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

Apparently Sam Hain has a back strain.

I hope the problem with Sam Hain is a short-term injury. I have felt that he has been out of sorts all season so I hope that it isn't a problem that has been brewing in the background.

A pity he misses the Yorkshire game.

That's good news.
He was born in the town of Snug (in Tasmania) so I like the thought of a Bear from Snug.

The Taunton match was almost exactly 12 years ago - and he faced the same number of balls (62) as he did today.

BosworthBear wrote:

GerryShedd wrote:

Another to add to OHD's list of heroic innings - 62 balls faced to achieve a draw.

I was thinking earlier of the game which might have been his debut when he held on batting injured I think at Taunton

Yes, I was there. He had a broken hand. Ian Bell said that if OHD had retired hurt, he would personally have broken his other hand (don't think he meant it!).

The latest from The Cricketer says:
"The Cricketer has been told that the current, preferred direction of travel pitched to players would see a reduction from 14 to 12 in both the County Championship and the T20 Blast group stage.
It is understood that the Championship would, most likely, remain a two-tier competition, with 10 teams in the top flight. It is already the case that counties don't all play each other home and away, and – without dividing two divisions into three – it appears unlikely that a solution to that particular problem is imminent.
The Blast, though, could well be shifted into three, further regionalised pools, with six teams per group each playing one another home and away, while also playing one team in each of the other pools on a rotational basis."

This all seems to be based on what the players want with still no mention of how the views of spectators are to be canvasssed.

Another to add to OHD's list of heroic innings - 62 balls faced to achieve a draw.

Brookes certainly thought it was no catch and on the replay, it looked dubious. Not sure what role the square leg umpire played because he was the official with the best view.
Anyway, a remarkable effort by Ethan Brookes - a last wicket stand of 64 with seven sixes and his partner on 0.

Worth looking at the on-line stream for the Chelmsford game before it's all over - Ethan Brookes blossoming.