Inside-edge wrote:

Bears women are in the Women’s Blast final having just won their semi-final.

They play Surrey women at 4:30pm at the Oval.

Being shown on Sky Sports Mix.

Yes, well done to them for the semi-finalwin and especially to Issy Wong - a half century and four wickets.

The Cricketer says:
A two-thirds consensus has been reached on a reduction of games in the Men's T20 Blast for next season and beyond. The expectation is that by shrinking the group stage from 14 to 12 games per county, losing one home match each, the competition will become more wedded to certain days, with the hope of creating a product that is easier for spectators to follow.
A return to the regionalised groups, which existed for the Blast's first seven years until 2010, would see Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire from the existing North Group, and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Glamorgan from the existing South Group merge to form what was formerly known as the Midlands/Wales/West Division.
it is likely that T20 Blast Finals Day, which has flitted through the competition's lifespan between mid-season and the end of the campaign, is set to revert to mid-July, so as to play out the entire tournament before The Hundred.
The future shape of the County Championship, though, remains less certain. There are 10 counties that are believed to have agreed to a 12-game model, with a 12-team top division, split across two pools. At least 12, though, are required in order to affect change. One county are understood to be considering abstaining; it is very possible that the Championship will remain in its current structure.

Has there been any confirmation of this from the Club or elsewhere? Not doubting Andy's post but it's something the Club should be telling us.

He should be fine for the One Day Cupid he's bowling again in the Birmingham League.

A great result and good to read all the positive comments on here.

Devon_Bear wrote:

It's been an excellent innings from Malik, he has played a responsible innings so far. Webster too has been very good, if these two can stay together for another hour then we should have a great chance of winning this match.

Well shucks, hush your mouth there. You sure is tempting fate!

I was at the Cheltenham Festival yesterday and had the privilege of meeting Bob Barber (90 later this year) who spoke warmly about his days at Edgbaston and about his old Warwickshire and England captain, M.J.K. Smith.
I also met Andy Moles who spoke about the early 1990s team that won everything and how they had a culture of everybody wanting everybody else to succeed.
A good crowd at the Festival and some interesting cricket played.

According to reports, the injury was incurred while playing for us:
"Hasan Ali, Pakistan fast bowler has confirmed that Warwickshire County Cricket Club will oversee the treatment for his elbow injury, which he sustained during the ongoing County Cricket season. The 30-year-old was forced to return home early in July due to the severity of the injury, which has significantly impacted his performance. Hasan Ali sought assistance from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, the PCB directed him to Warwickshire for support, as the injury occurred while he was playing for the club. The PCB clarified that since Hasan was fit when he joined Warwickshire, the responsibility for his treatment and recovery lies with the county club."

Playing for Middlesex seconds isn't quite the future that was once predicted for Henry Brookes. As for Manraj Johal, I was disappointed that he didn't really progress after a good start - another failure for the Bears' bowling coaches. So I hope that he makes it at Middlesex or elsewhere.

Gloucestershire's Tom Price is joining Sussex.
He almost doomed the Bears to relegation in 2022 when he took 8-27; but overall,he hasn't quite fulfilled that potential.

Highveld wrote:

With Gilchrist and Thompson joining there is no need to waste the money giving Hassan Ali another paid holiday at the clubs expense, and the club will be able to sign an overseas player who intends to fully honour his contract with the club.

You know that this is one of the few matters on which you and I disagree.
Hasan Ali had a serious elbow injury and has also been called up several times by Pakistan; but when he has played, he has always given 100%, taken wickets and (occasionally) scored important runs.

It doesn't seem to have reached the Bears website yet; but Nathan Gilchrist is signing from Kent:
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/sport/gilchrist-to-make-kent-departure-327501/

I think I'm normally one of the least pessimistic posters on here. But I have to say that I am very depressed about the future of the county game that I have loved and followed for so many years.
I was reminded recently that, all of six and a half years ago, I wrote an article setting out three alternative scenarios for the future of county cricket. In the most gloomy scenario, I said that "county cricket, as we have known it, will slowly die over the next five years." I concluded: "Just like Blockbuster Video Hire shops, steam trains, red telephone boxes and Woolworth’s Pick ‘n’ Mix, county cricket’s time will have come and gone."
Sadly, I think that I was not far wrong.

Apparently it is to do with the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which caused the Indian team to withdraw in protest.
https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2025/07/20/world-championship-legends-india-pakistan-match-cancelled.html

It's announced that this will be Samit Patel's last game for Derbyshire.

Exiled Bear wrote:

What’s the progress looking like towards getting an SGM?

I suspect that the numbers aren't there, which is a great shame.

To be fair, I don't think that OH-D is doing favours for his county bosses. As Chair of the PCA, he is expressing the views of his members, with which he may or may not agree.

mad wrote:

As each sob story is trotted out one wonders why they don't have it written into their contracts as individual players that they'll only play a certain number of games in a certain timeframe. Then let the county clubs arrange salaries, fixtures and squads to cope with what players will or will not tolerate being able to put their bodies through. Squads are massive now, the loans system used like never before, rotation of playing squads is surely the answer as is unblocking the schedule so there is less travelling to do in mid season

I agree with this; and it is in line with what I quoted the Somerset Chair as saying:
"We are very sympathetic to this [player workload], particularly our players who play all formats but see this as a situation for the Club to manage in partnership with players and coaching and science and medicine staff – it is not the job of the fixtures."

Information re the Derbyshire squad:
https://cricket.derbyshireccc.com/2025/07/pre-match-pack-friday-finale-double-header-h/

George Dobell in The Cricketer says:
"At the time he moved to Warwickshire - a move which coincided with Liam Norwell's move in the same direction - Miles was seen as a potential England prospect."
Maybe that's stretching things a bit.
And in conclusion, I agree that we all wish Craig well in this third phase of his career.