Bald_Reynard
Member
Tommy Rex and Jake Lintott (ably assisted by Ethan B and Jacob Bethell) could have won the game for us, if both sides had forfeited. Great bowling. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said for Manraj's and Furrer's efforts. Its early days but I wonder if MJ could be following Henry B as a one season wonder - 1 (expensive) wicket in 4 innings so far this season.
I agree with FB, Henry B has really flattered to deceive since his first breakthrough. He just seems to be going downhill each season. I know he's had significant injury problems - but so have all our seamers - and they (mostly!) come bouncing back, as good, if not better. He really has to up his game, if he is to ever challenge for a regular first team place. Perhaps Matt Mason might have a 'recipe for renewal'!
Looks like Ryan is bu**ered. He was taken off after 7 balls (being hit for 10 in that!), on the first morning and hasn't bowled since.
The point Andy made, about injury concerns for our seamers, has already probably come true. Miles is not in the squad for the Taunton Friendly starting tomorrow. As he is the only absentee from the likely team starting our Championship defence, I assume he's injured. Simmons or Sidebottom will probably come in tomorrow. We need McAndrew now!
13 man Squad for 2 day Friendly at Notts, starting tomorrow:-
Rhodes, Zaman Akhter (trialist right arm seamer from Oxford MCCU), Bethell, Henry Brookes, Burgess, Garrett, Hain, Lamb, Miles, Mousley, Sibley, Sidebottom & Yates.
Norwell rested due to a back spasm, but expected back next week.
As said in my post of 24 Feb, I'd heard rumours that we were considering an All Rounder as CC (& RLC) Overseas player, to replace Bresnan. I speculated that, with the Mason appointment, it might be a Western Australia guy. The fact that the County website highlighted his work with Cameron Green, only added to that feeling.
I agree there might be difficulties bringing Green in for a full season, but there are other good All Rounder options in the WA squad - my pick as an alternative to Green, would be Hilton Cartwright. He had a (part) season with Middlesex in 2018 (bowling well, but did little with the bat) and is a very decent medium pace bowler, with a good First Class batting record. And I don't think he's got any International commitments or ties with IPL or other Summer white ball competitions.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/60617043
Norwell is first seam bowling reserve in the England Test team for the West Indies. With Robinson's injury, Mahmood is now in the 12 man squad for the First Test, but our Liam is on standby, in case of other injuries on the Tour.
Jason Behrendorff would be my Western Australia pick. An outright bowler - but that 'leftie' many feel we need. Experienced (31), with a good record in red and white ball. Played for Sussex in 2019 (T20), so some knowledge of English conditions - though one downside, is that his stint there was cut short, because of a back injury. I don't know his injury record since.
I wonder whether our Championship and 50 over Overseas player will be either Cameron Green or Jhye Richardson:-
https://edgbaston.com/news/warwickshire-appoint-mason-and-sheikh-in-new-bowling-coach-roles/
I guess we will now be looking at a bowler / all rounder to replace Bresnan. The fact that the WCCC website highlights the work Matt Mason has done with Green and Richardson, could mean they're lining one of them up for the Overseas berth ? In any event, I wouldn't be surprised if the Overseas player comes from the Western Australia / Perth Scorchers squad, aided by Mason's recruitment.
Good news that Mason has been confirmed. As said in TLB's earlier post, he has a good pedigree.
And I'm pleased about Mo Sheikh. He's had to do a lot recently with Pop going. He's a great bloke as well. I'm sure he'll be a success.
And I was right in my reading of the Cricketer report, about another Coach coming in. I still would have liked it to have been a new Batting Coach though - nothing really against Frosty, but I think he's reached his limit in what he can do. Perhaps JT, will take on a more hands on First team batting coaching role now though - and leave TF with the Seconds / Academy (and perhaps Fielding coaching).
On the bowling coaching side, I wonder whether we've got any Spin Coaching now. Mason and Sheikh will be fine on the Seam work, but we miss Jeets' spin bowling input - does anyone know if he's still involved at Edgbaston (or anyone else) ?
A bit of a curveball. Matt Mason is about to be appointed. A name not mentioned in previous reports - everyone was expecting an AD return.
And note that the Cricketer report says we are close to, "appointing another Coach". Could that be a new Batting Coach?!
5 candidates on the short list for Bowling Coach. Allan Donald and Donovan Miller at the top of the list, along with Dale Steyn, Mo Sheikh and Shaun Tait. Interviews have been held and a final announcement is expected in the next day or two.
JT has had a promotion at Edgbaston - from Batting Consultant to Assistant Coach. He goes in as No 2 to MR and will be responsible for more than just batting work. Frosty (for the moment ?!) stays as official Batting Coach.
I would say this means it pretty certain, that our Overseas Championship player will be an all rounder.
Farb has turned down Sri Lanka to stay at Edgbaston - for this season at least.
A very sad bit of news this morning. Graeme Welch has left Edgbaston (again !), to go to Hampshire. I'm really surprised, he seemed such a key member of the Coching staff - and was probably the best Coach we've had in many a year - so many WCCC bowlers owe a future to him. I don't know if its down to money, or a feeling that he'd be better off at Hampshire. I guess we'll find out more soon. I hope we've got a good replacement lined up.
If we were lose a Coach, I fully expected it to be our Batting Coach. I do think Frostie has had his day in that job and we seriously need new ideas and skills in that role ?
Jacob got 185 off 110 balls (28x4 & 7x6) as Young England Lions B Captain, in their 50 overs match against Young Lions A, a few days ago (I don't think the A and B represent a first and second XI). Even with that, the B team only won by 1 wicket (406 for 9 - with 1 ball left - against 405 for 6) ! He didn't bowl.
Bob Willis's Widow has been talking about the future of the Trophy. She thought last seasons formula was ideal, as it led to the County Championship title. This season's has had less meaning - though, if it doesn't carry on, she'd be happy it the Trophy resided (for ever!) at Bob's old County!
The ECB are looking at alternative formats for it, including a sort of pre season 'Community Shield' - Red ball Champions v White ball (RLC I guess - even they wouldn't suggest T20, would they?!). I would have thought a much better solution, is the County Champions versus MCC fixture, which traditionally opens the season?
Highveld wrote:
Cricinfo report on the day, also confirms the conference format will, probably, remain next season, and the club have decided not to sign an overseasn batsman for next season.
Good to see the club will continue to back our young batsmen.
With the signings of Davies and Benjamin (and only the release of Pollock), I always expected we wouldn't be looking at ANY more batsmen (Overseas or otherwise). I think our Overseas player next season will be a Seam bowler - probably a Left Armer. We have desperately needed a good replacement for Barker, for ages. And it definitely won't be Holder!
Lancs 57 for 8 now ! I know winning the toss was crucial at this time of year (and putting them in), but our seam bowling has been immaculate - Norwell, Miles and Johal (I guessed he'd be in, he really has been amazing for the Seconds in the last month or so), all totally bamboozling the Lancies !