GerryShedd
Super Moderator
The Club seem confident that he will be playing for England at Edgbaston:
https://edgbaston.com/news/bethell-set-to-play-for-england-at-edgbaston/
Regarding the pitch, George Dobell in The Cricketer says:
"Well, it wasn't perfect. It barely deteriorated and clearly favoured batters over bowlers, as many pitches at Edgbaston have in recent times. But it wasn't as bad as some might suggest. There was some carry; there was, at least, movement in the air. There was a little spin, albeit too slow to bother batters.
Maybe the English game has an issue with pitches like this, though. It may well be marked 'good' by the umpires, but good in what sense? It didn't provide an even battle between bat and ball. It didn't provide great entertainment. It was only 'good' in the sense that there was no uneven bounce. Maybe we need to set the bat a bit higher than this.
To be fair, neither side played a specialist spinner. And neither side had an outright fast bowler, with Simmons showing what might have been had there been one on show. It is generally accepted that county cricket conditions have long favoured fast-medium seamers who then experience little joy at Test level. Well, surfaces like this might encourage the aggressive spin and fast bowling that is required in Test cricket. The balance wasn't perfect here, but pitches like this might even help the English game in the long run. "
The Standard says:
"The restarted IPL is due to conclude on June 3, while Harry Brook's first assignment as England captain features games on May 29, June 1 and June 3. The situation has put the England and Wales Cricket Board in a difficult position, torn between supporting its Indian counterparts at a sensitive time, allowing its players to fulfil their contracts and maintaining the integrity of its own international product. For now, at least, they have kicked that decision down the road and will continue to mull the situation over.
Buttler's Gujarat Titans squad top the current IPL table, meaning he is highly likely to be at the centre of the dilemma, while the recalled Will Jacks (Mumbai Indians) and Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) could also find themselves in the same situation.
The other two IPL players who have been selected to face the Windies, Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton, are with teams who cannot reach the finals."
To quote Sir Geoffrey B:
My grandmother could score a ton with a stick of rhubarb on that track.
Exiled Bear wrote:
Oh boo hoo, how dare teams use their home advantage instead of preparing pitches that are perfectly suited to Surrey! Honestly.
I've no problem with the preparation of a pitch that doesn't suit Surrey. Unfortunately, this is a pitch that isn't producing a decent, watchable game of cricket. I'm not sure how many will go to watch today; but I can imagine someone at the ECB saying: "Look at all those empty seats. That's why we need to play fewer of these four day matches."
UrsaMinor wrote:
GerryShedd wrote:
Here's my report on the day.
If Gary Barwell reads it, he probably won't forgive me for likening his pitch to a dead parrot:
https://deepextracover.com/2025/05/rothesay-cc-match-report-day-two-warwickshire-v-surrey/That photo of Ed Barnard is becoming rather familiar! Doesn't he deserve an up to date one?
We keep on using the Ed Barnard photo:
a) because he keeps on scoring runs and taking wickets and
b) because we have no money so can only afford photos that are free and not copyrighted
BUT - we'll look for another one!
Yes, looks like a great signing:
https://edgbaston.com/news/teen-batter-jani-signs-first-pro-deal-with-bears/
Here's my report on the day.
If Gary Barwell reads it, he probably won't forgive me for likening his pitch to a dead parrot:
https://deepextracover.com/2025/05/rothesay-cc-match-report-day-two-warwickshire-v-surrey/
LeicesterExile wrote:
Be interesting to know if his father has ever been in the same film/play as David Troughton.
Or maybe with Granddad Patrick Troughton - Doctor Who meets Hitler. I'd definitely watch that.
Well here's something I certainly didn't know about Ethan Bamber:
https://www.kingcricket.co.uk/two-remarkable-things-about-ethan-bamber-as-warwickshire-move-up-to-second/2025/05/07/
I thought that Jim Troughton was the only Bear with an acting pedigree.
Thanks, Reabank. As always, a really interesting take on the accounts, helpful to those of us whose eye glaze over at the sight of a balance sheet or set of accounts.
The Cricketer is suggesting that one (or both) of Bamber and Booth may be rested for the Surrey game because of their workload so far.
It looks as though neither Latham nor Hain is certain to play - Hain because of his back and Latham because the state of his hand has to be assessed now he has arrived.
There does seem to be a contrast between the general mood and atmosphere this year and last.
I was at Headingley on what turned out to be the last day and, at lunchtime, after Dan Mousley was bowled in the last over before the interval, I thought that the match was very evenly poised. But Ed Barnard and Malik steadied the ship and in the end, I wasn't sure what I'd been worried about!
Well I’m enjoying my day at Headingley but it’s a bit tense, to say the least.
And against his old county would be especially sweet.
Looks to be evenly balanced. I'm travelling up north tomorrow and going to Headingley on Sunday so I hope there will still be a full day's cricket for me to watch.
So far, Ethan Bamber looks like a great signing.
Cricinfo says about Beau Webster:
"When Webster, who replaced Mitchell Marsh in the Test side and has previously played for Gloucestershire, was initially signed by Warwickshire it was for a three-month stint until the end of July but he is certain to be included in Australia's WTC final squad and for the three Tests that follow in West Indies and finish on July 16."
Update on Chris Woakes plus a little bit about Rushworth and Latham:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cg4195w5nx0o