GerryShedd
Super Moderator
I must confess to a tear in my eye as I read about the passing of Billy Ibadulla, a true Warwickshire great. And what a lovely tribute to him here from another great:
https://edgbaston.com/news/khalid-ibadulla-club-president-amiss-pays-tribute-to-bears-great-billy/
Queue here for the bus to Rugby and back:
https://tickets.edgbaston.com/resources/samp/EDG/EDG_2024_Rugby_School_Festival_Bus_Travel_NZ8atlfrOmVR9PebOlxD3iGHI%3D.html
Still awaiting squad news; but I assume our new Kiwi will be in action.
Amongst those presumably missing will be the pace bowling sextet of:
Liam Norwell
Craig Miles
Chris Rushworth
Michael Booth
(all injured)
Hasan Ali
Chris Woakes
(absent elsewhere)
Sky are covering the Lancs v Kent match today - clash of the bottom teams.
Report of the AGM here:
https://edgbaston.com/news/warwickshire-agm-members-hear-clubs-ambitious-edgbaston-plans/
Great to see him claim seven wickets v Glamorgan yesterday.
When was the last time a spin bowler took seven wickets on the first day of a Championship game?
A new look for the Museum:
https://edgbaston.com/news/new-2024-displays-unveiled-at-warwickshire-museum/
I feel a bit sad that the ashes of one of the greatest cricketers to play for Warwickshire - Sydney Barnes - have been stuffed into the bell tower outside the museum rather than being part of a proper memorial. But, if it hadn't been for Phil Britt, the curator, they would have been totally lost. They were previously in the pillar of the old Barnes Gate that was demolished in 2010 when the ground development took place. Phil rescued them on the morning when the old boundary wall and the gate were about to be knocked down.
Here's my preview of the season:
https://deepextracover.com/2024/03/warwickshire-ccc-season-preview-2024/
As usual, (constructive) feedback is welcome!
After all the (justified) complaints last year, the Club seem to have got their act together - I received my membership pack yesterday.
I somehow think that this won't be greeted with unqualified acclaim on here:
https://edgbaston.com/news/davies-pride-at-being-named-new-bears-club-captain/
Happy New Year to all Bearsfans!
The latest email from the Chief Executive contains one or two bits of information:
"We’re investing a significant sum of money to improve the outfield drainage and hopefully prevent the disappointing scenes experienced on the final day last season.
We’ve learnt the lessons of last year and will be managing the fulfilment of Membership Cards in-house with plans to begin sending them out earlier than ever, well ahead of the start of the County Championship in April.
Off-the-field, we are freshening up the David Heath Suite with graphics and memorabilia celebrating the Club’s white ball history and replacing the seats on the balcony in front of the Lounge.
We are also replacing the big screen on the South Stand and introducing LEDs ribbons to the third tier. We know our screens have been poor for a couple of seasons so the new one will be bigger and sharper, with the LEDs also providing in-game information. As we re-develop, we will then move the new screen to a better long-term position."
Several counties are saying that the 2024 domestic fixtures will be announced next week on Thursday 23 November.
This might be worth a listen tomorrow evening - it's open to Somerset members but also to the rest of us who are just interested in the topic:
https://somersetcountycc.co.uk/news/club-news/reminder-somerset-ccc-and-the-future-of-cricket-virtual-forum/
No joy for Gary Barwell and his team this year:
Full list of awards winners:
Bernard Flack Memorial Trophy (Multi-Day pitches)
Winner: Lee Fortis (Kia Oval)
Runner-up: Matt Merchant (Emirates Old Trafford)
Commendation: Vic Demain (Seat Unique Riverside)
One-Day pitches:
Winner: Lee Fortis (Kia Oval)
Runner-up: Richard Robinson (Headingley)
Commendations: Karl McDermott (Lord’s), Adrian Llong (The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury)
First Test Match Recognition Awards:
Richard Robinson, Headingley; England Men v Australia, 2023
Simon Tremlett, Wormsley Cricket Ground; England Women vs Australia 2013
Sean Williams, Seat Unique Bristol; England Women vs India 2021
Scott Hawkins, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton; England Women vs South Africa
Outground Pitches Award:
Winner: John Dodds (Scarborough CC)
Runner-up: Josh Marden (Beckenham)
Commendation: Nick Johnson (Blackpool CC)
I can't see anything yet on the Warwickshire site so I've had to look on the Somerset site to glean the following:
_"Derbyshire won three awards including sharing the Customer Retention Initiative Award and Best Development of a New Facility (under £500,000). The club also shared the Tickets or Membership Sales and Marketing Campaign of the Year with Midlands neighbours Warwickshire CCC, who led on their joint delivery of ‘Vitality Blast Off’ to launch the Vitality Blast season with a double header at Edgbaston.
The innovation preceded both clubs enjoying record years in terms of attendance and revenue and cemented Blast Off as a key fixture for next summer. Warwickshire also won the Best Domestic Spectator Experience award and was placed as finalists in four other categories."
More information here:
https://somersetcountycc.co.uk/news/club-news/hat-trick-for-somerset-at-business-of-cricket-awards/
Not quite sure what I think about this:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/cricket/bears-ceo-stuart-cain-reveals-28069058