GerryShedd
Super Moderator
....and news from the Middlesex camp:
https://www.middlesexccc.com/news/2022/08/squad-preview-middlesex-v-warwickshire-royal-london-cup
Preview here:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/middlesex-vs-warwickshire-19-august-2022/#match-match-previews
No Pandya in the squad but I haven't seen any updates about the extent/nature of his injury.
Signed for the Championship run-in.
https://edgbaston.com/news/warwickshire-sign-india-bowler-mohammed-siraj-for-county-championship-run-in/
Table looking a bit tight:
https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/one-day-cup/tables
You couldn't quite say that we outbatted or outbowled Notts but we certainly outfielded them and that made all the difference.
Bears' squad:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/warwickshire-vs-nottinghamshire-17-august-2022/#match-match-previews
Place your bets as to which of Hamza Shaikh or Kai Smith plays.
I respect what coolerking is saying.
Whilst I have done my best to avoid reading anything positive about The Hundred, I did glance at this:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-hundred-2022-birmingham-embraces-the-hundred-as-new-tournament-finds-its-poise-1329383
If you want to get depressed about the future of cricket whilst having a wry smile, read this:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-light-roller-death-by-t20-league-its-real-its-coming-1329215
It's the weekend so maybe time for a not too difficult quiz question.
I was born in Bentley Heath; and there is one international cricketer who went to the primary school there. Who was/is it?
A clue: it wasn't me, partly because I didn't actually go to that school and, well, you know the other reason.
I agree about Kai Smith. If the coaching staff believe he has the ability to play as a batter, he needs to be in the top 6 (or just maybe at 7). Hiding him away at 8 or 9 does him and the team no favours. Hamza Shaikh, aged 16, was thrown in to open and did well until Yates ran him out. It would be a shame if he goes to make way for Sibley and Kai Smith stays but continues to bat at 8 or 9.
Sibley returns to the squad:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/leicestershire-vs-warwickshire-14-august-2022/#match-match-previews
I hope the bowlers are suitably rested after their efforts in the heat.
I agree about Hildreth.
If the Bears want to sign a promising young player, it looks as though Darren Stevens will be available next year.
Here's my take on the game:
https://deepextracover.com/2022/08/warwickshire-vs-sussex-match-report/
I had two different reports in my head and didn't know which one to write until after the last ball.
Yes, I hope Simmons gets a game. He could shake up a few batters.
News of the Bears' squad:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/warwickshire-vs-sussex-12-august-2022/
News of the Sussex squad.
https://sussexcricket.co.uk/news/squad-named-trip-edgbaston
they seem to have plenty of injury issues.
We won't be seeing much more of Miles in the RLODC this year:
https://edgbaston.com/news/miles-selected-as-northern-superchargers-replacement/
"Gizza job, I could do that!" says Allan.
Because I was at Nevil Road watching Gloucestershire yesterday, I missed the game so, having read the comments on here, I thought I had better watch the last hour on You-tube, which I've now done.
Setting aside any partisan thoughts, it was a terrific game of cricket, with a good crowd (who were allowed on the outfield between innings).
I thought that Kimber played an excellent innings for Surrey, so he deserves credit for that.
What went wrong for the Bears? The fielding was patchy, with Lamb and Rhodes dropping chances and at least a couple of ones becoming twos that shouldn't have happened. Miles shouldn't be bowling high full tosses that produce a free hit. Yates shouldn't have bowled his third over. Pandya having to go off briefly injured probably messed up the bowling plans.
BUT - that's cricket. There were two sides out there and Surrey played well at the death, just as the Bears played well earlier in the Surrey innings. So just a little bit of credit needs to go to them. And luck comes into it. There were a few plays and misses towards the end which, if the batsman had been good enough to get an edge, the game would have been over and we would have been celebrating.
Let's hope, by the way, that Pandya is fit for the next game - and maybe give the Club a tiny amount of praise for signing him - he looks to be both talented and highly motivated, which can't be said of every overseas signing.
In a couple of weeks' time, we shall know whether this was just a blip in a successful campaign or evidence that the team are just not up to the task.