in the performance squad that can put pressure on his position, well none other than former Somerset player Jos Buttler. Food for thought? 

The first Ashes Test was a great advert for Test cricket, how a game can suddenly change in one devastating spell, shame it was Mitchell “porn star tash” Johnson and Australia, during an Ashes Test. Can England bounce back, let’s hope so. 

On a domestic front, great to see James Hildreth appointed Somerset vice-captain for the 2014 season, richly deserved. Trescothick will still lead the County for another season and with David Nosworthy ringing the changes on the coaching front – Andy Hurry moving sideways, Dave Houghton and Jason Kerr taking up batting and bowling coaching positions respectfully - the 2014 season already beckons to be an interesting, but exciting one. It seems that Nosworthy is going to be more hands on in the day to day running of the team. 

Ok, 5.27, time for a Thatchers or two before skittles.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Quality from Kevin Pietersen, just before the first Ashes Test, tweeting “No one has heard of Brisbane outside Oz!” It seems that KP and Stuart Broad are having a bit of banter with Aussie journalist on Twitter.

KP was pictured walking alone, listening to ear phones and wearing a rucksack as he arrived at Brisbane airport on Monday. Brisbane’s tabloid newspaper, The Courier Mail, put a picture on the front page with a headline stating “he’s so arrogant even his own team does not like him”.

KP thanked the reporter for the story. He wrote: “putting me on the front page does wonders for my ego! You've done me proud. Thank you x” then adding “I would have preferred a Sydney front page.....No one has heard of Brisbane outside Oz!”

Broad on the other hand, was somewhat different, as he was accused in asking that two spectators be ejected from the SCG for heckling him.

Broad was defending himself from accusations by Jimmy Smith, a former rugby league player who is now a radio journalist in Sydney.

Broad answered “If you're gonna make stuff up to get attention for yourself you may as well make it half decent. Pathetic.” Smith defended his claim by saying "not making it up Stuart. Heard directly from a witness. No knowledge of this then?" to which Broad replied “I think you can answer your last question from my previous tweets. Have a good day.”

This all stems from Broad not walking in the recent series here in the UK, where he edged the ball to slips and didn’t walk. Darren Lehmann, the Australian coach, then stoked the fire by asking the Australian fans to send “cheating” Broad home by making him cry following his refusal to walk in the Trent Bridge Test.

Somehow me thinks that this series could be a bit vocal, with loads of chatter, banter, abuse, sledging, whatever you want to call it. So who is going to have the last laugh? We will soon find out as the Ashes begin Wednesday night / Thursday morning, now how is my sleep pattern?

Nick Compton, who should be in Australia, has been keeping himself busy over the winter months by doing some excellent ambassadorial work.

He has visited a place called Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles. Just three years ago the FBI ranked it the 15th most dangerous place in the US. In the last six months alone there have been nearly 700 violent crimes. It is under gang rule and covered in their graffiti, the birthplace of drive-by shootings and drug warfare. In other words, the Compton name in LA is plains away from Lord’s, the home of the cover drive and the flick off the hip.

So why is Compton in Compton, well, there is a Compton Cricket Club, and Nick was intrigued and accepted an invitation to go over and see if he could help in a place rendered helpless.

In Nick’s words: “To give you an idea — three of the original Compton Cricket Club have since died and that is considered a pretty good survival rate in these parts. One of the victims, Jesse Cazarez, brother of fellow players Emidio and Ricardo, was killed in a drive-by shooting outside his home in February 2009, aged 20.”

“It was always my grandfather’s dream to give children who were deemed ‘at risk’ the opportunity to travel and go on tour, and reap the benefits of cricket with its sportsmanship and camaraderie. He wanted to convey the message of peace and cricket that the original members of the Compton CC have done. I’d like to realise my grandfather’s dream. It may not be the Ashes, but it’s certainly an exciting new adventure for me and not a bad way to spend the winter.”

The Daily Mail website has some very thought provoking pictures and more to the story about Cricket in the Hood! Well worth a look.

Nick is also an ambassador for FRANK Water, which saves lives through funding innovative and sustainable clean water projects in developing countries, and has recently come back from India, where he first become of their work during England’s tour last winter. More of this over the next few weeks, but anyway, well done Nick, great stuff.

 

Anyway, 5.27, time for skittles and Thatchers up the Cottage. Come on England!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Have you ever volunteered for a task, thinking how difficult could it be? And it ends up being a bit of a headache!

Well, yours truly has been tasked with searching the Over Stowey Cricket Club archives so as to document who held what position within the club since the war. The last 30 odd years since I have been associated with the club are easy to document (just some trouble with dates), however going back before that is a bit troublesome.

So where do I start, old minute books are favourite, but who has them? I first approached former club Chairman, Steve Little, for some help, guidance and direction. Firstly he has no minute books, secondly he believes that the great pavilion flood some 20+ years ago wiped out all records, but he did give me other names in who to contact.

My second port of call was another former Chairman, Simon Pickard, who gave me a bit more hope and guidance. He believes that the flood only wiped out score books, not minute books (phew), and he gave me a more positive lead in someone who to contact – my next step this week.

I now have names going back to the late 70’s and early 80’s to the present date, one or two holes to fill and one or two question marks over names in the right position within the club. Was Steve Darch ever 2^nd XI captain, me thinks he was.

Also, putting names on a piece of paper makes you think whatever happened to these guys? Where is Steve Holley now? Does anyone remember Jim Holden? Is Robin Moiser still scoring the majority of his runs behind square?

As you can see, I have more questions than answers, but I am confident things will unravel itself over the winter months. But is there anyone out there who can help?

Anyway, Ashes, just over a week away, and only one more warm-up game to go. Matt Prior is an injury concern, Michael Carberry looks as if he is favourite to open the innings, Joe Root will thus fill the number six spot, but who will be the third seamer? Has Graham Onions been called up yet?

Selection will become clearer during the final warm-up game over the next week. In the mean time I will start getting my Ashes practice in, adjusting my sleep pattern! So how will I do this, get home from work and straight to bed, wake up at 11pm, watch the first few hours under the duvet on my iPhone, then back to sleep for four more hours, then awake for the end of the last session before going to work. How difficult can it be?

Well, there are a few spanners, skittles Friday and Monday, so, no sleep before the start of play, thus missing the whole days’ play I expect. Plus I have the problem of work, in fact driving to work, something not to be done when tired.

A simple solution to all this is give up work, book up the next available flight to Australia and clear off for two months, now that would be nice!

Ok, 5.27, time to get ready for skittles, Thatchers et al!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Why is Graham Onions playing First Class cricket this winter in South Africa rather than International cricket in Australia? Answer: The English selectors have made a very grave error in overlooking the leading wicket taker in the English 2013 county season. 

I believe nearly everyone who knows something about cricket asked the question in why Onions was omitted from the Ashes squad.  Are the selectors really banking on Tim Bresnan being fit? If so, short sightedness comes to mind. 

Chris Tremlett, Boyd Rankin and Steve Finn are supposed to be vying for the third seamer spot. On the evidence of the first warm up game against, effectively a Western Australia 2^nd XI, I would put them on the first plane home back to the UK, 2^nd class with at least three changes in some remote airports in countries ending in “Stan”, where the local goat farmer acts as passport control! 

Ok, not really hitting the panic button yet, but between them they sent down 66 overs in the first innings for 300+ runs for just two wickets, not really International standard. Stick Onions on a plane to Australia now! 

Let the Ashes phoney war begin. Shane Warne has accused Alastair Cook being a negative captain. “I think he needs to be more imaginative," said Warne. "If Australia play well and he continues to captain the way he does, I think England are going to lose the series. I don't think he can captain like that. I'm not the only one who thinks Alastair Cook is a negative captain." 

I believe he said something similar before the last Ashes series last summer. Must I remind Mr Warne off the score? Ok, I will, 3-0 to England. Just stick to poker and eating burgers please. 

No doubt there will be other former players giving their opinions over the next fortnight before the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. Accusations, followed by counter claim, a few predictions then let’s get on with it and let cricket do the talking. 

I see Somerset have re-signed Alviro Petersen for next summer, nice one. As South Africa have no international commitments next summer, Alviro will be available for the majority of the 2014 campaign. Expect a lot of South Africans in County Cricket next summer me thinks.  

With the 2014 membership going on sale today (prices have been frozen), the news will no doubt encourage supporters to renew their membership, I know I will. Will 2014 be the year for Somerset? Just need to find a bowler who can take 70+ wickets, Jamie Overton, over to you. 

Ok, 5.27, skittles is back tonight, more Thatchers please.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Predictions for the upcoming Ashes series please?  

The first Ashes Test starts in under four weeks time so we have plenty of time to make predictions: series score, leading batsmen, bowlers, England’s line-up etc.  

So here are my predictions for the forthcoming Ashes series: 

1. England will retain the Ashes.

2. Australia will win at least one Test match – probably in Perth.

3. David Warner will attempt to make peace with Joe Root, but he can get stuffed as far as I’m concerned.

4. There will be no urinating on the SCG pitch after the 5^th Test.

5. Steve Finn will play in Perth and will knock over the stumps in his delivery stride.

6. Kevin Pietersen will be the leading run scorer – he is due a huge series.

7. DRS will be used poorly by both sides.

8. I will attempt to watch the first day of the first Ashes Test on my iPhone but will fall asleep by lunch time.

9. England will win the toss at Brisbane and will bat, so no more Steve Harmison / Nasser Hussain rubbish.

10. Nearly all the commentators will say that Adelaide is one of the most picturesque grounds in the world.

11. It will be raining in England while the sun beats down in Sydney, making me contemplate my plans for next winter. 

Ok, 11 to go on with, there will no doubt be more to come from various sources over the weeks leading up to the first Test. But the most important XI will be who will start for England in Brisbane. 

For me there are two places up for grabs, the number six position and the third seamer spot. The other nine places have somewhat picked themselves, just hope there is no complacency within the ranks. 

Alastair Cook will open with Root, Jonathan Trott at three followed by Pietersen and then Ian Bell. It will be either Jonny Bairstow or Gary Ballance at six, which will probably go to Bairstow, but it should be Ballance. Matt Prior at seven, followed by Stuart Broad (why?), Graeme Swann, Jimmy Anderson and then one other. 

Three players are in contention for the one other spot: Steve Finn, Chris Tremlett and Boyd Rankin. I would off thought that Finn will get the nod over the other two, but he did have a bad summer against the Aussies, so he is not really nailed on to start. 

England have three four day warm-up games before the first Test, starting on Thursday in Perth, which is about right, not too many and not too little so as to be undercooked. So no doubt the trio of seamers will be busting a gut to get the nod for Brisbane. Only, 23 more sleeps before the first Test, not that I’m counting, come on England! 

I also see that the Vatican City has launched its own cricket club and is looking to play a Church of England XI next year at Lord’s (how apt). I wonder if Adam GilCHRIST will play! –The best I could do, can you do better?  

Ok, enough of that, it’s 5.27ish, no skittles tonight, so no Thatchers at the Cottage. Will have to watch University Challenge instead!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

The English cricket team will soon be jetting off to Australia to defend the greatest prize in sport – The Ashes. But can you cast your minds back to January 2003, in fact January 2^nd – 6^th 2003, a Test match to remember - Australia v England at Sydney, the 5^th Test.

With Britain in the grips of a big freeze, I had just come off Bondi Beach after an early morning dip, well getting rid of my New Year’s hangover, and a journey to the SCG beckoned.

England were already 4-0 down in the series and the Aussies could sense a whitewash, so a dead rubber with hell of a lot to play for, in fact a very exciting Test unfolded, with incident on and off the pitch.

Day 1 – England won the toss, decided to bat, lost two early wickets, Nasser Hussain and Mark Butcher resumed some control, with Butcher smashing a ton. England closed on 264-5. That’s enough about the cricket. My ticket for day one was for the infamous Sydney Hill area of the ground and on a hot day liquids had to be consumed. I did part-take in a few watered down lagers and so did a few hundred Aussies and English. So much so by the last session all you could see was beer snakes and a lot of jollity. This continued after the close all the way down to Sydney Harbour in the evening.

Day 2 – “Ticket for non-alcohol stand please!”  – As hangovers go, this one was quite horrendous, was dehydrated, head thumping, it was baking hot and the only seats available in the shade were in the non-alcohol stand, which was fine by me. Plenty of water and ice-cream and by mid afternoon I soon perked up. Thankfully I did as an enthralling days Test cricket developed. England battled their way to 362 all out. Andy Caddick then turned up the heat taking three Aussie wickets and there were only 50 on the board – England could smell blood.

However, the number five batsman was Steve Waugh – cometh the hour, cometh the man. Waugh dug in, and quietly started to consume runs. Two more wickets fell; the Aussies were on 150-5. In any normal Test side if five wickets are down you are usually into the tail or one wicket away from the tail, but not Australia as Adam Gilchrist walked to the wicket. These two started to compile runs, and compile them quickly. 

Waugh passed 10,000 Test runs, and as the day drew to a close a century beckoned for Waugh. The noise rose, every run for Waugh was cheered immensely. On his home ground, the Australian captain drove the final ball of the day from Richard Dawson to the cover boundary to complete his 29th Test hundred, equalling Sir Donald Bradman's record. The Aussies closed on 237-5, still behind but back in the game.

On leaving the ground that evening I had to pass the Sydney Hill, and there were a lot of drunken Aussies. All you could here was “Steve Waugh, Steve Waugh” being shouted to any Englishman who walked by, combined with the smell of BO, alcohol and urine, exiting the ground that day will be one I would never forget.

Day 3 – Saturday – Got a ticket from tout, something I wouldn’t usually do, as the demand to get in that day was very high especially from Aussie public. After purchasing my ticket, I noticed the date was for the previous days play. I grabbed the tout, asked for money back, a face value ticket for today or I would get the police involved. Funnily enough he agreed!

With all these Aussies cramming in to see Waugh push on, they were soon heartbroken as he was out in the second over of the day. Gilchrist shouldered on, he smashed the ball all round the park, he made 133 and the Aussies were all out for 363.

England’s response was quite remarkable, some backbone which was sorely missing in the first four Tests, they closed on 218-2, with Michael Vaughan unbeaten on 112. But my biggest memory of the day was this family of five sitting in the row behind. They all got ejected for being too drunk, all five of them, and did we give them a very English send off.

Day 4 – Back in the non-alcohol stand – No more touts, went to the ticket office and the only seats left were for you know where! Vaughan continued where he left off the previous day, and when he was out for 183, England were already 344 runs ahead. One thing I do remember about that innings was the six Vaughan hit into the crowd. This spectator caught the ball leaning over a safety rail, however the momentum took him over and he ended up in a heap at the bottom of these stairs – ouch! England declared on 452-9, setting the Aussies an unlikely 452 for victory, but anything could happen in this Test. The Aussies closed on 90-3.

Day 5 – Ladies Stand – Yep, in the Ladies Stand, the members enclosure, how? Well got a bit lucky. However the day belonged to Somerset’s Andy Caddick. He took five wickets on the day, including the dangerous Waugh, seven in the innings and 10 in the match, leading England to victory. Unknown to him at the time this would be his last Test for England – very harsh indeed.

After all that excitement, is now 5.27, time to get ready for skittles.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

I would like to start by wishing Over Stowey cricketer Rhys Satchell a speedy recovery from his horrendous car accident on Saturday morning. I know all from the Cricket Club and those from Bridgwater and Albion RFC wish him well.

Rhys was due to pick up an award on Saturday evening at the Cricket Club awards evening, most catches for the 2^nd team, but alas this was picked up by Phil Rich on his behalf, who promptly dropped it! Apparently there was talk on Saturday evening for a new award with Rhys in mind, most wides bowled in a season, thus Rhys would be a permanent winner of this award.

I know I haven’t done a blog for a few weeks, holidays and moving and since there has been a lot of going-on’s in the cricketing world. Four major things come to mind:

1. Somerset finished sixth in Division One of the County Championship, avoiding relegation, and thus sending down Derbyshire and Surrey.

2. Jos Buttler has buggered off to Lancashire – you can understand why.

3. Sachin Tendulkar has retired from all cricket.

4. Over Stowey held their Presentation Evening.

A lot has been said about the first two and there is a lot of divided opinion about Jos leaving Somerset.

As for Tendulkar, he was one of the greatest batsmen to play the game, smashing all sorts of records throughout his illustrious career. Apparently there are 1 billion number one Sachin Tendulkar fans in India; I wonder what they are going to do now! I have only seen the “Little Master” bat live once. It was at Taunton during the World Cup against Sri Lanka, he was out for single figures – I just can’t understand what all the fuss is about!

The Over Stowey presentation evening went with aplomb on Saturday evening, good food, good company, good cider, awards going to the right people and nearly everyone was thanked for their hard work throughout the year.

For me there were two awards which not only went to the right persons, but the two recipients’ thoroughly deserved to be recognised.

Firstly, Mark Sortwell, who won the 1^st Team Player of the Year award. He had a great season, all ways ever present, never lets the side down, scored runs and took catches. It is also a tribute for the hard work he has put in to his cricket over the years and to the work he has contributed towards the cricket club throughout; a much deserved award.

Secondly, Carl Woodley, who won the Players Player award. This award is special because it is voted for by his fellow players on the night – albeit Dave Rowsell who wrote out the slip and forgot to put it in the voting box. Carl has probably the most difficult job in the whole club: 2^nd XI captain. The position has a bit of a double whammy when it comes to team selection, not only does he lose players due to them dropping out at the last minute, he will also get a call from the 1^st XI captain saying he wants a player or two on a Saturday morning, leaving Carl to phone round to see if he can get eleven players. I know how he feels, having been 2^nd team captain for a few seasons, but mobile phones weren’t invented then.

Carl would select his side for Saturday the previous weekend, with a list of players he could call upon if players drop out. When it comes to match day he would have nine different names in his starting XI. Thankfully he hasn’t had to go to number 42 on his list, yours truly!

Anyway, 7.27pm, time for skittles and a pint of Thatchers or two!