Do we think Woakes play at Lords no matter what due to his exceptional Test record on that ground?

Sort of didn't mind Hassan being rested for a game as he'd been a little bit looser than the others. Not that he'd been bowling poorly by any stretch.

Woakes has been bowling well though and you had the feeling he might be on the verge of getting a big haul of wickets. And we don't play again til Blast Off after this game.

It's probably not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, just an observation.

Fingers crossed for better weather as this could be a great game.

To echo what has been previously said, how do they compare with other Div 1 openers?

That was a hammering. Good to lay a few ghosts to rest and get a win on a ground where we've taken some rough treatment down the years.

You Bears!

Sensational Rushworth, just doesn't bowl a bad delivery. So many dismissals in play when he's bowling.

Yeah quick swipe then let's shove em in

Ha! Touché GARRYshed

Can't resist, sorry!

Knew I remembered Mark Robinson saying after the Kent game "...we know Edgbaston pitches get slower..."

Im also having a slow day...

*makes mental note not to say ANYTHING about the nature of the pitches at Edgbaston. Or at any other first class cricket venue, just to be safe. Also prays for George Dobell...

Nobody said they were bad, and I don't always agree with George Dobell. Just low and slow and they get lower and slower. We all watch 4 day cricket at Edgbaston, we can all see that. Its sometimes remarked upon by our own bowlers in their interviews. Our pitches have a fair bit of pace in them for T20 matches, I know in 2021 they were using them hybrid drop in pitches for the Blast, don't know what they did last year.

It's not just the decks, sometimes I think the outfield is so lush that it retains its moisture a little bit more and it softens the new ball a bit quicker than it might do elsewhere. However, as Dermot Reeve once pointed out, it probably means the ball keeps it's shine a bit longer.

No ones digging Barwell, just think it's how it is at Edgbaston.

mad wrote:

Derby is traditionally hard and bouncy. Add that to Leicestershire batting order frailties and it did cloud over and went cool just as he came on first change. Even after it warmed up though he kept taking wickets. Shame as I'd liked to have seen a cameo of sorts by Rehan Ahmed.

Of note the scoreboard here is huge and that's terrific. Hopefully when Warks get around to replacing the pavilion end scoreboard it'll be similarly as good

Good point this about pitches. The decks at Edgbaston for 4 day matches tend to be low and slow and get lower and slower as the game goes on which doesn't always suit those bowlers with a bit of extra pace.

Dobell mentioned it on twitter once and Barwell got a bit uppity over it. But GD did have a point tbf.

We are hammering them out of sight and the only that prevents us winning here is the weather.

Delayed start. We're not having much luck are we...

James Fuller is no joke with the bat and an extremely handy player to have in at 9.

Good day for us, we'd have definitely taken that when we lost the toss. Well pleased.

Great news, this will do his confidence good.

I think this is a good move. Go away and get some overs in then come back.

Mikkyk wrote:

I agree that he should be in the XI if fit, just not sure who you would drop.

If it's purely on bowling form based on the last couple of games, you would have to say Woakes drops out. But I can't see that with his batting and his pedigree.

Ali wouldn't be dropped which then means OHD or Rushworth, who have been the best two bowlers so far! Probably OHD drops out then?

Woakes was good on Day 2 v Surrey, very unlucky to go wicketless. No way was he the worst bowler.

However he may well be rested v Hants. ECB might not want him playing back to back 4 day games.

We've had some doings down at Southampton is recent times...

Any changes?

Poor weather forecast again?

Yep all true. They also have a plethora of good quality homegrown talent. They recruit heavily but also back their own homegrown guys, by showing them a pathway and route into the first XI. 6 of the XI who played against us came through the Surrey pathway/academy.

paulbear wrote:

Why and how is Norwell injured? What has he done between the Hampshire game in Sept '22 till now, to get injured. It is like Rankin syndrome all over again, when Boyd would be unavailable at the start of a season whilst having not played during the Winter months.

Who would you have left out of this XI to accommodate Norwell? Had he been fit of course...