GerryShedd
Super Moderator
BristolBear wrote:
I might just be a sceptic, but as fantastic as that was. It terrifies me for later in the competition.
Especially when they get Salt, Gleeson and Butler back in.Just hope this isn’t a peak too early sort of season (again).
One of the great things about this site is the range of opinions expressed; and I realise that few people would mistake the average Bears fan for a ray of sunshine. But this is a very pessimistic view.
Whilst I agree that we have a decent chance of getting to Finals Day, the reality is that we have so far beaten two of the weaker teams in the Group in Yorkshire (played three, lost three) and Leicestershire (played two, lost two).
Tomorrow will be a big test.
Here's a preview from the Lancashire perspective, though they have some nice things to say about Sam Hain:
https://cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk/news/2023-news/match-preview-birmingham-bears-vs-lancashire-lightning/
The answer is Gary Wilson, who played a first class match for Ireland against UAE in the Intercontinental Cup on 2-5 June 2015, which ended when UAE were bowled out after four balls on the fourth morning. Wilson kept wicket in that innings.
He then flew to London where he played for Surrey v Essex in the T20 blast, making a fifth ball duck!
Incidentally, Stirling scored a hundred for Ireland against Essex today.
All wrong, I'm afraid.
Unless someone comes up with the right answer, I'll put you out of your misery a bit later.
Regarding Paul Stirling being on the team sheet of two matches on the same day (Ireland v Essex and Bears v Foxes), I thought this would be unique. But someone has pointed out that another Irish player managed the same feat - and unlike Stirling, he actually got on the field in both matches, which were in separate countries!
Anyone want to hazard a guess as to who it was?
That was a pretty good win overall, with Maxwell looking like a great signing and Sam Hain and Danny Briggs each doing what they do so well.
Henry Brookes had a horror match both with his bowling and his fielding - difficult to understand the change from the Yorkshire game other than to say "that's cricket".
Bizarrely, Paul Stirling is playing for Ireland at Chelmsford and also for the Bears. He didn't take the field today for Ireland but will presumably be there tomorrow to bat.
Me too!
Sometimes I wish it wasn't.
Tim Bresnan fined £4,000 plus given a three match suspension in the unlikely event that he plays again.
Looks like the Bears fell a few runs short:
https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#mdd94d3fd-a09b-408d-b5aa-29e1abe8bc06_~scorecard
Maybe 41 off 39 balls from Rhodes wasn't quite fast enough and shows why he isn't a first team choice in T20.
Seems like an exciting finish at Barnt Green:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/second-xi/worcestershire-vs-warwickshire-24-may-2023/#match-match-reports
I agree with Exiled Bear on this.
I'm not very well up on contractual matters; but I thought that ECB regulations didn't allow counties to approach a player still in contract until later in the season.
When I said Woakes not available because Ireland Test starts three days later, I was talking nonsense - it's three days after the Lancs game. But I still think that the ECB may hold him back from playing v Leicestershire.
As for Stirling, my guess is he will play even though Ireland will presumably want him for the Test.
I would have thought that, with the Ireland Test starting only three days later, Chris Woakes is unlikely to be available.
The Hasan injury looked quite bad but maybe ice, rest and physio will have sorted him out. I can't see the Club taking any risks with his long term fitness so my guess is that, if it's marginal, he won't play.
Stirling should definitely be available. Davies did a good job of hiding him in safe places in the field against Yorkshire.
Regarding cities v counties, what ECB Chair Richard Thompson has to say in The Cricketer is interesting:
""Cities are crucial to us because of the huge population in those areas. And also a lot of diverse communities live in cities. So that's where we as a game need to play. So I think it certainly will be reflected in the County Partnership Agreement version two, ensuring that those areas don't get overlooked."
Back to the day - here are my reflections:
https://deepextracover.com/2023/05/blast-off/
BosworthBear wrote:
I always feel a bit alienated in T20 due to the Birmingham Bears shambles.
But delicious to hear Nasser Hussain, Mike Atherton, Shan Masood, Sam Hain and Steven Finn all refer to a great “Warwickshire” victory.
Surely now is the time to correct the historic wrong and play as Warwickshire again? Such an easy win for the Club! That’s our name, our identity and our heritage!
Although it's only a halfway house, it does seem that the Club has dropped the Birmingham title and just refers now to The Bears. Maybe the Warwickshire name will creep back in.