GerryShedd
Super Moderator
The ECB website says about the 2023 season: "There will be 10 counties in Division One and eight in Division Two with a two-up, two-down promotion-and-relegation system."
Thanks - some good information there.
I expect most Bearsfans have read this update on Maxwell's fitness in Hindustan Times but, for those who missed it, here it is:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/its-going-to-take-months-before-glenn-maxwell-s-major-update-on-leg-injury-before-ipl-2023-a-worrying-sign-for-rcb-101679729451966.html
It's a bit worrying; but it could be that Maxwell on one leg will be a better performer than one or two other overseas stars have been on two.
I gave up on this quiz question because nobody replied; but today the girl from Bentley Heath hit the headlines again:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/women-s-premier-league-2022-23-1348825/mumbai-indians-women-vs-up-warriorz-women-eliminator-1358949/match-report
No doubt you have all been avidly following The Hundred Player Draft (not).
As far as I can see, there will be seven Bears players in The Hundred and therefore not available for the Bears during August:
Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Chris Benjamin, Dan Mousley (Birminham Phoenix)
Danny Briggs (Oval invincibles)
Sam Hain (Trent Rockets)
Alex Davies (Southern Braves)
What will be frustrating will be if someone like Dan Mousley doesn't actually get picked to play and sits on the sidelines when he could be getting valuable experience and helping the Bears' cause. That's largely what happened to Sam Hain last season.
As the saying goes, the chances of this becoming law are slim to none - and Slim just left town. But it's interesting all the same:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/call-law-change-rugby-cricket-29527273
You took the words out of my mouth.
Another day, another announcement:
https://edgbaston.com/news/alex-davies-says-vice-captain-role-is-a-honour-and-privilege/
We are now told that:
".. the 28-year-old will support Club Captain Will Rhodes in the LV= Insurance County Championship and One-Day Cup, as well as stand-in as captain whilst Moeen Ali is playing in the IPL."
I agree that this looks like a good appointment.
The latest press release clarifies the ambiguity:
"Club Captain Will Rhodes will continue to lead Warwickshire in the LV= Insurance County Championship, where he will also be assisted by Davies as Vice Captain, and the One Day Cup."
Maybe the thinking is that if you've got somebody who walks around in the field looking as though he owns the whole stadium, you might as well make him at least partly in charge.
I agree that the sentence about Davies is ambiguous. But won't Davies be playing in the Hundred for the Pom Bears or Southern Braves or whatever they are called when the one day cup is being played?
There's nothing to suggest that he is going to keep wicket in red ball cricket even if he is vice-captain so I wouldn't discount Burgess.
Towards the end of the article that I posted about Moeen captaining the Bears in the Blast is the sentence:
"Club Captain Will Rhodes will continue to lead Warwickshire in the LV= Insurance County Championship and One-Day Cup, where he will also be assisted by Davies as Vice Captain."
Moeen to captain the Bears in the Blast:
https://edgbaston.com/news/moeen-ali-to-lead-bears-in-2023-vitality-blast-campaign/
PS - note that, for the first time in about a year, the word "Birmingham" re-appears before "Bears".
First day of the two day match here:
https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/10518/revis-and-bean-post-fifties-on-opening-day-of-battle-with-bears
I thought that Fin Bean was something weird that my vegetarian daughter would eat.
It's (very) early days; but this report confirms that Ed Barnard is likely to be a fantastic acquisition as an all-rounder.
There's cricket to be seen this month:
https://edgbaston.com/news/bears-to-host-worcestershire-in-three-day-friendly/
Subject to the weather improving, of course!
He is extending the Kiwi influence that started in the 1940s and 50s with Martin Donnelly, Tom Pritchard and Ray Hitchcock and stretched more recently to Jeetan Patel, Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori (well, maybe not Vettori!).
And then there was that other Kiwi coach who made such an impact at the Club. What was his name? Badbatch, Grimbatch, something like that.
Apparently, his nickname is The Postman because he always delivers.
Let's hope so!
Brian has tweeted: "Well, that's me done as Bears club journo, ending a 23-year connection with the club as reporter/employee."
I hope that it is an amicable parting because Brian is a great guy, always there in the press box to share a friendly word. I shall miss him.