A short term signing:
https://edgbaston.com/news/bears-secure-karl-carver-for-royal-london-cup/

I agree that we are still missing Keith Barker - not just his left arm bowling but also his contributions with the bat, usually from number 8 in the order.
Although I don't know the full story, I am aware that Keith Barker had personal reasons for wanting to move to Hampshire that were nothing to do with either Giles or the club.

Bearing in mind that Sidebottom went off part way through the Notts innings and then batted with a runner, I fear that we may need to add him to the walking wounded list. The situation with quick bowlers is almost as bad as it was two years ago. I know that Paul Farbrace said that he was changing the training routines to avoid the same problems arising but it doesn't seem to have worked too well.
As for the weather, the pessimist in me thinks that the main worry is that the predicted storms will hold off and won't save the Bears from another defeat. But let's hope that the sun and the Bears both shine tomorrow.

Probably the first time in my (long) life that I've seen the Bears lose two matches in four days.
I thought that Haseeb Hameed and Yates scored equally composed centuries, though Hameed had better support than Yates.
Based on their batting techniques, I think I'd rather have the two of them opening for England in the first Test against India ahead of both Dom Sibley or Rory Burns, though I accept that it's too soon for Yates to make the step up and we could do with him scoring his runs for the Bears for a bit longer,

paulbear wrote:

The result would suggest that S.A walked over England but it was a very even contest for 80% of the game until the S.A changing room kept feeding out things to the middle that they'd seen on replays and Cronje asked the umpires to keep checking. They did eventually which was not within the rules, no DRS then, the umpires then went to pieces as England got at least 4 shockers which tilted the game. The umpiring was atrocious on that tour, Graham Hick got so used to being given out to leg-side LBW's that on the umpteenth occasion he went back to the pavilion, laughing his head off.

Whilst I think there's a lot of truth in that, you have to give credit to the two Bears (Donald and Pollock) who between them took 14 wickets in the match. And England did lose by 10 wickets.
It was a long way to travel to see England lose all three matches that we saw - the Test plus 50 overs games against Western Province and South Africa.

I remember seeing Paul Adams at Cape Town when South Africa walked all over England back in 1995/6.
I thought of him this week at Cardiff when I saw Kiel van Vollenhoven bowl. He's right arm, of course, but there was a slight hint of the Adams action in his delivery.

George takes aim again:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/want-the-truth-about-the-hundred-it-s-smoke-mirrors-and-gimmickry-1270805
I seem to recall pointing out the inappropriate nature of choosing the name Phoenix for a Birmingham based team way back when it was first announced but I think George is the only other person that has picked up on that, so maybe its not big deal to most people.

Interesting article about Jake in The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/23/jake-lintott-reviving-english-left-arm-wrist-spin-after-half-a-century?utm_term=f828c9344b5a8cb5687444c48a354fa9&utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUK&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=GTUK_email

My main impression, after a brief viewing, is that it's still cricket, so if it can enthuse a new audience, so much the better.
My objections remain.
Firstly, it is seeking to create new loyalties outside the county game and I am at heart very much a Warwickshire supporter. I can just about cope with the Birmingham Bears because they are basically Warwickshire under another name whereas the Phoenix are a whole different squad with no real links to the Warwickshire side other than sharing a home ground.
My second objection is that we already had an overcrowded fixture list with the Championship, the 50 over competition and T20, so adding in The Hundred has meant squeezing the Championship, the premier county competition, into the edges of the season and relegating the 50 over competition, where England are World Champions, into little better than a second team contest.

I enjoyed the match yesterday even though Sophia Gardens isn't my favourite ground. I thought most of the young players acquitted themselves pretty well.
With Tim Bresnan, Henry Brookes, Olly Hannon-Dalby, Dan Mousley, Liam Norwell and Olly Stone all out injured and other players out because of the match against the Indians and because of The Hundred, I thought it was a good effort for the chosen eleven to have come so close to winning.

Players come and go but I'm really sad about this retirement:
https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/9392/poysden-announces-retirement-from-cricket
I interviewed Josh when he made his debut for the Bears and he came across as such a lovely guy as well as a very dedicated and hard-working cricketer.
Martyn Moxon says: "He has been a great influence on and off the field and a highly respected member of the squad. Josh is a lovely person and we wish him all the best for the future.”
Likewise, I wish him a great future in whatever he decides to do.

The only people who seem to be speaking up for The Hundred as we near its launch date are those who are either paid by the ECB or paid by one of the broadcasting organisations to promote it as the next big thing in cricket. Just about everyone else, including existing cricket fans, want nothing to do with it.
So you could say that opinion is divided.
It reminds me of the conversation between Edmund Blackadder and Captain Rum when their ship is drifting aimlessly:
Edmund: I was under the impression that it was common maritime practice
for a ship to have a crew.
Rum: Opinion is divided on the subject.
Edmund: Oh, really?
Rum: Yes. All the other captains say it is; I say it isn’t.
Edmund: Oh, God; Mad as a brush.

Craig Miles 3-41

Ex-Bears Rikki Clarke and Tim Groenewald are both retiring:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/57899218
https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/news/groenewald-retires-from-professional-cricket/

I'm cheating a bit because it isn't county cricket but I thought this might be of interest to some.
A friend of a friend has a podcast in which he is seeking to interview every one of the 45 living cricketers who only played in one Ashes Test. It's worth a listen:
https://onceuponatimeintheashes.com/
Boyd Rankin is on the list.

I suppose that lots of players have had back surgery and come back as good as or better than ever. But it's a bit worrying because if ti goes wrong, his whole career is ended.
Best wishes to him for a full and speedy recovery.

I've just broken the news to my Lancastrian friend. His reaction was:
"He's a cocky little bu***r."
I think that, if Davies had been staying, he would have said something like:
"He plays with great confidence."

I agree that he's a great acquisition, though I though that Michael Burgess had the wicket keeper/batsman slot sorted for the next decade. Not sure where this leaves him, unless one or the other plays just as a batsman.

Just out of interest, what do we think of Yorkshire's sporting gesture when Lancashire's Steven Croft collapsed in agony in mid-pitch with what turned out to be cramp and the Yorkshire fielders declined to run him out? Croft recovered and went on to win the match for Lancashire.
The fact that this might be the difference between the Bears qualifying and being eliminated will not, of course, influence our views in any way.

My friend from Lancashire is visiting me today so that should be fun, watching it on TV with him. Could be the end of a great friendship!