Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Everyone remembers bad hotels they have stayed in, Over Stowey had a shocker when touring Cornwall a couple of years ago, one of the touring party was trying to get himself arrested so he could upgrade to a prison cell!

But it seems that the Somerset squad, so I’ve reliably informed, had somewhat of a “Fawlty Towers” before their T20 fixture against Worcestershire! After trouncing Gloucestershire on Friday evening, the squad stayed overnight in a local hotel before travelling up to Worcester. I am led to believe that the air conditioning was broken and it was the local area for gangs of seagulls, squawking ‘til the early hours of the morning.

I am not one looking for excuses, but Somerset did look a bit tired in the field against Worcester on Saturday, and their bowling lacked the penetration which we have witnessed over the previous weeks. That defeat on Saturday was somewhat disappointing; it was only the big hitting of Andre Russell (think he was targeting the ice-cream van) which helped secure victory for the home side; however victory on Tuesday away at Warwickshire will secure Somerset’s place in the quarter-finals.

Fortunately some sanity returns to cricket towards the end of the week, Somerset start a County Championship game on Friday when they entertain Nottinghamshire, a game they need something from, a win would be nice. Plus it’s the third Ashes Test from Old Trafford starting on Thursday.

James Taylor now looks likely to replace Kevin Pietersen, if he not fit to play, after a magnificent hundred against the Aussies for Sussex; why not just play the extra batsman and drop Stuart Broad who has done nothing. England could play two seamers in Jimmy Anderson and Tim Bresnan, ably supported by the spin off Graeme Swann and Joe Root - just a thought!

Steve Finn has been rested by England, which could do him more good than harm; put his feet up for a few weeks and take stock of the situation. For me he is a quality bowler, just needs confidence, a lot of it.

Australia have selection issues themselves, but who really cares? They need to find some decent batsmen and some decent bowlers, not a big ask, surely? The warm up match against Sussex showed us little really, except they can bat against some friendly bowling, but they couldn’t roll Sussex over could they?

On to matters quite local. Over Stowey had a complete washout over the weekend, hardly surprising, the weather was a bit wet at the weekend. It did surprise me, however, that there were a handful of games played in the West Somerset League at the weekend, how did that happen? And another surprise is that Over Stowey 2nds travelled all the way to Wiveliscombe in the torrential rain to get there and say that the game was off. Apparently the Wivey captain even inspected the wicket in the pouring rain.

Over Stowey host the West Somerset League Finals Day on Sunday, just hope the weather is set fair for then. Ashbrittle plays Bishops Hull 2nd XI in the Hinkley Point Cup, while in the West Somerset League Cup Timberscombe take on Bishops Hull 1^st XI. Let’s hope for a great day, with the game being played in the right spirit. I know for sure which teams I shall be supporting on Sunday.

Lastly, my best wishes go to Katie and Steve, a horrendous few days for you both and your families, capped off by a prick on Saturday evening. Take care, and I know all from Over Stowey CC wish you well.

Right, 5.27, Thatchers Time. And please don’t have a go at the gateman on Sunday, I’, only doing my job!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Has anyone seen an "out of control" wardrobe? Thought not. That is how one cricketing commentator described the legendry Australian fast bowler Merv Hughes at the weekend. I have my own ways of describing Merv; bristling, vocal, showman to be polite. Anyway, he seemed full of himself during the second Ashes Test when the camera focused on him within the crowd.

Merv features in one of my favourite cricketing stories, which also involved Javed Miandad. Merv bowling to Javed in the heat of Karachi, Merv giving Javed the odd verbal or two, when Javed snapped saying "why don't you go back to Melbourne you great big bus conductor!"

This got Merv a bit wild and the next ball he yorked Javed, stumps flying everywhere, with this Merv went "Ding, Ding, tickets please!"

Anyway, I was going to write about what is happening at Somerset and Jos Buttler. Since my last supplement a lot has been said, written and discussed. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and the social networks have been buzzing with people’s thoughts, some good, some not so. For me, now, it is results on the pitch that matter and staying in Division One of the County Championship. In other words time for Andy Hurry and David Nosworthy to start earning their "crust" and get Somerset back to winning ways (two wins on Friday and Sunday helped).

Other issues, like the Buttler situation, needs to be dealt with internally and out of the eyes of the media, as this could lead to more speculation, discussions etc, instead of talking about what is happening on the pitch. Surely Chris Jones will play four day cricket for the rest of the season.

More intriguingly, has anyone any idea who is going to replace Kevin Pietersen at number four for England? We had this discussion on Saturday evening at Over Stowey Social Club, and we struggled to put three names in to the hat. Do England have succession planning? I suppose it's called "The Lions", or will they look at averages, or even runs scored this season. It is difficult to say who will be picked, but here are some ideas:

Gary Ballance

Michael Carberry

Varun Chopra

James Taylor

Jos Buttler

We have week off now until the next Ashes Test, so will Australia bounce back? Will KP be fit? Will England win again?

And on the subject of winning, both Stowey sides won again. They are now sitting quite comfortably in the league in their respected divisions. But more importantly, Stowey’s Under-11’s had a cracking season, finishing fourth in a very strong division, so well played to them

Ok, 5.57, time for a Thatchers or two, only to cool down of course

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

What a great summer of sport we are already having, and its not even an Olympic year. Justin Rose winning the US Open, Murray winning at Wimbledon (so what, I've seen Exeter City win at Wimbledon), the Lions hammering the Aussies down under, to name just three.

But these are just a warm-up, a little aperitif, a bit of appetiser before the highlight of the summer, in fact the biggest thing in world sport.... The Ashes.

The first Ashes Test starts on Wednesday at Trent Bridge and I can't wait, in fact I am on tender hooks somewhat. The bookies have England red hot favourites to win the series and retain The Ashes at 2/5 on, which is understandable with all the shenanigans going on within the Aussie camp - David Warner, homeworkgate, changing of head coach etc., but as I have said previously, beware of the wounded Kangaroo, they will bounce back. Somehow I think we are in for a bit of a shock in how close this series will be. England will still win, but not by the margins some experts might say, even the great Ian Botham has predicted a 5-0 whitewash in both series. 3-1 is the favourite with the bookies, however I think it will be closer, something like 2-1 with two drawn Test's and can get that at 14-1.

The Aussies have done well since appointing Darren Lehmann, winning both their warm-up games, closely against Somerset and not so close against Worcestershire, with all players either scoring runs or taking wickets. And it has seemed to gone quiet on the scandal front, closing ranks, being good boys I expect and talking positively about cricket. I just wonder how these underdogs will react and play from Wednesday. The countdown is on.

Now on to Somerset and their T20 campaign, a 100% winning start to the competition. A victory over Gloucestershire on Friday evening was followed by another win against Northamptonshire on Sunday. The game on Friday was something to behold, a huge excitable (cider-fuelled) crowd, plenty of runs and a game which could off gone either way. In the end Somerset new boy Yasir Arafat smashed the winning runs with a ball to spare. Victory over our nearest rivals and revenge from last year’s defeat.

I missed the game on Sunday, but reports say that most of the spectators had one eye on Wimbledon, but hey, Somerset ran out winners, this time a bit more comfortably, seven balls to spare.

Next up, a County Championship game against Sussex, then more T20 this weekend; Glamorgan away, followed by another home game against Worcestershire on Sunday.

The form of Tres has worried some locals recently, three ducks in his last three innings is not pleasing reading for the faithful and for him no doubt. All quality players go through difficult phases, and these type of players come back with a bang, and I have no doubt Marcus will soon be back knocking up the runs in familiar style very soon. Don't forget form is temporary, class will always tell at the end!

Law 42 (fair and unfair play) came into question at the weekend when Over Stowey hosted their annual six-a-side competition. Two aspects of this law, the first being bowling of high pitched balls and the second a bowler attempting to run out the non-striker before delivery. I do think that more cricketers should read and understand the rules of the game, especially captains, and then there would no doubt about decisions. However, more importantly the six-a-side was played within the spirit of the game, something that all cricketers, whatever standard, strive for.

Congratulations to the Holford All Stars who won the competition, especially to young Taylor Buller who scored some magnificent runs, how many balls did he lose?

He’s uncle, Barrie was in good form with the ball for Stowey, who won their league match against second in the league Roadwater on Saturday. Well done to them, I understand it was a good run chase. Unlike the game at Stogumber, where the home team scored 300+ for one wicket and a few of the Bishops Hull side, including their captain, drove off at tea and not to be seen again. Now where is the spirit there?

Ok, 5.27, time for a Thatchers or two, not here next week, holiday, but have my Sky Go app ready for The Ashes!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

The news of Nick Compton being left out of the England side to play Essex filtered through as I pressed the button to publish my SMS last Monday; or as one Australian newspaper put it, "Dumped England opener.....!" A week has now surpassed and Compo has responded in the way he knows best, scoring runs and against Australia.

The interview he gave the BBC over the weekend shows what a true professional he is. "It's been a tough week but you have to dust yourself off," he said. "There's no point crying over spilt milk - as much as it was upsetting and a bit of a shock, it's nice to play the Australians and get a crack at them." He went on to say: "I still want to keep myself in the frame and you can only do that by scoring runs. Playing in the Ashes would be the pinnacle for any England cricketer."

Compton also praised Joe Root, "We all know what a good talent Joe is and how well he has taken to international cricket. He's a good lad and I wish him well," he said.

For me there are two ways to look at this. From Compo's point of view he is still wanting to play for England, and feels a little unjust, like most of us, he has been left out of the England side.

However, with my Somerset hat on, he'll be back scoring runs for the County, which are desperately needed in the County Championship, and with the likes of Craig Kieswetter and Jos Buttler returning already the Somerset batting line-up looks stronger.

Whatever happens over the next few months for Compo, I wish him much success either if he is playing for England or Somerset (and now even Worcester this week!).

The four day game against Australia ended up with the Aussies winning comfortably by six wickets. It was a good run out for the Aussie batters and bowlers, but on day one, up until the second new ball was taken it looked like a different story. Somerset was cruising at about 280-2. I had to leave at about then as I needed to get home (well back to the Cottage Inn if the truth is known), so in a 30 minute journey Somerset were all out for 320, so what happened, well I saw quite a few noughts against the home team batsmen.

Peter Trego teeing off late on Friday evening was a bit of a highlight, getting his eye in for the T20 season Pete? Now that was a joy to watch.

Yes, the 2013 T20 competition is now up and fully running, with Somerset entering the fray this Friday evening when they host neighbours Gloucestershire. So what is going to happen this season for the mighty Set? Well the bookies have already made them favourites to win the competition, so no pressure there then. All the smart arse experts are predicting Somerset will come runners-up again. Not funny anymore as we heard the same jokes last season and guess what, even though Somerset got to finals day, they didn't come runners-up, they didn't win it either losing in the Semis, so there you bunch off know-alls!

Well one sure thing about this Friday's encounter is that it will be busy at the County Ground, so it looks like I will be buying four pints a time!

From T20 cricket to six-a-side. Over Stowey hold their annual Charity Cricket Weekend this Saturday and Sunday. Disco, bar and barbecue on the Saturday evening, with the six-a-side on the Sunday. In recent years (apart from last year when it rained for a month) this event has been good fun, so we have booked the weather and let's have a good weekend.

Stowey will still be playing cricket, with the 2nd playing at home on the Saturday, whereas the 1st team travel to Roadwater, surely we are not at the half way stage of the season all ready?

Ok, 5.27, time for a Thatchers before the skittles meeting.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

After years of turmoil, humiliation, drubbings in the hands of Australian cricket, is this new recent dawn becoming a wonderful time for English cricket? Especially those who have followed England to all corners of the world and especially down under to see them get humiliated.

Those dark days of 5-0 drubbings, three captains in a series, Derek Pringle opening the bowling etc., are becoming a distant memory, especially now that England have won three out of the last four Ashes series.

Whereas England have gone from strength to strength since the 2005 Ashes series victory, the Aussies have somewhat plummeted. Their aura has evaporated, no longer can they chuck the ball to Warne or McGrath for some quick wickets, no longer have they a wicketkeeping batsman who can come in to bat and just take the game away from the fielding side, no longer does the top order send a shiver through your spine and wonder where the next wicket is coming from.

The sacking of Micky Arthur came as no surprise; the only surprise is that it took Cricket Australia so long to do it. 16 days before an Ashes Series, surely the South African should have walked straight after their humiliation in India, not only because of the 4-0 drubbing but the homework saga to go with it as well.

It is easy for us English to kick a 'kangaroo' while he is down, but don't you just love it.

Darren Lehmann has been appointed as Arthur's successor; at least they have chosen an Australian who knows a thing or two about what it means to wear a baggy green, as it seems this current bunch don’t.

Should us English take heed of these developments? Can this wounded kangaroo bounce back? (The best I could do, I promise!). Well it has put some extra spice into the Ashes, the series is almost upon us, and some might even say that it is here now! Come on England, put the knife in, surely those Aussies can’t get up from this, can they?

Now that's enough for now about Australia, I am sure it will be some kind of media circus on Wednesday when the mighty Somerset take on the Aussies.

Today's blog was going to be all about the history of Somerset playing Australia, but it seems my idea has been hijacked by the Somerset website, anyway how was they to know and I was going to do a different slant on things anyway, so there!

On the subject of Somerset, a first County Championship win today, hurrah! With a lot of time taken out of the game due to weather and Derbyshire only just starting their second innings a draw seemed favourite, especially as today was the fourth and final day. But Somerset went through the hosts batting and with 145 to win; the mighty Set knocked them off with four wickets remaining. At last, and now it is T20 season!!!!!

Yasir Arafat has joined the county as Somerset’s second overseas player for the T20, a useful all rounder, but more off T20 in a few weeks time.

So see you on Wednesday at the County gGound for the even more anticipated game against the Aussies, shall we dare mention the name of David Warner or even Ricky Ponting, who cares, lets enjoy the four days and see Nick Compton putting them to the sword and a timely selection reminder!

 

Anyway, it's 5.32, time for a Thatchers before an evening meal at my sisters, scrum yum!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

I go away on holiday for one week and certain things do hit the fan while I am away, so where do I start? 

Firstly, David Warner. An Aussie smacks a Pom in a Walkabout bar, not really news there, apart it was an Aussie cricketer having a pop at little Joe Root for wearing a fake beard! Someone should of told Warner that Root is a Yorkshireman, and they are made of stern stuff. For me a storm in teacup, his apologised, and has got a ban, lets move on. The English crowd will certainly let Warner know what they think during the upcoming Ashes series, now that will be punishment enough. 

One more thing on this, I do think the ECB let the news of this incident leak out so that it coincided with the Aussies match against New Zealand, so it muck up their preparations somewhat, well done the ECB and in an Ashes year! 

Secondly, Bob Willis. I think the former England Captain has been itching to say something for years, but has been somewhat restrained by Sky. But the all hell was let loose when he somewhat implied that the English bowlers tamper with the ball to make it swing, reverse swing etc. Of course this was denied by the English, but does Bob have a point?  

Anyway that’s beside the point, I was pleased to hear a Sky pundit give strong / radical point of view, rather than towing the company line, how refreshing, better than being part of a self-congratuly former England captain club. Apart from Ian Botham off course, bet he was loving what Willis said. 

I do like Bob Willis as a pundit and commentator, and one of my particular favourite bits of commentary was when England toured Sri Lanka some 15 years ago. Ashley Giles was bowling, the delivery went so wide Willis said: “that was utter rubbish!” 

Thirdly, Essex. All out for 20, LMAO! 

Fourthly, Australia. All out for 65. LMFAO! I do believe Michael Vaughan tweeted that it was a good score in Cardiff for a Tuesday....... on a golf course! This reminds me of the under prepared English sides who used to tour down under; you know the ones, can’t bat, can’t bowl, can’t field....... but be aware of a wounded animal, they will fight, especially for that little urn! 

Anyway, back to some proper cricket, Over Stowey! A great performance by the 1^st team on Saturday saw them win by a hefty 150 runs, in fact it was over so quickly that I didn’t have time to finish my third can of Thatchers, let alone going out to umpire. Well played Micheal Barrow, five wickets and he bought a jug back at the club. I do believe there are some other cricketers who owe a jug or two! 

Ok, that’s it for now, look out for an Aussie special in a few weeks time, when the mighty Somerset take on the tourist in a four day warm-up match starting a week on Wednesday, can’t wait, but will it last four days? But first up for Somerset a County Championship game against Derbyshire, surely they will……..I think you know what I mean. 

Anyway, 5.57, time for a Thatchers or two in The Cottage.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Martin Guptill's innings on Sunday was an absolute joy to watch. His 189 not out included 19 fours and two maximums and the last ten overs saw him with Brendon McCullum just literary take the England bowling attack apart scoring 132 in the last ten overs.

One person’s good fortune was another’s bad fortune, with Jonathan Trott spilling a straight forward catch, as internationals go, on just 13. I also believe that Guptill was dropped early in his innings at Lord's on Friday as well! Catches win matches; well at least Trott made some amends by scoring a near run a ball century, but little compensation as the game and the series was effectively over as soon as New Zealand posted a record-breaking 359-3.

In scoring his 189 not out Guptill equalled Viv Richards record for the highest innings against England in an ODI. And then, off course, there were questions all around the media whose innings was the better. The answer for me will always be Sir Viv's. His innings that day was just phenomenal, purely as the West Indies were in all sorts of trouble, one stage at 98-6 and later at 166-9. They went on to score 272 without losing another wicket, with the number 11 Michael Holding giving Sir Viv able support, scoring 12 not out, incidentally the third highest score of the innings.

From these match winning innings to another, Craig Meschede with his 40 not out off 23 balls against Glamorgan on Sunday. Somerset seemed to be cruising at 142-2 chasing 246 for victory. However the Set lost four quick wickets for just 19 runs, changing the complex of the game somewhat.

Meschede, along with Alex Barrow, Max Waller and some very indifferent bowling knocked off the 85 runs needed. The 33rd over being the turning point and swinging the game back in Somerset's favour. Simon Jones, the former England and Ashes hero, went for 26, have you no respect Craig? Quality!

Four wins out off five now for Somerset in the YB40, sitting 2nd in the table with a game in hand over Gloucestershire. So next up for Somerset, a live on TV YB40 game against Middlesex at Lord's then a County Championship game against Durham at Taunton. Come on Somerset, let's win a game or two in the County Championship, we do have Nick Compton back to help booster the batting!

Ok, more match winning scores to let you know. Over Stowey had a good weekend, with both the 1st ad 2nd XI winning on Saturday. Nick rich plundered the runs against Brompton Ralph for the seconds, smashing 72. He even got off the mark with a six! Then Carl Woodley took over with the ball, showing the youngsters how to bowl, taking four wickets in quick succession and Stowey ran out winners by 20 runs.

For the first team, Andrew Simpson-Parker top scored with a majestic 60 against Bagborough on Saturday, one shot clearing the garage and landing in the field over the road, fetch he! Then the skipper Neil Buller had an inspired spell of bowling going through the middle order of Bagborough, taking four wickets (jug avoidance) for next to nothing and triggering a run out. Stowey went on to win by 70 runs. Highlight of the game, Phil Rich bowling to Martin King!

Am on Holiday next week, in Cornwall, so no SMS until the week after. Tell me, where are Somerset playing next week?

Anyway, 5.57, time for a Thatchers or two in The Cottage. Truro!