Yeah Lancs bowled much better this morning, made us play at everything, very few leave balls, nothing to really hit. I thought Burgess and Lamb grafted it out well.

Bald_Reynard wrote:

So pleased Benjamin made his ton. Can't believe we found this jewel - and no other County spotted his potential. Clearly a latish developer, but still years ahead of him - in red as well as white ball?!

How on earth he's made it to aged 22 and not been picked up until 6 weeks ago is truly amazing.

I'm at the ground, it definitely felt as though we rode our luck early on. And Benjamin chanced some ludicrously tight singles! Looking good now though...

Yeah I'd say so

I think at the moment it probably is.

The ever changing Covid protocols continue to dog the global game, quarantine periods and the like etc, hastily arranged tours, scheduling and rescheduling. Remember the CPL was rescheduled to accommodate the postponed/delayed IPL (Carlos would have been available but for that).

We were so, so, so lucky with Jeets. He didn't play in any franchise leagues, rarely played for NZ. NZ for about a decade had a quite a light international schedule anyway.

We've just gotta rotate overseas players and cross our fingers like the rest of the counties now. Notts lost Dan Christian unexpectedly to an Aus call up, Lancs lost Finn Allen to a hastily arranged NZ v Ban tour, he got covid anyway. Yorks had no overseas at all. Somerset sort of stumbled across de Lange when Glamorgan didn't know whether to stick or twist on him.

For the record I think there's a case for not having an overseas at all unless they are available for 90% of the games that you wanted them available for.

The Vihari/Malan situation was messy (nobodies fault), both were on a hiding to nothing. Parachuting Kyle Mayers in looked odd at the time and looks utterly bizarre now. Crossing our fingers over Chemar Holder, probably a gamble worth taking with him being a seamer, but he hasn't played a competitive game for months.

Playing in the CPL, he'll come back for Finals Day if we get there. This was all agreed apparently.

Just thinking, could Benjamin keep here? Burgess hasn't had a great tournament with the bat...

Lamb, Brooks and Pollock miss out I'd say.

Burgess for red ball. Davies for white ball, though he doesn't seem to keep much anymore so Benjamin might job share with him?

Dan :(

We have a lot of batsmen on the books now, he'd be welcome to go and play the T20 leagues, can't imagine he'd be required in red ball.

Interesting signing. He's first class record is pretty good but he hasn't played for a while.

It's such a shame. I really miss seeing him bowl in the county championship, he's so good to watch in that format.

I'd imagine he'll need to play during 'Super September' if he's gonna be on the plane to Aus?

Plenty of positives to take from this competition. Lamb has pretty much dominated. 360 runs at 60 he's way ahead of the other Bears batsmen and I think he has finished up 7th highest run scorer in the comp overall. He's so strong through extra cover. Yates also excellent even though he faded a little. Johal and Bulpitt really grew as the comp went on. Bulpitt might be worth keeping around, see what Welchy can do with him. Keep having to remind myself Bethell is still only 17, unreal potential. Great to see Mousley get in and get a few runs too, if he'd have been available the entire comp who knows how far we could have gone.

We've played on some excellent pitches too, particularly at Edgbaston.

No doubt who player of the match is today...

I think sometimes you just gotta hold your hands up. That guy was unstoppable. Some of them sixes would have been sixes at any ground in the world.

I've been fortunate enough to have been quite a lot since we've been allowed back in the stadium. I've witnessed no bad behaviour, however I rarely go into the lounges.

Give them a 'you bears' shout for me.

Perhaps. Think Carver might miss out. Chance Brookes misses out maybe.

Wish I was going tomorrow, should be a great game.