NEW YEAR 2011

1)  I thought Chris Tremlett was somewhat unlucky not to make the World Cup, but the decision to drop Steven Davies was just plain stupid. He had done nothing wrong, apart from not being in the Ashes winning XI. You would have thought that after Prior's first two noughts, they would have reversed it, if at all possible. There is now a lack of a pinch-hitting batsman in the opening pair and balance in the line-up.

2)  As readers may possibly remember (I know you all read my column first, so you would forget it first!) I am based in Dublin at present. I must admit I was full of it after England scored 300+ and had to take a lot of stick after Kevin O'Brien's heroics. Though everyone here has become interested in the results, I'm afraid a lot don't want to understand the complexity of cricket. Only a few realised the brilliance of England's win against South Africa! That result highlighted how Anderson and Broad seem to swing (in every sense) from great highs to lows in their bowling. Both Broad and Swann contribute with the bat at Test level (scoring quickly as well), but don't bring it to the party in the one-day game.

3)  With Andre Nel departed and Chris Tremlett likely to be in England's squads, Surrey's bowling resources look on the light side again this year, with more injuries no doubt yet to strike. I think we may struggle to bowl sides out and will, therefore, remain in the second division. (How long do we think Thommo will give Mr Adams?).

4)  Paul Sheldon was the perfect safe pair of hands when he became Chief Executive. A lot of very successful and dynamic things happened with the team and ground during his tenure, though you got the impression that it happened around him rather than through him, which is fine when things are going right. There were a lot of staff at the Operations Manager level by the end.

5)  I see that we managed to pay our rent of £200,000 to the Duchy of Cornwall twice in 2005, but it was not noticed. Obviously pretty bad from both sides. I guess we will get a discount this year, though I have to admit £200,000 seems very reasonable for the site. I always believed that the rent Charlie Boy charged was on the charitable side, though perhaps not as much nowadays. Mr Thompson wants to improve relations with the Duchy. I would have thought Sheldon was more a Duchy man than Thompson. I would love to see the accounts from 2005 and 2006 (strangely, I didn't keep them!), to see what was shown on them in relation to rent. I remember John Bennett querying with the club that they put Test takings received this year, for the Test next year, in this year's accounts. I wonder if they still do that, as he was not impressed at the time (like any good bank manager).

6)  In view of the above and below - I better come clean - I joined Surrey CCC as a Junior Member in 1971, but given my present circumstances I have not renewed for this year. I will, like quite a few of you, remain a member of the Supporters' Club and the Century Club (which raises money for Surrey Cricket), but not of the Club.

7)  Please, if at all possible, support all of the Supporters Club members who are running for the General Committee.

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