Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Monday 13^th October 2014

So my predictions were way off, so what do I know. Out of the 14 awards handed out I only managed to predict six correctly, oh well.

The Player’s Player award is the award I like to see who wins, as it is the only award not decided by the “group of four” and is voted for by the players. When I used to play, I was always guaranteed one vote, as I used to vote for myself. Wouldn’t it be great next year is that everyone votes for themselves, the look on Kelvin’s face when he is counting the votes would be priceless to witness.

The Clubman award is also another of my favourites, mainly because it is now the only one I can win. However, it gives recognition to unsung heroes within the club. It is not just turn up on a Saturday to play. A lot goes on behind the scenes to make the club tick.

In my case my work usually starts in February when I contact existing and potential new sponsors and vice-presidents and basically asking them for a contribution. Then the fixture brochure is then designed, organised and then printed off – that takes up most of my time. After all printed off, time to chill and do some umpiring for the rest of the season. Who says I am not committed, well really I’m just making a pitch for the 2015 award!

As for the Hole in the Hand – to be renamed the Dan “down on one knee” Butson award in recognition for the art of fielding and running between the wickets, I think it was rather fitting that the 1^st XI won that award for their performance in the first game of the season when 13 catches were spilled, 11 off one batsman (I think he won the lottery that night as well).

Stephen Miller came up to me after saying that he thought he was nailed on to win the Hole in the Hand, just the three dropped catches in a game, but to be fair they were very difficult chances.

Bumping in to Les Biffen on Saturday night made my evening somewhat. Les and myself reminisced about cricket tours, especially the Marldon trip. Drinking with the whole of Marldon, and I am a boxer are some of the phrases used on tour, more will be revealed once I have spoken to lawyers!

So the evening itself, a combination of good food, excellent company, quality cider, great speeches and worthy award winners. However I am a bit unsure about the 1^st Team batting award. The whole room was a bit shocked when Sorty’s name was read out, but I do understand the criteria for this award had changed. It was not given for averages, but for balls faced without scoring, only one winner there then.

Carl seemed a bit embarrassed when he picked up the award for 2^nd Team batting, as he is a bowler. I know he tried his best not to win the award by being dismissed first ball of the game against Brompton Ralph in the 2^nd XI’s last game of the season, but to no avail, the award was his.

That’s about it for Over Stowey’s 2014 season, except for the AGM on Sunday. I will be back next week, and throughout the winter (a small matter of England playing in the World Cup – I wonder how many times I will mention Ravi Bopara?). 

Now time for Thatchers and skittles, now I wonder if I’ll make Team of the Week again?

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Monday 6^th October 2014

Matthew Maynard as Somerset Director of Cricket, well I didn’t see that one coming I must admit. Somehow I feel a bit more positive about the appointment of Maynard than I did with David Nosworthy. The first thing in his inbox must be how to take 20 County Championship wickets in a game, so as to turn draws in to victories.

Maynard certainly has the pedigree for county cricket; his time with Glamorgan proves that. Plus his time with England and in South Africa shows what a capable coach he has been. Can he do it with Somerset? Can he bring that illusive County Championship trophy (or any trophy) to Taunton? Well, we shall see.

The close season has already seen a merry-go-round of players joining different counties, most notable are exodus of players from Gloucestershire and Leicestershire (do you blame them?). The most disappointing thing for me is that James Burke has left Somerset for Surrey. A genuine all-rounder with great potential, Nosworthy let that one go didn’t he? Instead we are left with the likes of Johann Myburgh.

Anyway, Somerset have a great crop of youngsters, all are vastly improving, now they need to make the next step up, it can be done, just look at Lewis Gregory during the 2014 season.

Right, on to more important things, Over Stowey Cricket Club’s annual presentation evening happening this Saturday, probably my favourite event of the cricket season, well it beats umpiring! The usual format, drinks before the meal, drinks during the meal, drinks during the speeches, drinks during the presentation of trophies and drinks after.

So who is going to win what on Saturday? More importantly is anyone going to win the 1^st XI award for batting? And if there is a winner will he be brave enough to go and collect it? Anyone who averaged more than 10 in the 1^st XI has a great chance in winning it. So George Pike you have a chance of winning a trophy.

So here we go, my predictions:

• 1^st XI Batting – Jack rich
• 2^nd XI Batting – Dave Rowsell
• 1^st Team Bowling – Gary Thomas
• 2^nd XI Bowling – Lee Rich
• 1^st Team Player of the Year – Gary Thomas
• 2^nd Team Player of the Year – Dan (down on one knee) Butson
• Club Most Improved Player – Stephen Miller
• Young Player – Stephen Miller or Lee Rich
• Club Batting – Matt Coombes
• Club Bowling – Gary Thomas
• Club Catches – No one
• Clubman – Simon Pickard
• Players Player – Probably the most prestigious award as voted by fellow players, surely it should go to Carl Woodley
• Umpire of the Year – Me
• Hole in the Hand – You will have to wait and see!

Let’s see how close I am, will let you know next week. Now Thatchers time and skittles, will I come top again?

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Monday 29^th Sept 2014


The English cricket season is now over, plenty of winners, losers and a lot to look forward to over the winter, with plenty of speculation no doubt.

Somerset finished a respectable sixth in the County Championship, having been top of the table for period of about four days earlier in the season.  With Somerset only losing two County Championship games all season you would of thought they would be higher up the table, but 10 drawn games tells a tale.

It proves that Somerset are a tough unit and difficult to beat. It also shows that a few more wins could of seen them in contention for the County Championship. I am thinking back to those matches where the weather intervened when a victory was in Somerset’s grasp, games against Lancashire (twice) and Northants for example.

The recent draw against Yorkshire really annoyed me, not because of the result, but the headlines after. Somerset apparently held on for a draw. Bollocks. They went for a win, knowing a draw would always be there as back-up.

The might Set would of been disappointed not to off progressed to the knock-out stages of the T20 and the 50 over competitions. I know I certainly was, especially as they put themselves in some really good positions to qualify.

The highlight for me during the 2014 campaign was the emergence of some very talented youngsters, Lewis Gregory, Tom Abell (who I predicted would make an impact at the start of the season) to name but two. Lewis would count himself very unlucky indeed not to of been picked for the England Performance Programme Squad. Whereas Lewis misses out, Craig Overton will travel to South Africa with the EPP.

Lewis has also agreed to extend his Somerset contract, which is just excellent news. And to cap off a great season, he was voted Supporters Player of the Year for 2014, just richly deserved.

Alex Barrow, James Regan, Max Waller and Josh Davey have all been handed deals, again excellent news. Alex Barrow has done well behind the stumps in the absence of Craig Kieswetter; I believe he averaged around 40 in the County Championship. He also came on as 12^th man for England in a recent Test match against India, what great experience for the youngster.

On a sadder note, high performance director Andy Hurry is to leave the club to take up a role with England. Former coach Hurry has been named as the head of the England development programme and will leave Taunton after 13 years. Somerset’s loss will no doubt be England’s gain.

So what do we have to look forward or not look forward to during the winter months? Well, no Test matches to start, a huge disappointment, instead a host of One Day Internationals, and the World Cup early next year. With all the speculation about Cook’s captaincy and should he lead England to the World Cup, a certain Ravi Bopara has been selected in the One Day Squad for Sri Lanka and no doubt will figure in the World Cup next year.

So instead of Cook being a scapegoat for a dismal World Cup, the fingers should be pointed at the selectors for picking Ravi. He has just not performed as a One Day Cricketer, he has been dropped on so many occasions, and then recalled, the selectors must know he is just a County Cricketer and that’s all.

Enough said, I want to enjoy skittles and Thatchers tonight. Cheers

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Monday 15^th Sept 2014

Who exactly are the champions of the West Somerset Cricket League? Divisions Two to Five have all been resolved, but Division One is still a bit of a quandary!

According to the League website, Holford are sitting pretty at the top, but Bridgetown still have their game against Roadwater to go on, which, I believe, they won. But how many points did they pick up?

Then according to the local newspaper Bridgetown gained enough points in their victory against Roadwater to clinch the title. A massive write-up submitted by Bridgetown was published, but hey, did they forget to inform the league? The league website isn’t happy about it!

And to put another spanner in the works, my sources tell me that Bridgetown’s points are incorrect by two points, and the League have been notified about this. This will make Holford champions.

Like in all sports we as punters want the right results, right decisions and especially in this case the right information, so does anyone know who has won the West Somerset League? If it is Holford, I can understand why they’ve won, their side is packed full of former Over Stowey players!

On the subject of league champions, congratulations must go to Yorkshire who became the 2014 County Champions last week, and with a game to spare. Consistently the best side throughout the County Championship season, deservedly winners – but they didn’t beat Somerset, now that is the kiss of death as Somerset play Yorkshire next week.

The only thing that has put a dampener on Yorkshire’s triumph is that their club captain, Andrew Gale, was banned by the ECB from lifting the trophy as he was currently serving a two match ban. A lot has been said, written etc about Gale not being able to be presented with the trophy, mostly from Yorkshire folk, but what does the ECB do?

Gale was banned as he breached the ECB code of conduct by hurling abuse towards Lancashire’s Ashwell Prince during their recent County Championship game. Serves him right, especially as he is captain. Somehow I think the ECB are right, as captain you should lead by example, uphold the values of cricket and things like that, so a ban is well in order. I wonder if the ECB will relent though, and do something during the Somerset game next week.

Enough of Yorkshire, back to the mighty Somerset. Two games left, all still to play for and Craig Kieswetter is back in the Somerset line-up, his first game since is horrific injury he picked-up against Northamptonshire. Two wins will do nicely, perhaps then third place and a small payout, perhaps my money back even.

Ok, Thatchers time. No supplement next week, on my jolly holidays, sampling cider in Cornwall, now that’s what I call a holiday!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Monday 8^th Sept 2014

During the summer months while I have been concentrating on Over Stowey’s 2^nd XI Grand Tour of the West Somerset League a lot has happened in the cricketing world, especially with my county, Somerset and my country, England of course.

So where do I start, I have so much to choose from:

·         Nosworthy – gone

·         Somerset’s average season

·         Somerset’s average signings

·         My bet, now worthless

·         Alastair Cook – should he stay, or should he go

·         Sam Robson v Alex Hales to open in Test’s

This is to name just a few.

The official line about Nosworthy’s departure was it was by mutual consent, in others words he was sacked and got a nice little pay off. He has taken Somerset backwards – it would be nice to think that other counties have caught up with Somerset’s ideas, but alas not, backwards seems to be the word mostly used about his tenure in charge.

I am not going to rip him apart, I am not like that; at the end of the day he done his best, words like rabbit in the headlights come to mind. Average signings, average performances (albeit one or two run chases), and my pre season bet has now gone down the pan.

I suppose one good thing is that Somerset avoided the drop last season, and this season they were fighting for the title, well up until the Warwickshire game, and was at one stage top for a day or two. Looks as if Yorkshire are nailed on to win the league now, with Somerset scrapping it out for 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th. 

So who is going to replace Nosworthy? Jamie Cox? Ashley Giles? Justin Langer? These are just three name bounded about at present, and we could quite easily add Jason Kerr’s name to the list. Cox and Langer have brought success to the county and Giles brought County Championship to Warwickshire.

Langer and Brian Rose built up a formidable partnership as Captain and Director of Cricket, dragging Somerset from division two mediocrity (remember that?) to a side who would challenge on all domestic fronts, and even taking them to the Champions League on a couple of occasions.

I suppose now here at Somerset we had got somewhat complacent expecting the side to qualify for knock-out stages or even going to finals in one day competitions, as we did under Langer & Rose, also somewhat with Trescothick & Rose. But has reality set in? Am I seeing the light? I don’t know, but the past two seasons seems to me to be a bit of a waste and a step backwards. Plus we have lost Jos Buttler.

But on a brighter note we do have some promising youngsters, it is nice to see the likes of Lewis Gregory, Jamie and Craig Overton, Tom Abell making a names for themselves. Especially Lewis; surely an England player in the making?

Enough of that, last home game at the end of this week, where has the summer gone? And then a trip to Yorkshire. Come on Somerset; make it two out of two and hopefully a runners-up spot (again). 

Right, Thatchers time, I shall not even attempt to talk about England and the absolute trash written in the media about Alastair Cook, they have always got to find fault. What did Derek Pringle exactly do for England?

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Now I am not great fan of Adil Rashid, but every run he made on Sunday and Monday for Yorkshire against Somerset made my teeth grind and my stomach churn. He seems to do it all the time against Somerset and will now say that he should be in contention for an England call-up.

Well only he says that. The last time he held a bat and bowled a ball for his country he was absolutely rubbish, a bit like Ravi Bopara, and was carrying a bit of weight. No wonder he was dropped.

So the 2014 County Championship season is now truly up and running, with Sussex showing some good form early on. They hammered Middlesex by and innings, and have recently skittled out Warwickshire for 87, ok they were 229 all out themselves and 20 wickets fell on a day, but hey they are in a commanding position.

Nottinghamshire have also made a winning start, beating newly promoted Lancashire in their first game and now scoring heavily against Middlesex in their current match. Saying that, Steve Finn and James Harris have taken four wickets a piece for Middlesex, giving the England selectors a nudge. Just glad to see Samit Patel failing for the second innings in a row for Notts – no you are not good enough for England, let alone batting as high as five for Notts.

You’d have to look in to Division Two for the best result of the opening round of matches, our friends from Glamorgan thumping money bags Surrey by 10 wickets. Great result and welcome to the real world Surrey, ha bloody ha!

Now, Gloucestershire, a county which rarely gets any column inches from me, but did you see a player called Tavare scoring a ton. Now, when I see the name Tavare my minds go back to Chris, the former Somerset captain, who will score slower than Boycott, but apparently the Gloucester youngster is his nephew, Will, and it’s his debut.  Looking at some pictures I see he has the Tavare trade mark moustache!

Back to Somerset, looks like taking wickets could be the problem, or have the ground curators produced an absolute belter for a change, well the next few days we’ll find out. But can anyone tell me why Peter Trego is not playing, just hope he is injured not dropped.

Ok, that’s enough from me, not much to say you’ll be relieved to read, cricket to watch, cider to drink!!!!!!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Before I start this week my thoughts go to the family off Derbyshire’s Tom Poynton who was involved in a fatal car crash on Friday where his father killed. Such a tragedy on the eve of the County Championship season just puts things into perspective.

+++++

The wait is almost over, Somerset start their County Championship campaign on Sunday when they host Yorkshire, so do we wish to believe that this will be Somerset’s year? Let’s blooming well hope so.

Well for all those who have parted with some well earned cash for my annual bet, thank you. Those who didn’t well, we will see if you are right to keep the monies in your pocket or not. I must admit I nearly put it all on for Somerset to win everything, but each-way will suffice, how difficult can it be to just to get to a final or two and then we’ll be quid’s in.

So who will be in Somerset’s line-up on Sunday? Well the University game which started today will hopefully give us some indication on the starting line-up, but who’s available, who’s fit, can we take 20 wickets?

So my punt is the following: Trescothick, Jones, Compton, Hildreth, Kieswetter, Trego, Meschede, Thomas, Overton, Overton and Dockrell. But what do I know? Lewis Gregory has shown a lot of promise pre-season, Jack Leach seems to improving leaps and bounds, Johnann Myburgh is a season campaigner, and don’t forget Alviro Petersen has to come in to the equation once he arrives.

And then how can we forget the whole-hearted Steve Kirby, who I believe is on the treatment table at the moment, plus he is preparing for the quiz night in aid of the recent flood victims. Then there are the likes of Alex Barrow, Adam Dibble, James Regan and Max Waller, all will be looking to push for a starting place in the first XI.

However, there is one player who I will keep a close eye on this season, and he is yet to make any sort of 1^st team appearances. This youngster scored in excess of 1,000 runs for the 2^nd XI last year, and surely a good start for the second string will not be ignored by the Somerset hierarchy. Tom Abell had a fantastic second half to the 2013 season. Jason Kerr, who was last season Academy Director and now 1^st XI bowling coach, knows all about Tom and his ability. Let’s see what happens eh?

Anyway, time for a cider me thinks, see you at the County Ground later in the week.