Warwickshire CCC unofficial fans forum
bearsfans.org.uk
default profile picture

GerryShedd

Super Moderator
Last seen 10 hours ago
Joined:
Posts:
1995
Topics:
227

Sam ended on 165 not out so the updated figures are that since the start of last season, he has scored 1421 first class runs for Warwickshire at an average of just under 75.
Maybe he was able to study Zak Crawley's innings at close hand to see how a real Test batter performs.

I know that Nevil Road has hosted international cricket but I'm talking about the main Test match grounds. Taunton, too, has staged international cricket as has Grace Road where play has been abandoned for the second consecutive day; but you only have to look at the covering and drying facilities available at those grounds compared with the Test grounds like Edgbaston to see the difference - and that's before we talk about the money spent on re-doing the drains at the major grounds.
Anyway, let's hope that we get to see some cricket later.

Just to emphasise the point about the difference between Test grounds and the rest, the game at Bristol has been abandoned already without a ball being bowled.
Hopefully, the next inspection at Edgbaston will produce some play.
Who will be County Champions if this weather continues? Forget the team with the best batters, bowlers and all-rounders - go for the team with the best groundsman and the best drains.

I think the amount of play tomorrow will be a good test of how much better the drainage is at Test grounds than the rest such as Taunton and Bristol. The Test grounds have been supported and encouraged by the ECB to spend money on drainage so we shall see if it was well spent.
With fewer pints for a draw this year, any team playing at a ground where time lost can be minimised will have a big advantage.

If the forecast is right, this looks like being another three day game.

Apparently, the Somerset commentary team last week were suggesting that he wouldn't be selected because he isn't a Bazball type of player.
We shall see!

As things stand right now, with Sam not out overnight, he has scored 1380 runs in first class cricket for Warwickshire since the start of last season at an average of almost 73.
Maybe, if he works hard enough to improve, he will one day be good enough to play for England.

I'm sure that Rob Yates can put last season's form behind him and go on to a successful career.
As for Alex Davies, he is probably propelled forward by the tide of goodwill emanating from this site.

Here's my preview of the match:
https://deepextracover.com/2023/04/warwickshire-ccc-vs-kent-ccc-match-preview/
The weather seems to hold the key - let's hope the forecasters are being unduly pessimistic.

Selection might depend on whether spin is likely to come into the equation. If not, Bethell might be the unlucky one, which would be a shame because I think he is a player that needs a run in the side.

In 2016, the ECB predicted that The Hundred would make a profit of £27 million a year. The ECB now says that it has made a profit so far of £11.8 million.
However, a 120 page report by Worcestershire Chair Fanos Hira, a chartered accountant, says that it has actually made a loss of £9 million. And that doesn't include the additional £24.7 million paid by the ECB to the counties and MCC, part of the original deal the counties made in 2019 in return for supporting the new competition. If it did, the total losses from the first two years of the competition — including extra money paid out to venues as staging costs — would be £37.1 million

Who do you believe?

Difficult to know who might drop out. If Norwell and Briggs happened to be fit again, it would make it even more difficult.
Bethell looked good in his short innings yesterday and I think it would be good for him to get a run of a few games.

Fourth day report:
https://deepextracover.com/2023/04/somerset-v-warwickshire-day-four/
I thought the Somerset bowlers contained Sam Hain well early on, plus he didn't get a lot of the strike. But if Warwickshire fail to win the Championship by a single point, we will know who to blame.

PS - how about Chris Wright steering Leicestershire to almost 400 to beat the Yorkies?

Surprisingly, it looks as if Lintott wasn't picked up by anyone - see the full squads here:
https://www.skysports.com/the-hundred/news/36888/12841357/the-hundred-how-the-mens-and-womens-squads-look-for-2023-after-player-draft

I think we can assume that Somerset's 'arry is not 'appy:
https://deepextracover.com/2023/04/somerset-vs-warwickshire-day-three-report/

Yes, received mine in the post on Thursday.

My colleague (and Exiled Bear's mate) Harry Everett sums up day two (or is it day one?):
https://deepextracover.com/2023/04/somerset-v-warwickshire-at-taunton/

kevandmac wrote:

Don't recall seeing Michael Burgess drop one like that before

Give Davies the gloves!
(Only joking!)

As for rainfall levels, in the week to April 4th, the South West of England had 38 mm of rain. Only the South East with 31 mm came anywhere close. In March, the South West had 171 mm, with the South East next at 124mm. So not surprising that Taunton had problems.
I must get out more (maybe to watch some cricket).

I think maybe another factor in the rain delay issue is that (I think) the Test Match grounds got ECB funding several years ago to improve drainage but other grounds such as Taunton didn't. It was noticeable yesterday that the Test match grounds - Lord's, Old Trafford etc. - got matches off to a prompter start than the other grounds. That could mean that, with reduced points for a draw this season, the counties playing at Test grounds will have an advantage in getting more results.