Sorry, I can't agree. Westwood has managed to achieve exactly the same as Robinson, a weakened Blast squad down to poor planning. Granted, he may not go the Robinson, panic mode approach, but we should never get ourselves into this position. As with any T20 game, where luck plays a significant part and individual brilliance can win a game, it may roll our way. However, surely the job of management is to give us the best possible chance, which they clearly have failed to do. If you look at the player options we have available, not sure we will need to worry about bottling the quarter final.

Feel like Westwood (who only took on the job on in February remember) is prioritising the County Championship whilst being committed to the long term evolution of the squad. A lot of the recruitment of overseas players took place when Robbo and/or Larsen were still in the post. The suspension then resumption of the IPL caught everybody off guard, did anybody forecast Dan Mousley being called up to England Lions on the eve of the comp? We've prioritised the Blast for the last 3 seasons bringing in T20 specific types (Moeen, Garton, Gleeson) and a litany of overseas players of varying quality and its got us nowhere. People were crying last year about players like Barnard nor getting a proper go, he'll get a go now. Not sure what people are expecting given the circumstances. Happy to see prioritising red ball cricket and the development of younger players anyway as its much more sustainable long term.

Anyone know if Moeen is back at Edgbaston?

Sorry, don't see it that way, we are bouncing along with seemingly no real plan. You mention young players, when in the last red ball game we had a 36 & 38 year old opening bowlers and when the 36 year old misses out, he will be replaced by a 35 year old. Great plan.

We've seen Che Simmons, Taz Ali, Michael Booth, Zen Malik and Kai Smith all play red ball and show promise this season, all have played more than once. 5 players who at the start of the season you may not have considered for selection and are now all viable first team options. That's clear progress. If you cant see that...and we're 3rd, we weren't doing anything of the like under Robinson. What do you expect to have happened differently for this "Blast Squad"? Who would you have you have gotten in? We've recruited heavily in this comp in recent seasons and still not progressed so...

That's the point, we have invested heavily. Yet every year, they mess it up. Either injured, unavailable or simply don't deliver. That is exactly the situation this year, again!!

I commented on the weakness of the T20 squad back on Friday. They have "performed" at a level in even worse than that could have been expected. The management really needs to take the flak for this, inept is not even close. Really hope the marketing team are on good form, they are going to do well to push tickets to watch that dross.

whitelightning wrote:

I commented on the weakness of the T20 squad back on Friday. They have "performed" at a level in even worse than that could have been expected. The management really needs to take the flak for this, inept is not even close. Really hope the marketing team are on good form, they are going to do well to push tickets to watch that dross.

Agreed, for a county that has prioritised the T20 team for 2-3 seasons it's shocking how we have managed to start the campaign with miles, Sylvester and an overseas red ball specialist.