No Lamb in the Seconds team then ? Very strange. I wonder if he's actually injured ?

13 man squad:-

Rhodes, Briggs, Henry Brookes, Burgess, Davies, Garrett, Hain, OHD, Johal, Sibley, Siraj, Yadav & Yates.

I guess we'll go with the 2 spinners, but only 3 seamers (Siraj, Brookes & OHD), plus Rhodes - though Johal or Garrett could come in for a spinner ?

No Lamb, I suppose we won't see him again in the First team.

Pretty much a full strength team (of 12) for Essex:-

Yates, Mousley, Burgess (Keeper), Benjamin, Lamb, Ethan Brookes, Henry Brookes, Lintott (Captain !), Miles, OHD, Johal & Shaikh.

Obviously a batting and a bowling XI - with Shaikh in for batting and (probably) Johal for bowling.

Essex won the toss and chose to bat.

How much blame for this disaster of a season, do people think should be put at Farbraces's door - and how much should Robinson be held culpable ? Was Farbrace (mainly) responsible for the departure of Welch and the appointment of Mason ? Was it him who decided Mo Sheikh take over Second team bowling Coaching and keeping Tony Frost as First team Batting Coach ? How many of the crap team selections are down to him ? Was he the man who insisted that Rhodes should stay as Captain, despite his obvious failings in toss choices, bowling selections or field placements. How much is he to blame for the (obvious) malaise in dressing room morale.

My guess, is that he is more than 50% is down to him, but Robinson is also to blame. I suppose Robinson needs to be given another chance under a new Director of Cricket. I agree, Giles is probably not that man, but he could be OK in the short term. However, I do feel we really need a strong long term appointment though. I don't know many who are out there, but I do know one who could be tempted. If he doesn't have a long contract at Derby, Micky Arthur would be my choice.

Andy wrote:

Johal signed a 3 year deal in April didn't he?

I didn't know it was such a long extension, but if it was, its just another example of the complete ineptitude of the current management. Johal didn't have a good season last year, after he signed his first (1 year) professional contract. A few, mainly inconsequential, appearances in the RLC. But this season has been a complete disaster for him. A few (expensive) wickets in the Seconds (just one decent game, when he did get a 'fivefor', mainly against tailenders I think ?) and no First team outings at all.

I think, just another example of a promising Academy bowler, bu**ered up by First team Coaching?!

Second team doing as well as the Firsts!
Crap batting (possibly with the exception of Maddy) and crap bowling (except for Garrett and Norwell).

Johal presumably will soon be out of the door. George G probably done enough in the RLC and the Seconds, to warrant another year.

https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#mc5d5d9cb-daec-4895-b9fd-eda5244619a3

Only 3 front line bowlers today, plus the usual backups - Rhodes, Ethan B and Yates (oh and Lamb, I guess). Another crazy selection. Maddy in for Burgess (and keeping wicket) - Kai Smith again just in as a batsman.

Durham won the toss and put us in.

BristolBear wrote:

I made my 3 suggested changes based on clear issues that are not going to disappear. Not just impulse.
I’d change the captaincy as I don’t believe Rhodes is a great strategic captain in terms of fielding and bowling decisions. I also believe it is negatively effecting his performances this season. He can contribute more as a player and his batting has been down the last 2 seasons.

As for the director of cricket, I don’t want someone at the club who doesn’t want to be there. Fairly consistent rumour is that Farbrace wants out, he wants to coach again. It’s well known he lost out to Silverwood for the Sri Lanka job, and is looking for a head coaching role. How can someone be in charge of the long term running of the club if they’re not planning on being there. Also both his domestic and overseas recruitment have been decidedly patchy, and the pathway hasn’t exactly been churning out players. Plus squad planning has been poor, we can argue injuries but we also all know Woakes, Norwell, Miles and Stone have well known injury issues and last years run of fitness was more luck than skill. So having a bowling unit so reliant on those players is very naive.

Robinson seems to have created a big divide in the dressing room, and I’m not entirely sure how big a role he played last year. It was Troughtons squad. We’re losing players this season like Hose and Sibley. Also his character pushed Welch out the door as Welch couldn’t work for him and we’ve seen the effect that’s had on the team. He also has apparently alienated a number of players this season, who are unhappy with their treatment. Rumours are abound about Lamb being gone this season, and Rhodes, Burgess, OHD and even Hain going into their final years next year.

So it’s not impulsive, I think the club is in a very unstable place, lacking a clear plan, with the 3 figure heads in very different places with very different priorities, and it’s at the long term detriment of the club.

I agree with you completely BB. A few here said your earlier comments were over the top. I think the 3 changes you suggest are essential - and needed at the end of this season.

BristolBear wrote:

1) Captain
2) The coach
3) The director of cricket

Amen to that!

GerryShedd wrote:

Bears' squad:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/warwickshire-vs-nottinghamshire-17-august-2022/#match-match-previews
Place your bets as to which of Hamza Shaikh or Kai Smith plays.

Or Manraj ?! I think all the logic is with him being in, not Smith - we desperately need that bowling alternative (even though he's not 'pulling up many daisies' this season). Of course, logic doesn't seem to come into it, in the current Management thought patterns. Farbrace, Robinson and Rhodes seriously need some proper Psychiatric assessment !

Absolute ridiculous run out for Lamb. There was an easy single to take when he hit it to deep mid off, Pandya didn't even move ! One less chance for Matt to impress and if I was him, I'd begin to suspect that his time at Edgbaston might soon be coming to an end. So sad. He's a decent batsman who just never seemed to be given the opportunities that others have had. And of course he's still second in the our first class batting averages this season (on over 48, with 2 centuries) - Yates (who is languishing on an average of 12), is given chance after chance.

GerryShedd wrote:

I agree about Kai Smith. If the coaching staff believe he has the ability to play as a batter, he needs to be in the top 6 (or just maybe at 7). Hiding him away at 8 or 9 does him and the team no favours. Hamza Shaikh, aged 16, was thrown in to open and did well until Yates ran him out. It would be a shame if he goes to make way for Sibley and Kai Smith stays but continues to bat at 8 or 9.

You just wouldn't credit it, but Kai Smith STAYS in today - again at number 8 ! And Shaikh has been dropped for Sibley. Just what are Management thinking of !!

BristolBear wrote:

Hamza Shaikh does indeed play. Garrett in for Miles. But Kai Smith still plays meaning it’s very tight for bowlers.

Norwell, OHD and Pandya the only recognised top quality bowlers. Then other 20 from Rhodes, Brookes, Yates and maybe even Lamb if needed.

Crazy decision again about Smith. Just what is the point ?! He's not even being given a bash at keeping wicket. And Simmons is not in. I can understand (a bit), Garrett being given another chance, but relying on only 3 front line bowlers, puts enormous pressure on Rhodes, GG, Ethan B and Yates - and (certainly in the case of Yates at the Oval) that has backfired a lot this season.

Andy wrote:

Yates
Sheikh
Rhodes
Burgess
Panda
Lamb
E. Brookes
Simmons
Johal
Norwell
Hannon Dalby

Maybe

I'd go with that, with the possible exception of Amir Khan in instead of Shaikh. AK looks to be a massive talent and still so young.

If in, this could be a make or break game for Manraj. Like George Garrett, he's in the last chance saloon. He's had a rubbish year for the Seconds and is going nowhere fast.

paulbear wrote:

Did you steal 'HunDreadful from my idea last week of 'The HunDread'. My legal team are checking facts and timelines so you might be hearing from my lawyers. I am expecting no out of court settlements and figures of at least £50 have been talked of.

Yeah, well, I can't deny your phrase was an inspiration. How about we settle out of court, with a pint at the Rea Bank bar? Mind you, me living in Cumbria now, means you could have a long wait!

It's interesting (and good) that the Hundread (I'll go with you !), doesn't merit any specific thread on this Forum. Though I'm glad individual Bears get something. I hope the likes of Lintott, Davies, Hain et al, also do something worthy, to get a mention this summer, despite the stupidness of the competition

Well, obviously, Henry has moved on from Matt Mason, to a proper bowling Coach!

Seriously, the HunDreadful could be the competition that finally gets him to where we thought he'd be at the start of his career.

Just what is the point about having Kai Smith in the team? He's not keeping wicket, he won't bowl and he's batting low. Surely it should be one extra bowler playing? I'm all for giving young guys a bit of experience, but it's only worth it if they actually contribute to the team.

GerryShedd wrote:

A good win and some excellent performances from Ethan Brookes and Jacob Bethell:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/second-xi/kent-second-xi-vs-warwickshire-second-xi-11-july-2022/#match-match-reports

Ethan Brookes has been far the most consistent high scorer at the club this season (for both teams). In a fair world, he'd be given a run in the First team, but it seems with our Director of Cricket and Head Coach at the moment, that is unlikely. Alex Davies for ever!

Andy wrote:

There was off field stuff going on away from cricket that meant Barker had to leave. Apparently.

I admit i actually thought the time was right to move him on from a cricketing perspective, he was poor in 2017 and i felt he'd struggle back in Div 1 after helping us to promotion in 2018. He looked like he'd lost a yard, lost a bit of nip.

Good job they don't consult me on recruitment and player retention etc as he's done amazingly well at Hampshire!

I actually think he's a different bowler now to how he was when he played for us. Doesn't seem to swing it as much but finds great areas consistently and if there is anything in the pitch he will exploit it. Just a brilliant county bowler who knows the pitches/batters etc. He's better with the old ball now.

And of course, he and all the other Hants bowlers, have been massively helped by the astute Coaching of a certain G Welch!

Woakes is back today, for the 2nds. Batting at 4.

Mousley, Shaikh, Ethan Brookes, Woakes, Lintott (Captain), Amir Khan, Maddy, Yusuf Khalil, Booth, Garrett and Johal.