GerryShedd
Super Moderator
Yes, that’s a fine piece of writing.
Congratulations to Ed - the PCA MVP for 2025:
https://www.thepca.co.uk/domestic-men-mvp-2025/
Note Ethan Brookes in third place.
Six down. Can Will Rhodes save Durham?
With their win yesterday, Sussex draw level with Warwickshire on points but go above because of winning one more game.
LeicesterExile wrote:
GerryShedd wrote:
Even better for them if it rained in Southampton.
I'm entitled to senior moments!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me too!
Even better for them if it rained in Southampton.
Looking at the bottom of the table, it’s getting interesting at Southampton.
A happy 90th birthday to ex-Bear Bob Barber. I saw his 100 before lunch for Warwickshire v the Australians in 1964. What a player! And he could bowl a bit too.
In his final match, Chris Wright has reached 600 first-class wickets. A fitting end to a great career.
Interview with Keith here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cr70j4xxylgo
The Twitter/X poster who posts under the pseudonym W G Rumblepants (at least, I hope it's just a pseudonym) has written about Chris Woakes what I think many of us feel:
"If this is indeed the end, and I’m genuinely extremely sorry if that’s the case- it sounds like it is - then I still think this [his last batting appearance with him arm in a sling] was a hell of a way to go out. It’s was a heroic way to go and I loved him for it. I know many others did. English cricket was lucky to have him."
As for who voted for what, it isn't totally clear but The Cricketer says: "We know that Surrey wanted 14 games, ideally with an eight-team top flight; we know that Somerset, Derbyshire, Middlesex and Yorkshire, too, wanted 14 games, but not necessarily in the same way"
Considering his heroism in batting with his shoulder dislocated and his arm in a sling plus his overall record for England, I think that Chris Woakes deserved better than to be on the receiving end of Rob Key's dismissive remarks. As I understand it, he really needed an operation on his shoulder in order to have a permanent solution; but he opted for physio and other treatment specifically to try to be fit for the Ashes. If he hasn't recovered enough to be fit for the Ashes, that's a shame. But I don't think Rob Key needed to say publicly that he wasn't in England's future plans. He could have said it privately and Chris might then have opted to announce his retirement from international cricket and gone with dignity.
By the way, George Dobell says that Chris might go back to county cricket or go down the franchise route; but he says that: "it is, perhaps, more likely that he moves into coaching and the media."
Andy wrote:
OHD so broken by it all he can't even bring himself to play today!
I don't want to pile in on OHD too strongly because I know he has to represent the views of his members. But his own season's workload has hardly been burdensome. He has played ten four day games plus six one dayers and one t20 (max 47 days). He has bowled 334 overs in the season. Taking a year from the past at random - say, 1951 when Warwickshire won the Championship - Derek Shackleton of Hampshire, a bowler of fairly similar pace to OH-D, played 31 three day matches (max 93 days) and bowled 1171 overs.
Quite a difference!
Yes, Stuart Cain says:
"One positive to come out of this is the desire of those on the Committee to further strengthen links with the Members they serve, and they’ve already discussed a number of initiatives for next season that will hopefully help achieve this.”
Northwalesbear wrote:
Highveld wrote:
Live scores link
https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m6a91ef02-15b3-4141-b3d7-6febd3d2bc21
If Kai isn't given time in the team, how is he going to improve his keeping? He should be the first choice keeper in all forms of the game.
I agree. I would also point out that Kai has a higher batting average that Davies in the CC this season, but that would be churlish.
Almost as churlish as Alex Davies' comments about Kai's keeping.
Congratulations and thanks to those counties who stood firm and resisted all the pressures from the ECB and the PCA.
No place for Chris Woakes in the Ashes squad.
Preview here:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/nottinghamshire-vs-warwickshire-24th-september-2025/#match-match-previews
Not much really about the match or the team, mainly Alex Davies talking about Kai Smith. The gist, in relation to his keeping, is that he's been rubbish but he may get better.