Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Two weeks gone and two games played in the County Championship this season, and what have we learnt so far? Middlesex have hit the ground running, Somerset have picked up their first batting points and Peter Trego has had two first ballers in the first innings in the two County games Somerset have played.

I am not going to say Alviro Petersen is the answer to Somerset supporters prayers, but what a fantastic debut by him. A ton in the first innings and narrowly missing out on another in the second, plus he completely overshadowed his South African captain Graeme Smith, well done Alviro.

As there will be no SMS for the next two weeks due to holiday, a bank holiday and my birthday - incidentally falls on the bank holiday weekend - what is in stall for the mighty Set?

First up is Somerset's first home game of the season, where they take on County Champions Warwickshire in front of the TV cameras - what a time for Pete to make a third consecutive County Championship golden duck, come on Pete smack them around the park! Am not saying this is a must win game already, but come on lads, think about my bet!

Next is a University game against Cardiff, then they face the Unicorns in a YB40 game here at Taunton to celebrate my birthday - so if you see me, don’t ignore me and walk straight pass me, a nice hello then a trip to the bar, mine's a pint of Thatchers!

After, a trip to Yorkshire for a Championship game and then a YB40 game. By then Somerset will be sitting pretty at the top of both competitions, let's hope so anyway!

In the mean time Over Stowey enters the fray, with all teams kicking-off their respective campaigns from Friday May 3rd. Good luck to all those involved with Stowey, no doubt the cider tent will be up at the ground at some stage during the first two weekends.

One last thing before I sign off for two weeks, the cricketers from Stowey are holding a duck race at the Stowey May Fair on May the 4th (be with you!). So come along and buy a duck, how apt for cricket, I wonder if Pete Trego would like to buy one, any golden ones going on sale?

Well, 6.57, time for skittles and a Thatchers or two.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Looking at the social media since Somerset lost their opening game of the County Championship I think enough has been said about the defeat to Durham, so it's time to move on.

I do think what some people have been saying are somewhat out of order, and as for the abusive language being used, well, should you be allowed near any cricket ground, let alone the County Ground?

Ok, I was disappointed as any Somerset supporter, the fact of the matter is that it is not our define right to win matches - we must earn that win. There is another side out there who also want to play and win, they are not going roll over and let us. Anyway, what do you expect with Division One County Championship cricket?

Next up for Somerset is Surrey All Stars, Graeme Smith et al at the Oval. Surrey was without a match in the first set of County Championship matches, and no doubt they will want to hit the ground running when they take on the mighty Set on Wednesday.

After the first round of matches in Division One, what does it tell us? Well it looks as if batting was quite difficult, all bar one side picked up maximum bowling points and with a possible 40 batting points available to be picked up in the four games, only 14 was achieved. Does that tell you something about playing in April?

Back to Over Stowey, well meeting tomorrow night, and did you see them in the Bridgwater Mercury, wow, what a smart bunch we have!

Ok, just a short one this week, things to do, cider to drink, it is 6.57 and time for skittles.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement (SMS)

Would you believe the cricket season starts in earnest on Wednesday when the mighty Somerset travel north to play Durham in their first County Championship match of the season. For those of you who keep a keen eye on the weather it is blooming freezing out and I hear it has been a bit grim up north as well!

It has been so cold that I haven't even ventured over to watch the mighty 'Set' in any of their warm up games, apart from the odd stroll through the ground after I had finished work. Hopefully the time Somerset play their first home match on April 25th the sun will be belting down its rays to warm us all up.

So who will feature in Somerset's line-up to face Durham? Will Compo play? When does Alviro Petersen arrive? Did anybody actually go and watch any of the warm-ups? If so, how cold was it? With all these unanswered questions, plus more like: will I eventually go to the bookies and pick up money on Somerset winning the County Championship? We are in for another rollercoaster season I am sure.

The volunteers from Over Stowey have been hard at it recently getting the ground ready for the new season. Despite the cold weather it was good to see people, young and old, at the ground over the weekend, rolling up their sleeves and doing whatever to help.

I did contribute some what, as I picked up a handful of twigs which were lying about on the outfield, while others were hard at it mowing, rolling, painting, sweeping etc; I believe I contributed in some small way.

Stowey’s season starts in just under four weeks time, and I have a bit of a dilemma; should I start to get a little fit, knock the woodworm out of my bat and scrape the mushrooms of my boots and make myself available for the second team. Or shall I just go to the opticians, to get my eyes tested and do a spot of umpiring, decisions, decisions, what do I do?

Anyway, for the final part of Sellsy’s Further Adventures in New Zealand. Last week I left it as when Marcus was been stared at by the huge grizzly type Kiwi whose (unknown at the time) wife he was talking too. As I entered the bar area Marcus called me over and introduced me to this lady and with the same breath the big grizzly Kiwi came over and introduced himself as Bob Coonis, the former New Zealand Test player, and then summariser for NZTV and in the same breath he introduced his wife to us. Marcus got up shook his hand, made a light joke of the matter and we started to get on like a proverbial house on fire. Drinks were bought, conversations about cricket, the trip around New Zealand and then the topic came up about tomorrows One Day International at Eden Park.

Marcus quipped up “Sellsy has one,” he said, “but I can’t get my hands on one.”

 

“Don’t worry about that mate,” Bob replied, “have a couple of these and you can sell your ticket on the gate!”

Bob was holding up a couple of press passes, which entitled us to access anywhere in the ground. Stunned, we didn’t know what to say, so we bought him a few more drinks, thanked him over and over again and we thought we better retire to bed, it was 2.30 in the morning, had to be up early in the morning for breakfast and the game you. I wonder if he did ever mention us on NZTV.

Waking up next morning and going to breakfast was a bit of a dilemma, as were on the 22^nd floor, and it seemed last night we got the lift to my room on the one which goes outside the hotel, but when the lift doors opened to take us down, we took one look at it and opted for the lift which goes inside the building, we were somewhat worse for wear.

After breakfast we hopped in a cab, he drove us to Eden Park clutching the two press passes, discussing how genuine they were, plus I had my Barmy Army t-shirt on, so I didn’t quite look like press, especially with the mother of all hangovers.

“Oh well” Marcus said, “let’s see if they work.” We walked up to the one of the gates, flashed our press passes, and we were stopped. “Where did you get those from mate?” asked the gateman. “Bob Coonis” Marcus replies.

“Bob Coonis?” the gateman questioned and at time we began to fear the worse, “that bloke prints his bloody own!” That was it, our entry was blocked and there was no way in getting in as had just sold my ticket. “Only kidding,” said the gateman, “just wanted to see your faces. In you go.”

What a relief and in we went. I could go on, a lot more stories about cricket in New Zealand; perhaps I will write about it one day!

Anyway, it’s 6.57, time for skittles and a nice pint of Thatchers Cider or two!!!!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Alastair Cook, won the toss and stuck New Zealand in to bat, on hindsight not the wisest decision he had made during his tenure as England captain.

To be fair to Captain Cook (how apt and we have the Aussies coming over this summer), along with the English hierarchy Andy Flower, David Saker et al, would of looked at the pitch and thought things through quite thoroughly before making any decision in what to do in the event of winning the toss.

If you look at the previous two Test matches the pitches had got easier to bat on as the game went on, giving bowlers no hope and the batsmen being allowed to score freely, hence two draws. Was this another factor which influenced their decision?

Looking at the English bowlers on Sunday night they looked well below par, not firing on all four and as a unit they looked ordinary. A result of a long winter or are they woefully unprepared, could be either, but only one warm up game before the first Test? You make your own conclusions.

With a day to go and England still 400 runs in arrears, but more importantly only six wickets left England are staring down the barrel somewhat. If we take the runs out of the equation, are England good enough to hold out all day to earn a draw or will I be going to bed early? We shall see.

Good news coming out of the County Ground this past week is that Nick Compton will be available for selection in Somerset's first batch of fixtures, and with Alfonso Thomas ruling himself out of the IPL, the mighty Set look strong for the first part of the season, just hope they can stay injury free.

They should be playing some warm-up games this past week, but rain intervened against Worcester, and against Gloucester it was blooming freezing but the game went ahead.

Anyway, back to my “Further Adventures of My Tour of New Zealand.” I did meet up with Marcus that evening in the hotel bar, after a few minutes these blokes started too turn up whose faces I recognised, well in fact the English cricket squad who were of to some reception in the city. After a chat with Nick Knight and Mike Atherton we decided to have a trip around the bars of downtown Auckland to blow the froth of a few, two Englishmen having a quiet drink abroad, yeah right!

First bar, live music and great fun with the locals. Second bar a “bucks” night was going on, yes we got involved in some pranks with the posse and crawl around a few more bars ensued.

About midnight we headed back for the hotel, I had to change my shirt, so after a trip to the 22^nd floor and back Marcus was chatting at the bar to an attractive middle aged lady, but he was getting some funny looks from this guy from the other end of the bar with a massive moustache.

What happened next was quite extraordinary to say the least.

Find out more next week, as it’s 6.57, time for a few pints of Thatchers and skittles!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement (SMS)

Has anyone ever woken up with a steak and kidney pie next to them? A doner or pizza maybe, or even a Kentucky Bargain Bucket with all the bones (cricket tour Torquay!), but a steak and kidney, well it looks as if I did eat most of it, but can’t say to much for the peas everywhere!

As a pre season bonding session I believe the evening went well, to be fair, I had a bit of trouble focusing on the skittles later in the evening, something to do with the rugby and a few drinks dinner time celebrating Stu’s birthday. Who exactly did win the skittles? And how was nets next day?

It makes me wonder if the professionals do anything like this. I know they party hard after a successful campaign, the Ashes winning side of 2005 is testament to that, but before the season, I suppose the word professional is a big clue in how they act and behave, but hey we are human I suppose.

On the subject of professionals I see the Aussies have lost the third Test against India, effectively in four days and after scoring 400 in the first innings, shame. With three heavy defeats on the pitch and indiscipline off it this is one tour the Aussie hierarchy would like to forget. Whether you agree or disagree with the stance made by Michael Clarke and Mickey Arthur, the turmoil the Aussies are in just ahead of back to back ashes series brings a smile to many an Englishman. One thing I will say is that in my view no one is bigger than their club or country, and if rules are broken, you should expect some sort of back lash. Don’t forget England dropped KP for wrong doing halfway through the South Africa series, and he is England’s best batsman!

With all this going on I wonder if England themselves are keeping their eye on the current series against New Zealand. I suppose having two days off because of rain doesn’t help, as no doubt the New Zealand media are making a lot of noise in what is going on in India.

Somehow I think the media here in the UK are quite negative to Somerset’s Nick Compton after he scored back to back Test hundreds, saying don’t get complacent, one bad score away in being dropped and words to that effect, and these are coming, i believe, from players like Derek Pringle and Angus Fraser, now tell me what did the ever achieve for England apart sending down a few pies and asking the batsman to help themselves. Personally I would like to see him left for the summer so he can score runs for Somerset, but he is scoring heavy runs for England and no doubt Compo will feature early in the season as England play NZ in the first part of our summer.

England now head off the Auckland for the last Test, hopefully the sun will come out and we can have an even contest. I thought it was meant to be the driest New Zealand summer since I went there! Auckland does bring back some great memories for me. I flew into NZ’s largest city after a tough campaign in the South Island, and I knew things wouldn’t get any easier as soon as I checked into my hotel. There was a message for me at reception, saying: “see you in the bar at about 5, Marcus”. What could possibly go wrong?

Find out next week, as I have a plate to deliver back to The Cottage, it's 6.57 you know and time for skittles.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement (SMS)

The debate over who should open for England no doubt will be put to bed now after Somerset’s Nick Compton hit an under pressure century in a 200+ opening stand with captain Alastair Cook in England’s second inning of the first Test against New Zealand, effectively saving them from defeat.

Compo done what he does best, occupying the crease, scoring heavily and taking time out of the game, which helped earn England a draw. I do hope those in the Joe Root camp (mainly from Yorkshire) will keep quiet as, for once, he failed in both innings going in at number six. Admittedly Root will one day open for England in Tests, and I have an inclining he may even captain his country, possibly in all formats of the game, but the opening berth is Compo’s, for this series anyway.

Compo’s County colleagues at Somerset are now back training at the County Ground ready for the forthcoming season; even Pete Trego has been pounding the streets of Weston keeping himself in trim before proper training commences. With the new Director of Cricket, David Nosworthy, arriving in the next few weeks you suddenly realise that the new season is just over four weeks away – hard to believe as I drove to work this morning there was snow on the Quantock’s.

With realisation that the first ball will be delivered on April 10^th I must now deliberate how I should do my Somerset bet for 2013. Over the past six seasons I have placed bets on Somerset to win all competitions in a season, whether it has been a straight accumulator, a lucky 15 (when there was four competitions), or a patent. Ever since I have been placing my bets Somerset seem to be bridesmaids, perennial runners-up or just darn frustrating, what ever phrase takes your fancy. I even changed my bet one season and done them each-way, and that season they did oblige and came runners-up in three competitions.

However, I want them to win, and like most supporters, win the County Championship and if I happen to pick up any cash reward that would be just an added bonus. The bookies think Somerset have a decent chance of winning silver wear in 2013 as they are second favourites to win the County Championship and firm favourites to win both limited overs competitions. So my mind is maid up a win patent and let the season commence.

 

Australian cricket seems to be in more disarray than ever at present. After being absolutely thumped by India in the first two Tests, they have now have dropped Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson and Usman Khawaja the third Test for a breach of discipline. Now for any English supporter this is quite amusing, in fact very amusing even though quite baffling. There will no doubt be masses of column inches about this over the next few weeks / months and a lot more will be said and done. I wonder how our friends down under feel. Any comments from those who support the baggy green? Roll on the Ashes!

Anyway, enough from me, 6.57, time for skittles and a Thatchers or two. Don’t forget Stowey players, skittles night on Saturday!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Australia are in trouble, in fact they are in deep s%&t! After being comprehensively beaten by India in the first Test, another heavy defeat is on the cards for our Aussie friends. How good is that?

 

Now, if you remember before Christmas, England toured India and won the four Test series 2-1. The Aussies are also playing a four Test series and are likely to go 2-0 down, as they are still need another 200 runs to make India bat again.

For an England supporter and with back-to-back Ashes fast approaching this is very refreshing news indeed. Looking at their starting XI for this current Test I don’t see any threatening names, albeit Michael Clarke, like there was some two years ago. Nothing like the Waugh’s, Ponting, Hayden, Langer, Warne, McGrath et al, all were the scourge of English cricket for many a year.

I am not going to say England will hammer the Aussies, it would be nice if they would, purely because it’s the Ashes, but the English hierarchy must be looking at two series victories and dominance in all areas on the pitch. The bookies certainly think so, as England are at best 1-2 favourites to win here in the first set of Test’s.

So it’s the first Test Tuesday night against New Zealand in Dunedin. So that means bed early on Tuesday afternoon and will be up all night with my eyes glued to the TV. Or will it be stay awake as long as possible and watch as much as I can up to the lunch interval. Or even go to bed, turn my Iphone on, fall to sleep and miss the whole lot. For those who know me best the latter of the three will be favourite, but we shall see!

I have great memories of watching cricket in New Zealand. I managed to catch two Test matches and a couple of One Day Internationals when I visited back in 1997. It should of been three ODI’s, but I missed the third one of the series as I got a little distracted in a place called Tauranga on my way down to Napier from Auckland. Met a few ex-pats, it was only going to be a fleeting visit, but ended up sleeping on Keith Jones’ sofa for two nights and we watched the game on TV, blowing the froth of a few!

Missed an exciting one as that match was tied and so was the one day series 2-2, England having won the first two, the two I watched in Christchurch and Auckland.

More memories next week, loads to tell, especially meeting up with my good friend from Stowey, Marcus. Something for next week perhaps?

Anyway, enough from me, 6.57, time for skittles and a Thatchers or two!