So Hasan Ali's availability for us has been reduced by him being centrally contracted by the PCB (again)

To paraphrase Highveld paraphrasing Oscar Wilde "To lose a player to Central Contracting once is unfortunate, to lose him twice smacks of incompetence"

I know the PCB is a bit chaotic but we just seem to fall for the same reassurances which then turn out not to be solid time after time......

UrsaMinor wrote:

I'll swap them Bethell and Mousley for Chris Woakes. Is that a deal?

I doubt very much that Woakes would be available for finals day if we get there, as under a central contract and ECB may well want to rest him ahead of Pakistan tour (assuming he is selected).

Mo, on the other hand, should be available,

I saw it on Twitter from BBC Newcastle cricket commentator Martin Emerson. “CR has left Durham for personal reasons and is free to move elsewhere. I believe Edgbaston is his likely destination” or words to that effect.

If the Strauss review were to be agreed with a Division 1 of 6 teams in 2024, then Division 2 in 2023 might not be a bad place to be on the assumption that the 2024 division will be made up of the top 5 from the 2023 division 1 and the champions of division 2….

Signed by Warwickshire from Lancs on a 3 year contract. Looks a good signing.

I understand Mayer didn’t play as he returned an inconclusive COVID test. Unlikely he would have made enough of a difference to change the result though. He has to retake the test today I think

Not playing tonight in the firsts Blast game again I see despite a couple of 2nd XI T20s whereas I see Mo played for the Pears yesterday. Anyone know what’s up - I thought we’d get a good few games out of him following his return and before the India series as he builds up fitness

Squad for the Leeds/Bradford game doesn't include either Norwell or Stone. Are they injured does anyone know?