GerryShedd
Super Moderator
Somebody (can't imagine who it might have been) said last week:
"Sad to say it while still in March, but we do not have a good opening batsmen."
Latest score from match v Northants: Warwickshire 180-0.
Answer to the question - no, responsibility is with Dermot; and to be fair, that is what he says in the article.
I recall interviewing Dermot in 2019 at Edgbaston at the launch of Patrick Murphy's book about the 1994 season. He told a fascinating story, the only problem being that he just didn't stop. Everyone was waiting to start the event and Dermot was still in full flow. I had long since stopped asking questions but he was still talking. Eventually he was told to stop and the event began!
I agree that it is a sad story, not least because Dermot was such a hero to all Bears fans thirty years ago.
Andy wrote:
The Bears team of the early/mid 90s absolutely LOVED the packet.
I think that's a bit of a sweeping generalisation - and Dermot in the article says:
"It wasn't until I worked in the media that I took drugs. I never did as a player."
And reading Paul Smith's autobiography, he talks about the (non-cricketing) circle of friends that got him into drugs and nowhere suggests that other players also indulged.
There's quite a sad article in the latest edition of The Cricketer where ex-Bear Dermot Reeve laments his twenty years of drug taking.
He claims to have had only two "brief" relapses in the last six years; but one of these, as described by him, certainly wasn't minor: "My third wife was unwell...and I took a huge quantity of cocaine....I gambled away our entire savings in online casinos....My wife left me."
His third marriage in 2019 had seemed like a happy story - his wife Nicola was the granddaughter of old Warwickshire steward Billy Carson. Maybe there has been a reconciliation but he doesn't say.
He says several times that he hopes that his story will deter others - "I hope it convinces at least one person not to go down the road I went down."
Let's hope he can steer clear of that road himself from now on.
Probably only relevant to any London-based Bears - but Jonathan Trott will be speaking to The Cricket Society on the afternoon of Tuesday, 6th May at the Union Jack Club in London.
Tickets are available on the Cricket Society website.
As Mark Twain said, never let facts get in the way of a good story.
Since the new coaching structure came into place, there have been quite a few contract extensions signed. Here's another one:
https://edgbaston.com/news/george-garton-signs-new-bears-deal/
sdobbs wrote:
There's a two day friendly on march 25-26 Vs Northampton at Edgbaston listed on https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=c_matches#c8f6422d9-d87f-4fd9-9084-95f59dc0d112 and a corresponding 2nd XI fixture at Portland road. Behind closed doors?
Confirmed - behind closed doors.
Not sure where he disappeared to. I've edited to put him back in.
Thanks for spotting that!
OH-D speaks out on behalf of bowlers:
https://x.com/brainhaldorf/status/1901919161623687614
Coincidentally, my season preview is on Deep Extra Cover today - I don't think we disagree on too much. I put Danny Briggs in the four day side because otherwise the length of the tail scared me:
https://deepextracover.com/2025/03/warwickshire-season-preview-2025/
You win some, you lose some:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/warwickshire-v-essex-friendly-15-march/#match-match-reports
Dan has signed a new contract:
https://edgbaston.com/news/mousley-signs-new-two-year-warwickshire-contract/
Great news that Sam will be a Bear for at least the next four seasons (until end 2028)
https://edgbaston.com/news/hain-signs-warwickshire-contract-extension/
George Dobell says:
"The appointment might be considered something of a risk, ... Thomas' relative inexperience in cricket will leave him with a steep learning curve in the coming months. Warwickshire hope the experience of those around him, not least the interim head coach, Ian Westwood, and the new director of cricket operations, Tony Frost, will ensure this isn't too much of a disadvantage."
I think we've all given full vent to our sarcasm about his lack of cricketing experience! Maybe alongside that, we should wish him well.
I guess on his first day, the coaches will be there to tell him: “No, you hold the bat by this end.”
Not sure if anyone on here would have known him; but the Club's Facebook page says:
"We're shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Warwickshire fan Leonard Hall and his wife Pat following a fire at their home in Rugby.
Leonard was a life-long Bear.
We helped him celebrate his 96th birthday here last year. 🥰
A lovely man."