GerryShedd
Super Moderator
Not sure why there is nothing about this on the Club website or anywhere in UK based publications:
https://www.nation.com.pk/01-Sep-2025/warwickshire-and-lahore-qalandars-announce-long-term-global-venture
Looks like Sussex are resting one or two players for tomorrow - Grant Flower says that the 13-man squad "sees plenty of opportunities for players yet to make an appearance in the competition this season."
https://sussexcricket.co.uk/news/warwickshire-vs-sussex-sharks
Just in case anyone is looking to venture up to Liverpool and pay on the gate - no joy, I'm afraid:
https://cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk/news/2025-news/both-games-at-liverpool-cc-this-week-sold-out/
I believe the capacity is 3,000 so that's not an enormous crowd but good that Lancs have sold out in advance.
I don't want to take sides in the debate on here about outgrounds - I love Edgbaston but I mourn the passing of outgrounds I have visited in the past such as Abergavenny, Bath and Dean Park in Bournemouth. i just thought I would mention that:
this month's Cricketer magazine has a whole feature on outgrounds that is well worth a read
I've just edited my colleague Jamie Ramage's report of today's match at Welbeck and was struck by his words:
_"Nottinghamshire now play regularly at a ground on the outskirts of Mansfield that
wouldn’t feel out of place in Field of Dreams. It has the feel of a mini Arundel, though
its companions are electricity pylons, not a grand castle. It’s a ground that quietly
delivers a proper day of county cricket, close to the action, grounded in its
community, and increasingly a favourite on the Notts calendar."
His full report is here:
https://deepextracover.com/2025/08/metro-bank-one-day-cup-notts-win-at-welbeck/
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/
With the Durham v Leicestershire match being a no result,it is clearer than ever that a win on Friday will get the Bears into the quarter finals.
The Bears will have seven players missing from the 50 over competition because they will be playing in The Hundred.
They are:
Sam Hain, Jacob Bethell, Dan Mousley, George Garton, Richard Gleeson, Danny Briggs, Chris Woakes
Only Surrey (15), Lancashire (13) and Hampshire (8) have more players missing. Worcestershire with just one player absent (Adam Hose) are least affected.
Sad to hear of the passing of ‘Syd’ Lawrence from motor neurone disease. Another gone before his time.
The Cricketer has pointed out that from the beginning of June, players in the last year of their contract can talk to other counties.
They have mentioned:
"Among those nearing the end of their contracts are Gloucestershire and England Lions seamers Ajeet Singh Dale and Zaman Akhter, both of whom are understood by The Cricketer to have interested suitors beyond Bristol should they choose to move on, while Kent pair Tawanda Muyeye and Nathan Gilchrist are also likely to be in demand should they opt not to remain at Canterbury.
Kasey Aldridge, the Somerset allrounder and another who has represented England Lions, is currently on loan at Durham for the T20 Blast and is expected to have plenty of takers should his future lie beyond Taunton. It is also anticipated that Shoaib Bashir will move on from Somerset."
Warwickshire are mentioned in this article about where Bashir may go - " While no approach has yet been made, Surrey - where Bashir played his age-group cricket - could be a potential suitor, as could Warwickshire and Worcestershire."
Personally, I think it's unlikely; but who knows?
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/shoaib-bashir-set-to-leave-somerset-when-contract-expires-1488763
According to The Cricketer, Warwickshire are keen to sign Australian spinner Corey Rocchiccioli for the next four County Championship matches.
Rocchiccioli, 27, plays his state cricket for Western Australia and featured for Australia A against England Lions over the winter.
Warwickshire are set to sign him up for the four Kookaburra matches in June and July.
I understand that the Worcestershire match will be Clive Eakin's farewell as a commentator.
Apparently, Keith Cook has been made an Honorary Life Vice President of the ECB - one of only six people to receive this honour.
A knighthood can only be a step away!
Sad to hear of the passing of Robert Brooke, a Warwickshire man through and through, who wrote (amongst other books) The Fields Were Sudden Bare, the excellent biography of Frank Foster.
He had just reached his 85th birthday.
The Cricketer is suggesting that one (or both) of Bamber and Booth may be rested for the Surrey game because of their workload so far.
It looks as though neither Latham nor Hain is certain to play - Hain because of his back and Latham because the state of his hand has to be assessed now he has arrived.
I know that we don't usually cover women's cricket on here: but here is my colleague Jamie Ramage's season preview of the Warwickshire women's team:
https://deepextracover.com/2025/04/warwickshire-women-season-preview-2025/
According to George Dobell in The Cricketer, Dan Mousley and OH-D both needed scans on hand injuries but will be fit for Friday's game. Chris Woakes has an ankle injury and won't be fit until the Yorkshire game (earliest), which is when Latham may also arrive.
Hamza Shaikh will bat at three and Kai Smith will keep wicket and bat at seven.
Fernando will be available to join the bowling attack and Ethan Bamber will also make his Bears debut.
Jacob Bethell is tied up with the IPL so is not available.
Chris Rushworth has a calf problem and is unlikely to be fit for a while.
The only question seems to be whether Danny Briggs will play as a spinner or, if not, who will be added to the pace attack - maybe Michael Booth.
So it looks like:
Davies and Yates to open (sorry, Highveld), Shaikh, Hain, Mousley, Barnard, K. Smith, Briggs or Booth, Fernando, Bamber and OH-D.
Brian Halford has just launched his new podcast with an episode featuring OH-D:
https://www.reportsfromarbroath.com/podcasts/olly-hannon-dalby-its-a-strange-life-but-i-love-it