MalmesburyBear wrote:

Being wise after the event is rather easy.

This season we had one of best T20 squads in years - the team could have been:
Davis; Bethell; Webster; Hain; Mousley; Barnard; Garton; Woakes; Thomson; Gleeson; Tariq.

Unfortunately Davis’ form fell off a cliff, Garton was injured and Bethell/ Mousley/ Gleeson were playing elsewhere through little fault of our own.

I know there are names in the team that various posters dislike, but the simple fact is that they are (or have been) regular participants in international or national T20 competitions.

With regard to the 50 over competition the loss of Barnard and Hain in the batting and Booth and Gilchrist in the bowling has knocked a big hole in the team, along with Taz losing his form. However, letting Hamzha leave early seems a bit of an own goal, as does the failure to recruit an overseas, knowing that Booth was injured.

I join the despair at the lack of information from the club regarding availability of players - who knows the fitness status of half a dozen of our players? When will Garton be able to bowl? What has happened to Barker? When will Booth, Gilchrist and Simmons be fit? Are Lintott and Wylie dropped or playing? Who knows…….

Absolutely. Just look at how the T20 form picked up once Mousley and Gleeson came back, won 6 out of 7.

Highveld wrote:

We need to be careful and not put the blame on the wrong person.

It is not the fault of a coach if a player failed to perform by bowling totally the wrong line and length that was discussed in the pre game meetings, or a batsman consistantly gets out by playing totally inappropriate shots for the ball faced and the game situation.

Players have to take responsibility for their actions, and take onboard guidance from their coaches.

I'd suggest there needs to be a cleaar out at the end of the season, only keeping players who are a established first team players, or have the potential to develop into a regular first team player. This included taking into account the age of the player and their availability.

If you look at counties like somerset and Worcestershire, they have a squad filled with younger players and very few over 30, that is not the case with Warwicks.

there are a small number of exceptions, but if a player is in their mid 20's and they have failed to establish themself as a regular first team player, especially when they have been involved in pro cricket for 8-10 years, you have to ask if it is ever likely to happen.

That's fair.

Thank you @Andy

We potentially have some good young players who are deserving of Rookie contracts eg Isaac Maddy, Dandy, Ed Millar, Jake Garlick

I'd also be looking at players who have become free agents like George Thomas, and maybe at some of the top young B'ham league players who are playing National Counties cricket, Jack Warner of Barnt Green s & Reeve Evitts of Wolverhampton are two that are worth looking at.

MalmesburyBear wrote:

Being wise after the event is rather easy.

This season we had one of best T20 squads in years - the team could have been:
Davis; Bethell; Webster; Hain; Mousley; Barnard; Garton; Woakes; Thomson; Gleeson; Tariq.

Unfortunately Davis’ form fell off a cliff, Garton was injured and Bethell/ Mousley/ Gleeson were playing elsewhere through little fault of our own.

I know there are names in the team that various posters dislike, but the simple fact is that they are (or have been) regular participants in international or national T20 competitions.

With regard to the 50 over competition the loss of Barnard and Hain in the batting and Booth and Gilchrist in the bowling has knocked a big hole in the team, along with Taz losing his form. However, letting Hamzha leave early seems a bit of an own goal, as does the failure to recruit an overseas, knowing that Booth was injured.

I join the despair at the lack of information from the club regarding availability of players - who knows the fitness status of half a dozen of our players? When will Garton be able to bowl? What has happened to Barker? When will Booth, Gilchrist and Simmons be fit? Are Lintott and Wylie dropped or playing? Who knows…….

excellent post IMO

Maybe Westwood deserves more time. What exactly has this data nerd James Thomas delivered in 18 months? A bits and pieces all-rounder from Yorkshire, an injury hit bowler from Kent and a 39 year-old former player who hardly plays. The obvious deficiencies in the batting have not been addressed. Time to get a proper cricket man in as Director of Cricket.

Pennington has been released from the 16.4 to play for Notts. The rule is if you haven’t been selected after 2 games you can negotiate a release.

I wonder if Barnard or Mousley might play for us tomorrow?

Can’t be released if your team plays on the same day, so that rules Mousley out unfortunately.

The sad thing is he’d be able to make a case for England selection in the format he’s made the biggest international impact in so far and he’s missing it to effectively be destined for bench sitting. All part of the demise of 50 over cricket.

Grim

Another grievance I have, and it’s completely with a Warwickshire hat on, but Mousley’s looked in the best touch he has for a few years and it now disappears through a month without a game and he’ll return for our Championship run-in, title charge ready, with no cricket behind him, out of touch.

There is so little infrastructure behind the hundred to support these players who have careers and trophies to win outside of these six weeks yet aren’t getting picked. Winning the Championship would be the pinnacle for Mousley, I’m sure, and our chances actively diminish for each game he sits on a bench. Good enough for a payday, but will constantly struggle to be picked ahead of the top overseas. It’s sad.

This is what pisses so many members off and we can all understand why the ECB are held in such contempt. Players skills are being diminished by not playing enough cricket or too much of one sort. Going back to play county cricket if all you have played is The hundred or sat on yer' bum for a few weeks, is not the way to forge a career and an easy way to get out of form and destroy your counties chances of trophies. Bethell will have a similar problem adjusting to Tests and no doubt Harry Brook will play as though nothing has changed. We saw the same thing during the Winter when Matthew Potts who has been overlooked as very ordinary players like Jamie Overton were playing v India last season and then he was picked to play v Australia in the final Test at Sydney having not played in ages - No surprise that he got carted everywhere and all people could do was criticise him instead of the ECB for their pathetic way of conducting a tour, like a bunch of arrogant twats, who unlike the UK cricket fans, didn't see it coming.