Sellsy's Cricketing Thoughts

Monday 23^rd February

England have won a game of cricket in the World Cup, put the flags out, national holiday and all that celebratory rubbish, that great cricketing powerhouse, Scotland, took one hell of a beating.

Did Scotland really think they had a chance in beating England? Surely not, just goes to show how rubbish our British press are. I do agree, England were abysmal against both host nations, but to think Scotland could beat us, well that is just ridiculous.

England had a tough two opening matches, let’s just say that if the games against Australia and New Zealand were England’s last two matches in the Pool, qualification for the quarter-finals would have already been secured, it would have been just a case of where they qualified.

So what next, or should I say whose next? Sri Lanka; followed by Bangladesh and then lastly, the ever improving Afghanistan. England will qualify for the quarter-finals and then we shall what will happen from there.

I am a very passionate about English sport, especially cricket, I am very optimistic and I still believe England can win the World Cup. You don’t win the thing in your first two games, as long as England qualify, which they should do, then they will step up to the plate and show the world who is boss.

Cast your mind back to 1992, Pakistan won the World Cup. In that tournament they scraped through to the knock-out stages only because of a rained off match against England. A game where England was hammering them out of sight; Pakistan were all out for 74, the heaven’s opened as England started their run chase and that was it for the day.

The Pakistanis picked up a point from a game which they were going to lose, and that point was then enough to help them finish above Australia, so some small mercy there! It just goes to show, it is qualification that counts at present, once through that and then it is time to perform.

Going back to the Scotland game that is the first time I have seen Somerset’s Josh Davey play. What a good prospect he is. Ok, his first couple of overs were a bit suspect, but four wickets within his next eight shows real character. Josh is currently lying third in the leading wicket takers table, having taken seven wickets at an average of 15. So far so good Josh, let’s hope Dockers can emulate him.

Right, that’s about it for now, skittles and cider tonight. Pairs competition, preliminary round, all we have to do is qualify for the first round proper, how difficult can it be?

Sellsy's Cricketing Thoughts

Tuesday 17^th February

“Catches win Matches.” Aaron Finch dropped on naught went on to hit a match winning century, I wonder how Chris Woakes feels.

Any conciliation Chris I have done the same for Over Stowey when I was captain for the second team. I knew this batsman was dangerous having seen his scores from the previous few weeks in the local paper. Set an attacking field, he miss timed a cut, straight at me, in and out, dropped on nought, went on to hit a ton. Every run was agony.

I know we all drop them it happens, but the drop catch by Woakes wasn’t the only factor which cost England the game in their opening match in the World Cup against the Aussies. Poor bowling at the death, bad shot selection and I think England should off gone for the jugular when the Aussies were three down, oh well.

One good thing for me was the team selection, Bopara out, Ballance in. What’s the betting my good friend will be selected for the next match against New Zealand this weekend?

Enough of that and take a bow Ireland. Chased down over 300 to beat the West Indies, cracking result, I should image there is a massive inquest going on in the Caribbean right now.

The decline of the West Indies has been quite remarkable to say the least. I was brought up in a golden era of West Indian cricket, the most fearsome bowling attack the world of cricket has ever seen, and with that a batting line up which were just a marvel to watch. I would say the finest team I have ever seen play the game.

So where has it all gone wrong for the West Indies? Something I just cannot answer. But one thing has puzzled me, where are the pure pace bowlers as we had back in the 70’s and early 80’s? Not just West Indians but in world cricket.

I can name two, maybe three at present: Dale Steyn, Mitchell Johnson and Vernon Philander, but I would describe the latter as more of an all-rounder than a pure pace bowler. I suppose back in the 70’s and 80’s we would ask: where are all the quality spinners? Then along came three at once.

The game moves on, styles and techniques always seem to be changing, but I just did love the pure speed of the West Indian bowling attack. How fast were they? Well one touring game I watched at Taunton Malcolm Marshall was bowling from the River End, and the wicketkeeper, Jeff Dujon, positioned himself about 10 yards in from the Old Pavilion boundary. Marshall would bowl, no one in the ground could see the ball and then you would hear a thud like sound as Dujon would take the ball in front of his face. Now that was quick.

Enough reminiscing, England v New Zealand next, a must win game? Perhaps, but a better performance with the bat, ball and in the field would help.

Time for a lie down me thinks and get ready for Friday morning.

Sellsy's Cricketing Thoughts

Monday 9th February

New name, same old dribble, but will be on various days of the week depending what is going on in the wonderful world of cricket.

So what is going on? Well if you hadn’t noticed the World Cup starts this weekend and England are in the thick of the action right from day one, when they play one of the host nations, namely Australia.

An early start Saturday morning as the fist ball is sent down (or in the case of Mitchell “porn star tash” Johnson, thrown down) at 3.30am GMT. Admittedly I will be trying out different sleep patterns this week to get myself ready, I have even changed my alarm tone to the theme from Test Match Special, so that is bound to get me out of bed for cricket, surely?

It has been well documented that no one, apart from myself, expects England to win. The experts and critics also expects England to reach the Quarter-Finals, which isn’t exactly rocket science, as there are two groups of seven, of which the top four go through to the quarters. Out of those seven in the group, four are which are Test playing nations, and the other three are so called the “minnows” of cricket (bit don’t tell Ireland that, remember the last World Cup?).

So who are in England’s group? Well there is a small matter of Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, which makes up the four Test playing nations and then there are Scotland, Afghanistan and Bangladesh (who are a Test playing nation, but not a very good one).

If England manage to win four of their six matches they should avoid the likes of South Africa and India in the QF’s, then surely a Semi-Final is in reach, from there anything could happen. But we are talking about England and anything could happen from the first match.

As I said earlier and previous articles I do expect England to win the World Cup, but they must do one thing to enhance their chances....... send Ravi Bopara home, as I have said on numerous occasions in previous articles. Unfortunately England cannot drop him now as their 15 man squad has been announced, so can someone injure him, trip him up or something so he cannot play. I’d rather have Mark Sortwell playing than Ravi, now that’s saying something.

No offence Ravi, but you have been given enough chances at the top level, and have hardly performed, the Tri-Nations has proved that no end. I have no doubt you are a good County cricketer, but it takes a different type of player to play internationally. There are a lot of people agreeing with me, even the national papers are, but I did mention it first, some years ago in fact.

So come on England, shock the cricketing world and hammer those over rated, confident, arrogant bunch of Aussies, so as to set the tone for a cracking World Cup. Remember 1992, when the whole country came to a stand-still, and it seemed like the whole of Stowey was up at “Rats Gaff, as he was the only person in Stowey who had Sky TV, watching the Semi-Final against South Africa. Oh happy days.

Time for cider and skittles.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Monday 2^nd February

England must off performed badly in the Tri-Nations final against Australia if Ravi Bopara top scored, but surely it was a game they threw away, especially as Australia were four down with only 60 on the board.

Waking up early on Sunday morning I was encouraged to hear that Australia lost wickets early on in their innings, but when the fifth wicket partnership started to develop and get stronger my head returned to the pillow to catch up with much needed zzzz’s!

I awoke just in time to hear and then watch the start of England’s reply, very positive I thought, they didn’t lose a wicket for about three overs. But when Ian Bell was luckily caught by the Aussie keeper, followed by a clutter of wickets leaving England four down, I thought it was time to get up and walk the dogs.

Ok, positive notes, England beat India twice, Jimmy Anderson is just the best bowler in the world and Moeen Ali must be bowl 10 overs so England can drop Bopara and play a quality batsman or even call-up Ben Stokes, how many sixes in his 151 not out for the Lions?

With under a fortnight to go before England face Australia in their first match of the World Cup I still remain positive that they will win it and they will beat Australia in Melbourne. Plus Joe Root will catch out “racist” Warner and give him a send off which he richly deserves.

Anyway, set your alarm for 3.30am on Saturday 14^th February for that match, I know I will certainly be awake for it, despite having skittles the night before, is there any point in going to bed?

Enough of England for a week or two, Over Stowey are starting to get ready for the new season. With a well earned break for the winter the club’s committee got back together last week to get ready for the new season and what a positive meeting that was.

I have all senior fixtures, including friendlies, all are now are on the club website. All the events for 2015 are also on the club website. But the biggest news is that the club are in the process of buying a bowling machine. I know that is what they used to call me, a bowling machine, but since age has crept up on me the club have decided to get a new one.

Joking aside here, this is a major investment for the club, along with a newly laid artificial strip, training will never be the same now at Over Stowey. Long gone will be they days when you have indoor nets and just whack the ball as hard as you can and say “shot!!!” No more ducking out of the way when balls fly about the place and no more fearing for your life when you bowl to Phil Rich, crikey he hits the ball hard.

Proper training and coaching, my god I think Stowey will be going places in 2015. The Dunster trip springs to mind!

Right, time for a snooze me thinks, got a stinker!

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Monday 26^th January

A much muted reaction from my post last week, the majority couldn’t really disagree with me, but they still think I’m mad putting a bet on England winning the World Cup. However we are all in agreement that Australia will not win it.

One thing I will point out is that I predicted that New Zealand will reach the final and by looking at their recent matches against Sri Lanka they are not a one man team as I said they were last week. They seem to bat a long way down and even Ross Taylor is finding some form.

With a series win against Sri Lanka (a side that hammered England before Christmas), New Zealand look a good outfit and will be very difficult to beat.

So England have a minimum of three matches to play before their first World Cup Match. India are next, followed by the West Indies and then Pakistan. There may be another fixture against Australia depending on the outcome of the game against India, but effectively three games to get the balance of the team right.

I am trying to avoid the name Ravi Bopara, but I just can’t help myself. What worth has he brought to the side in the recent Tri-Nations series, I will tell you: Batting at an average of 10, with a strike rate lower than a run every two balls; and as for his bowling, well let’s just say he hasn’t troubled the scorers in the wickets column, but going for eight an over. The choice is easy, perform or go to Sydney International.

I mentioned before I have a “cricket correspondent” out in Australia, well he is actually in Cambodia now, but hey, he was there for a while. Here are some of his updates from The Gabba, well in fact all of them:

28the Dec: Watching Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars The Big Bash T20. Awesome atmosphere and Freddie Flintoff is knocking ‘em all over the place.

4^th Jan: Back at The Gabba watching Brisbane Heat v Adelaide Strikers and Rocketman drops in. (Elton John?).

11^th Jan:  Back at The Gabba watching Freddie Flintoff trying to give Brisbane a half decent score, we are bottom of the league and the Sydney Sixers are gonna be hard to beat. Ha-ha who cares I’m pissed.

15^th Jan: Last time at The Gabba watching Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes. We have finished bottom of the league but there is a good chance we could just win this one. Off to Cambodia on Sunday to get Templed right up.

Thanks Kev, hope to see you soon and will take you to a proper ground to watch a proper team when you come back to Blighty.

That’s it for now, come on England! Cider and Skittles time me thinks, a local derby tonight, bragging rights at stake to see who the best side in Stowey is.

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Monday 19^th January

Right, time to stick my neck out. Forget what I have been saying about England’s slim chances of winning the World Cup, I may of been a bit hasty, as I do believe they will win it. Yes, I am confident they will win it, and here’s my thinking.

Australia will not win it for two reasons. Firstly I think they have peaked and may off peaked too soon. They have been beating everyone in sight over the past three months, I believe they will become too arrogant and cocky (more so than usual, look at Warner). Their form will not last, which leads me on to the second reason, home disadvantage.

When England beat them in the opening match, the whole country will be on their backs, from the little boy in the street to the big media giants who will just slag them off for fun. Home advantage just does not work; only one country has won the World Cup when the final has been staged on home soil, India.

As for India, they will not win it, again for two reasons. Firstly, they are not playing on home, the tracks in Australia just do not suit them, and secondly, no Little Master.

What about South Africa I hear you cry, well what about them? Big time bottlers South Africa, the pressure will get to them and will muck it up in the semi-finals for sure. I also think again they are peaking too soon.

The other favourite team to win it is Sri Lanka. A two man side in Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, get these two out and the rest will crumble. And with Malinga still yet to prove his fitness they may struggle defending totals.

I can see the final being contested between England and New Zealand. Get Brendon McCullum early and victory is guaranteed.

So why have I changed my tune? Why the sudden optimism? What have I been drinking?

Me thinks England have nothing to lose, and I also think they are a much better side than what the media makes out. Another factor is that Jimmy Anderson will spearhead the bowling attack, which will give the whole bowling unit a massive lift.

It looks as if Ian Bell and Moeen Ali will open the batting, with Ali in the side he can also bowl 10 overs. With this in mind England could play an extra batsman, so why not stick Gary Ballance in at six instead of Bopara.  Buttler at seven (maybe a bit low, but hey they can change to order if needs be), followed by Broad, Finn, Anderson and Tredwell.

Just be brave England, before it’s too late and go and win that darn thing in a blaze of glory. Don’t forget folks, you heard it here first!

Time for me to ile down and think about seeing a shrink! England at 12-1, well it’s worth a few quid, or am I better off using the monies to buy a pint?

Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Monday 12^th January

Unbelievable, just unbelievable, as soon as I posted my supplement last week, Alviro Petersen decides to retire from international cricket and thus become Kolpak player, making him available to play County Cricket, thus not classed as an overseas player.

Last week I was saying, along with quite a few others, that Somerset need a world class batsman, and with Petersen playing at the mighty Somerset over the past few summers, surely Matthew Maynard would have been in touch, surely?

You may be aware that The County Ground will host a T20 International during the summer of 2017, when England will take on South Africa. Fantastic news for Somerset and Taunton, the place will just be buzzing.

The new Somerset Pavilion, which is replacing the Old Pavilion, is making progress, with steel structures starting to be put in place. It seems every day I walk past the ground more development has happened and is starting to take place. The ground will just look spectacular once the new stand has finished, making probably the best non Test ground on the County circuit.

Unfinished