Whilst waiting to see what has happened to his application for a job at the ECB, George writes an interesting article:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/george-dobell-ecb-hypocrisy-and-double-standards-in-pakistan-tour-cancellation-could-lose-them-friends-1278788

Here's my preview of the match:
https://deepextracover.com/2021/09/lvcc-match-preview-warwickshire-v-somerset/

paulbear wrote:

Cannot see why they won't let him play because if he decided to take up his IPL contract, he would be playing and doing lots of travelling anyway.

It's never wise to apply logic when trying to understand what the ECB are doing. From what I understand, Chris was originally only going to be allowed to play in one of the two last games but the pressure was put on by the club to allow him to play in both.
From that, I would guess if the Bears finish in the top two and get to play in the Bob Willis Trophy final next week at Lord's Chris Woakes will miss out, which will be a shame.

From what Will Rhodes was saying today, I can't see Bresnan missing out - but you never know.

With nothing to play for, Somerset might have played a weakened team but it doesn't look like it:
https://www.somersetcountycc.co.uk/news/first-xi/county-championship-preview-warwickshire-v-somerset/

According to Will Rhodes, Danny Briggs is fit again. He developed a neck problem on the way up to Headingley - one of the more bizarre injuries in an injury-full season for the Bears.
Chris Woakes is available, though Will Rhodes says that the Club had to lean heavily on the ECB to let him play.

Although the Bears (other than Hugh and Carmen) weren't there, I think we should give credit to the Club for organising another fantastic Finals Day.
And maybe there is some consolation for the Bears in having been beaten in the Quarter Final by Kent, the eventual winners.
Congratulations to Sam Billings and his victorious team, especially to Jordan Cox for his match-winning innings plus two catches - the one that was disallowed and the one that he doesn't get credit for in the scorebook because he parried the ball back when he was seemingly hovering in the air behind the boundary.

You may not want to listen to the whole of this interview with the Pears' Chairman - he seems a little too pleased with himself for my liking. But I did find interesting his views on The Hundred (from about 21 minutes and 30 seconds in) - in simple terms, he says that if you throw enough money and marketing at a tournament, it will succeed; and he wishes that the ECB would properly promote all forms of cricket rather than putting nearly all their eggs in one basket:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42B6NNvtADQ

Maybe no surprise but confirmation that O H-D won't be fit for the last game(s:
https://edgbaston.com/news/ohd-great-to-see-the-way-the-boys-have-performed/?utm_campaign=12666884_Warwickshire%20Members%20Newsletter%20%2817.09%29&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Warwickshire%20CCC&dm_i=1AFS,7JHTW,8II8VY,UOQ8N,1

But on a more positive note, I believe that Chris Wright has just been (somewhat belatedly) awarded his county cap by Leicestershire, having achieved a career best score of 87 and taken a six wicket haul in his last two matches.

Yes, I think there were disciplinary issues related to his departure from Edgbaston.
What a wasted talent!

David Hopps, in his Cricinfo report, extracts some humour from the Thompson situation:
".. it appeared that time was frozen. The deflection off the bat could have been spotted from one of the flights passing over the ground to Leeds Bradford Airport, but Thompson presumably has been schooled in "We Walk For Nowt" principles. Thompson waited for umpire Neil Mallender, Mallender (a fellow Yorkie) was not about to raise his finger for something so obvious, and a gentle stand-off occurred before Thompson decided that nobody really wanted him to stick around any more."

Lilly wrote:

If only we'd played Bressy over Holder in the last match for the control he gives...

Also he took six catches in the second innings - as the match report says: "He is only the third Bear to achieve that feat in first-class cricket alongside Rikki Clarke with seven and MJK Smith six."

Championship table:
Hampshire 58.5 points
Warwickshire 55
Lancashire 54.5
Nottinghamshire 52
Yorkshire 41.5
Somerset 26.5

An excellent win - and credit to all the bowlers used. It sets up a fascinating match against Somerset next week.

Mikkyk wrote:

Not sure I've ever seen a batsman refuse to walk after edging to first slip like Thompson just did!

Stuart Broad did it in a Test v Australia - but I agree that it's slightly bizarre. In the case of Broad, the Australians were infuriated because the umpire gave it not out and they had no reviews left.

Not wishing to tempt fate but - looking good so far this morning!

Hampshire have won, with thanks due to Keith Barker - career best figures of 7-46 and 48 runs in a low-scoring game.

Davies was keeping at Taunton today and managed two neat stumpings.

FuerteventuraBear wrote:

Hain faced 2 balls and was out twice.

A king pair for Sam; and also a pair today at Taunton for Tom Abell.
Hain and Abell - an almost biblical quadruple failure.