white-lightning wrote:

We're still missing genuine pace in our bowling attack. Obviously Hasan Ali joining next month will help - fitness permitting. Chris Rushworth seems to be dogged by injury problems - he barely played last season and is out again. For a big club like Warwickshire we need to assess our recruitment with overseas players in particular.

We do have one genuine pace bowler on the staff - and he is supposed to be available for red ball - George Garton. Admittedly his CC record is not great, but I would have thought Stuart Barnes might be able to do something with him, to make him more than a white ball bowler. He is (was - its been a while since I've seen him play), genuinely quick - and a 'leftie', which gives us some variety (though Fernando hasn't shown that!).

Solbear wrote:

Be interesting to see how Jani does against us, given that he's playing for the SACA - as is Amir Khan. Good to see OHD back on the field, hope he's fit to return to first team duties soon.

Jani continued his superb form with the bat this season. In the 1st innings, 40 (from 42 balls) and in the 2nd, 156 (from 169 balls, with 22 x 4's and 3 x 6's).

I really hope he gets another bash (officially) for our 2nd team, next week.

What a great advert for Championship cricket. An amazing end to 4 days of great play, full on twists and turns. However, once again, our tailenders have been the true heros. Smith, Booth & Bamber deserve all the plaudits - with an honourable mention to Fernando.

Who says red ball cricket has had its day - certainly no one following play at Chester-le-Street (even home fans couldn't disagree). And You Tube (plus the Durham commentators) must be given credit for covering it so well.

meashambear wrote:

I watched the Sussex game & some of today but it is already apparent that we are not going to take 20 wickets. God knows where we get our overseas bowlers from but Fernando is no better than what we have, we can get Miles to bowl short, wide & erratically without flying someone in to do it!!

Booth is not up to it and Bamber looks like a smaller, slower version of Brookes, expensive as well.

Sorry to come across negative folks but I think we will be fighting with Sussex & Worcs to survive relegation this season from what I have seen so far.

Fighting with just the Pears, I think. Sussex looked decent against us and have had a good day against Somerset today (who, of course, pretty much demolished Worcester for much of the game).

Unchanged lineup at Chester-le-Street:-

Davies
Yates
Shaikh
Hain
Mousley
Barnard
Smith
Bamber
Booth
Ali
Fernando

Durham won the toss and chose to bat.

GerryShedd wrote:

Mr Sylvester (senior) may have had a bicycle.

Or be a Welsh Harold Fry!
Of course, you could be right - there is a 7 year gap between the 2 guys being born.

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Bald_Reynard wrote:

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Team for the 3 day Friendly at Portland Road, starting today:-

Isaac Mohammed
Malik
Gekis
Jani
Wylie
Lintott
Briggs
Miles (Captain)
Simmons
Dandy (Keeper)
Blakemore
Sylvester

Yorkshire won the toss and chose to bowl.

And I wonder if the Sylvester in the team, is Adam Sylvester, who had a good season with Kent 2nd's last year and previously with Worcestershire & Derbyshire 2nd's (turning out for Derby in one CC game against Glamorgan, in 2022) ? A right arm seamer.

It is Adam Sylvester (on the Scorecard as AR Sylvester - I've looked on Cricinfo - Adam Ryan). He's playing as the bowler in the 12 man team (and doesn't bat). Interestingly, there's a B Sylvester bowling for Yorkshire - I don't know if that's a coincidence, or he's related.

I've checked on Cricinfo - a coincidence. Bradley Sylvester is no almost certainly no relation to Adam - Brad was born in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, Adam was born in Llandough, Glamorgan.

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

I don't know anything about Jani, but have found out a bit. Vaansh Jani had a decent season with Middlesex 2nd's last year (with one ton to his name) and has played recently for Loughborough UCCE (with a 138, 23, 69 & 21* - averaging 84, in two games this season). A right hand bat and part time off spin bowler.

Jani has kept up his good run of form this season - 65 off 76 balls, with 11x4's and 1x6. Could well be one to have a run in the 2nds, combined with his outings for Loughborough.

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Team for the 3 day Friendly at Portland Road, starting today:-

Isaac Mohammed
Malik
Gekis
Jani
Wylie
Lintott
Briggs
Miles (Captain)
Simmons
Dandy (Keeper)
Blakemore
Sylvester

Yorkshire won the toss and chose to bowl.

Team as expected, with the big exception, of young Taz Ali in as our spin option. Good luck to him.
Davies
Yates
Shaikh
Hain
Mousley
Barnard
Smith
Bamber
Booth
Fernando
Ali

https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/warwickshire-v-nottinghamshire-pre-season-friendly/

Notts in the 2 day red ball Friendly in Abu Dhabi.

A good first day.

Bald_Reynard wrote:

https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/abu-dhabi-super-cup-final-16-march/

Notts got 154 for 6 off their 20. Wickets for Booth, Barnard, Mousley, Miles & Lintott.

We're already 3 down - 2 for 3

We lost - of course! All out for 91 - only Hain, Barnard, Smith & Shaikh got into double figures.

https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/abu-dhabi-super-cup-final-16-march/

Notts got 154 for 6 off their 20. Wickets for Booth, Barnard, Mousley, Miles & Lintott.

We're already 3 down - 2 for 3 !

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/warwickshire-v-yorkshire-friendly-15-march/

First match on tour.

A good win. Pleased for Barnard, Ali & Yates, but Garton in at 6 and doing well opening the bowling, promises something for this season (perhaps might even get a few CC matches).

GerryShedd wrote:

I think we've all given full vent to our sarcasm about his lack of cricketing experience! Maybe alongside that, we should wish him well.

Sorry, Gerry, I got carried away! I do wish him well. I AM sure his experience will help.

Bald_Reynard wrote:

**The_Lickey_Banker wrote:**

Andy wrote:

Performance Director.

No I don't know either.

https://edgbaston.com/news/warwickshire-ccc-appoint-leading-sports-performance-specialist/

Wow, that's a big leap into the dark, isn't it? No track record, experience or knowledge of cricket (it seems). Gymnastics, Boxing, Judo, Athletics, Rugby, Football, yes, but ..... I thought we were a cricket club !

I know people jabber on about 'transferable skills' a lot these days, but surely experience of the actual game you're playing, should be the main aim in professional sport. It's all bl**dy Dan Ashworth's fault!

You forgot his experience with Badminton GB, LB - that's close to (one part of) cricket, it involves skill in using of a piece of equipment by the hand! So, he's obviously totally suited to sorting out our batting needs! Bowling and fielding requirements are picked up by his knowledge of boxing and gymnastics. And being good at running is covered by his experience in athletics, Rugby and football. He's the total package - what more do we want!!

Oh, I forgot, his Judo experience will be good for players learning how to deal with recalcitrant Australian opponents or pitch invaders!

**The_Lickey_Banker wrote:**

Andy wrote:

Performance Director.

No I don't know either.

https://edgbaston.com/news/warwickshire-ccc-appoint-leading-sports-performance-specialist/

Wow, that's a big leap into the dark, isn't it? No track record, experience or knowledge of cricket (it seems). Gymnastics, Boxing, Judo, Athletics, Rugby, Football, yes, but ..... I thought we were a cricket club !

I know people jabber on about 'transferable skills' a lot these days, but surely experience of the actual game you're playing, should be the main aim in professional sport. It's all bl**dy Dan Ashworth's fault!

You forgot his experience with Badminton GB, LB - that's close to (one part of) cricket, it involves skill in using of a piece of equipment by the hand! So, he's obviously totally suited to sorting out our batting needs! Bowling and fielding requirements are picked up by his knowledge of boxing and gymnastics. And being good at running is covered by his experience in athletics, Rugby and football. He's the total package - what more do we want!!

Solbear wrote:

Interesting article in the following Times link, suggesting amongst other things that Jim Troughton is on the shortlist to replace Robinson, that Ian Westwood is only interim head coach and that Moeen Ali is set to move into coaching after the Blast. https://www.thetimes.com/sport/cricket/article/warwickshire-dan-ashworth-cricket-man-united-moeen-ali-coach-mchsnfn9c

As with the Cricketer articles, this is behind a pay wall (and I haven't got access), so can only speculate on the points raised. However, JT has long been the 'King beyond the water' many of us would like to see in Larsen's post (I agree, High Performance Director is a stupid title). I just hope the delay in appointment, is us trying to reach an agreement with Surrey for his services.

As for Westie, perhaps not a surprise it could only be temporary - to see how he does. When Moeen announced his playing retirement, I expected it only a matter of time for him to join our Coaching team - though can't be in any lead role for the time being.

I also agree, Walker is a bit of a coup (though only a 1 year contract, presumably to see how he'll do). As Head Coach at Kent for 7 years, it is quite a step down, but his experience at Canterbury, Chelmsford & The Oval and with England, can be highly valuable, in a team where mental (and technical) batting strengths have often been lacking.

https://edgbaston.com/news/matthew-walker-joins-bears-as-batting-coach/

A decent CV. I think he'll be a good addition.

Just waiting on an announcement about the new Director of Cricket [or that stupid title, High Performance Director (Men)] now !

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Tayls79 wrote:

In reply to a couple of comments. The "mutual consent" has just happened with Warren Gatland as head coach of Wales rugby, the WRU were celebrating it was done like this as it saved them paying out his contract. My guess is same happened with Robinson, he held out and this week was the deadline at which the club would sack him. So maybe it is actually a good outcome not to have to pay him out. Re Frost as batting coach. I think he could do it in isolation, seems one player per season makes good progress on their batting, but not overall and couldn't help multiple people at the same time. Perhaps he was more suited as batting mentor rather than someone with squad responsibility.

Perhaps worry about having to pay out big compo to Robinson, could be why no DoC appointment hasn't yet been made? Didn't know how much we could afford to spend on a DoC!

With Frosty going from LEAD Batting Coach (and I agree with a few here, he might be good in a one-to-one role, but not as the main guy) and Westie 'moving upstairs', there must be a big shake up of the Coaching team coming.

PS I'm pleased TF has got responsibility for overseeing pitches - of course, that's where he started working after retiring from playing. And he will still be able to be used for batting 'mentoring'.

My reading of what's gone on, is partly in agreement with LB. Looking at the official statement (link in my earlier post) about all the changes, I think the reason no Director of Cricket (or High Performance Director, or whatever title Larsen had) has yet been appointed, is because they've been trying to sort the situation with Robinson. Until that was done - and he was 'cleared 'off the books' - they couldn't move (or afford) to appoint a DoC. It is significant that the club say they are, "close to appointing a new Performance Director". And the statement that they are, "currently talking to a replacement batting coach", implies that ......... Performance Director in ......... formally appoint the new batting coach (who has already been lined up by Stuart Cain and the Board), officially endorsed by the new guy.

My hope is that the new DoC (much better title that HPD !) will be Jim Troughton - and he has been waiting for the Robinson business to be sorted.