Ex-Bears Rikki Clarke and Tim Groenewald are both retiring:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/57899218
https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/news/groenewald-retires-from-professional-cricket/

I'm cheating a bit because it isn't county cricket but I thought this might be of interest to some.
A friend of a friend has a podcast in which he is seeking to interview every one of the 45 living cricketers who only played in one Ashes Test. It's worth a listen:
https://onceuponatimeintheashes.com/
Boyd Rankin is on the list.

I suppose that lots of players have had back surgery and come back as good as or better than ever. But it's a bit worrying because if ti goes wrong, his whole career is ended.
Best wishes to him for a full and speedy recovery.

I've just broken the news to my Lancastrian friend. His reaction was:
"He's a cocky little bu***r."
I think that, if Davies had been staying, he would have said something like:
"He plays with great confidence."

I agree that he's a great acquisition, though I though that Michael Burgess had the wicket keeper/batsman slot sorted for the next decade. Not sure where this leaves him, unless one or the other plays just as a batsman.

Just out of interest, what do we think of Yorkshire's sporting gesture when Lancashire's Steven Croft collapsed in agony in mid-pitch with what turned out to be cramp and the Yorkshire fielders declined to run him out? Croft recovered and went on to win the match for Lancashire.
The fact that this might be the difference between the Bears qualifying and being eliminated will not, of course, influence our views in any way.

My friend from Lancashire is visiting me today so that should be fun, watching it on TV with him. Could be the end of a great friendship!

Highveld wrote:

very strong article on cricinfo today
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-hundred-2021-with-friends-like-these-a-hundred-reasons-why-the-ecb-has-failed-the-game-1269911

It's good that there is one professional media outlet standing up for the county game.

Yes, George is someone who has the county game very much at heart and is not afraid to speak out.

There's much that could be said about the quota system in South Africa; but at least it is an improvement on the system that was in place for most of the 20th century when the quotas were Whites 100%, everyone else 0%.

Looks like the game is drifting peacefully to a draw, with runs for Yates and Malan.

This is a disturbing picture of the rest of the season, especially for those of us who are not drawn to The Hundred:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/doubts-grow-over-viability-of-county-competitions-as-clubs-face-difficulty-putting-out-sides-1269618

That looks and sounds really interesting.
Also, my colleague on Deep Extra Cover, Huw Lloyd, has done a whole series of interviews with former players, including Paul Smith. They can be accessed here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/back-to-the-pavilion/id1509596768__

The ECB states that "confirmation on the awarding of points from the match will be announced in due course."

Yes, we need Sibley and/or Malan to go on to big scores.

I agree that the David Hopps report makes for excellent (if painful) reading. The last five words of his article say it all: " the Bears succumbed to desperation."

I can't find on Cricket Archive that Matt Lamb, Ian Bell or Sam Hain scored a hundred for the second team or even came close at age 15.
I thought about Dennis Amiss but I don't think he did either. He batted down the order in his early games.
Maybe there are others who managed it but I can't think of too many more likely names.

Highveld wrote:

Yes, as stated in the report on the club website!

Probably the majority of players who go on to have county contracts have played some county 2nd team cricket when they were 15.

I wasn't commenting so much about the fact that he was playing for the second team at 15 as that he actually scored a hundred, which must be incredibly rare.

Am I correct in thinking that Amir Khan is only 15? If so, what a prospect!

Highveld wrote:

Even if the entire squad went down with COVID they wouldn't be that desperate, Even the Warwickshire over 70's wouldn't be that desperate!

I'm checking my phone every five minutes just in case.

He may do just fine; but on the face of it, in T20 he is an occasional bowler who has never taken a four wicket haul and a batsman who averages 16 and has scored one fifty in 54 innings. On that basis, I think I'll go and clean my boots in case I get a call.