Week 12

Kilve – Home

Yet another game missed, and to be fair, where I was amongst the thunder and lightning I didn’t think there would be any games played in Somerset, let alone at Over Stowey.

I was in Gloucestershire, enjoying a well deserved break, with the rain coming down like stair rods, not much venturing out was done, only to the local bar. I was very surprised to learn that the mighty 2^nd XI managed to get a game in on Saturday, in fact both Stowey sides played. I am also led to believe that there was nearly a full fixture program in the West Somerset League.

So what happened, well, by the looks at the Stowey score, not a great deal! 56 all out and zero points collected. Ironically Stowey would off picked up more if the game was cancelled, as eight points would off been awarded to both sides. With Stowey picking up no points, Kilve picking up the maximum and other wooden spoon candidates Lydeard St Lawrence gaining six points, Stowey now plummet to bottom of Division Five of the West Somerset League.

Six games left and it looks as if the away game against fellow wooden-spoon candidates, Lydeard St Lawrence, on August 16^th will be the one who decides who collects that wooden thing. But before that there are games against Hemyock, Stoke St Mary and Crowcombe to concentrate on. I am pretty sure that apart from the Hemyock game I am available to umpire for those games in August.

Following up from last week, I have now seen the state of Kieswetter’s eye, wow that looks a mess. Judging by the recent results against Surrey and Kent, Somerset have most definitely missed him – sorry Taylor, the results and the Somerset batting performances show that. He may score at slow rate compared to other T20 opening batsmen, but he does not give his wicket away cheaply, something which other players could learn from, especially that game against Kent. Qualifying for a T20 quarter-final pace is now out of Somerset’s hands. Just concentrate on beating Middlesex first and then we’ll see what happens.

Kieswetter’s injury reminds me of the story about Mike Gatting being hit on his nose by a Malcolm Marshall delivery. His face was an absolute mess, two black eyes, a squat nose and cuts being hidden by plasters. On his return to England, he was asked by a so called reporter, “Where exactly did he hit you?”

Gatting got bowled off his hooter by that delivery from Marshall. I believe the West Indians call that type of delivery a “perfume ball”, a delivery where the batsman can smell the leather. Gatting certainly done that and when the ball was returned to Marshall, the West Indian bowler found a bit of bone lodged in the leather.

As for the reporter, Gatting didn’t reply, as he was a bit bemused by the question. Now if he was quick enough he could off replied “Jamaica!”

For those of you watching the Test match over the past five days you may of noticed that England used a substitute fielder for a bit during India’s first innings. Somerset’s Alex Barrow was on 12^th man duty for England for the Test, which reminds me of another Somerset player who was also on 12^th man duty some nine years ago, and he made a bit of an impact.

James Hildreth was on duty during the first Ashes Test in 2005, and boy did he make an impact, catching skipper Ricky Ponting out. I don’t think Punter was best pleased and he did a bit of a double take to see who caught him, as Hildreth and Ponting were Somerset team mates for a while.

Bad luck Ricky, and on that pleasant note, I think I will have a pint of Thatchers, it is cider time after all.