GerryShedd
Super Moderator
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.
A fantastic end to the Commonwealth Games cricket tournament with a full Edgbaston seeing the Final go to the last over before Australia, the best team, just won.
I get the impression that quite a few of the crowd were not regular cricket watchers, so that's great for the game.
Special praise for groundsman Gary Barwell and his team for, as usual, producing a great pitch.
I'm not sufficiently close to the situation to know for sure, though I suspect that Lancashire may be over-reacting. I was just making the point that it is a common tactic. As for the two parties being opponents, they certainly aren't best mates, as evidenced by the Lancashire statement that "it is necessary to distance ourselves from LAG and any individuals associated with it."
There must be hope that the new Chair of the ECB is a supporter of County Cricket:
https://www.cricketworld.com/richard-thompson-named-as-chair-of-the-england-and-wales-cricket-board/80419.htm
Whilst what seems to have happened at Lancashire is regrettable, my concern would be that it is a familiar tactic that, if you can't win the argument, you can always bad mouth your opponents.
Great to see Edgbaston bursting at the seams today for England v India semi-final; and an excellent game won by India by just four runs.
No doubt the Indian fans will turn out again in force for the final tomorrow.
Ed Barnard hit his highest ever list A score of 85 not out today in a losing cause against Hampshire.
Anyone who thinks that Sibley shouldn't be selected by the Bears because he is leaving will get their wish for at least one game next week. It may be a case of beware what you wish for because the batting could look thin without him:
https://edgbaston.com/news/dom-sibley-named-in-england-lions-squad/
We seem to be at a halfway house where the word Birmingham has been discreetly dropped but the word Warwickshire hasn't been added. Maybe next year, the W word will creep back in - but I'm not holding my breath.
I agree that Cheltenham is a great place to watch cricket.
It was a good batting performance, though some of the Gloucestershire bowling was dire. Yates looked like the player he was last year and Sibley paced his innings beautifully.
I never thought I would have to duck to avoid being hit by a Sibley six. The guy behind me got hit on the shoulder so maybe I should have caught it.