GerryShedd
Super Moderator
Interesting that Somerset are fielding almost a second team against Hampshire while their T20 team played a practice match yesterday to prepare for Finals Day - and it looks like they might win the 4 day game.
The signing of Dominic Drakes has caused me to wonder how many fathers and sons have played for Warwickshire.
I can think of the Smiths (Mike and Neil), the Maddys and, from further back, the Santalls and the Quaifes. I'm probably missing a few more so feel free to remind me!
In 1922, Willie Quaife and son Bernard played for Warwickshire at Derby while Billy Bestwick and son Robert represented the hosts.
That wasn't a name that I had expected but it may be a good signing:
https://edgbaston.com/news/bears-sign-dominic-drakes-for-blast-run-in/
A pity that they haven't quite spelt his dad's first name correctly - should surely be "Vasbert".
Nearly 18,000 tickets sold so far:
https://edgbaston.com/news/edgbaston-breaks-ticket-sales-record-for-womens-ashes/
He comes in for a two week loan period because Danny Briggs has a hamstring injury. This presumably means that he is available for the remaining T20 Group games.
Preview from the Essex perspective:
https://www.essexcricket.org.uk/2023/06/24/match-preview-essex-v-warwickshire-4/
This book should be an interesting read:
https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/last-corinthian
And a happy 90th birthday to him at the end of June!
Chris Woakes available for the next three matches is good news:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/durham-vs-bears-20-june-2023/
Overall, added to Hasan Ali leaving, it's not good news:
https://edgbaston.com/news/injury-update-ahead-of-blast-r/
Pleased to see that Keith Cook had the honour of taking the Ashes trophy onto the pitch, though I see that they didn't dare bring out the actual Ashes Urn:
https://edgbaston.com/news/ashes-honour-for-bears-legend-keith-cook/?fbclid=IwAR1cWw-wDlUJBi5N1msXP2Etr6Ca39QO7Y4rCln-HAFxXaXe3uhNeIzs3nQ
Looks like Sam Hain is at least in the squad despite his injury:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/worcestershire-rapids-vs-bears-16-june-2023/#match-match-previews
Worcestershire's new Chief Executive:
https://wccc.co.uk/worcestershire-announce-appointment-of-ashley-giles-as-chief-executive/
This looks like pretty good news:
https://edgbaston.com/news/biggest-ever-allocation-of-international-cricket-from-2025-31-announced-for-edgbaston/
Not much evidence of any bowlers who could step up to first team action here:
https://somersetcountycc.co.uk/news/club-news/second-xi-t20-warwickshire-v-somerset/
A quick return to action today.
I will be interested to see the crowd size today compared with last Saturday when there was a really good crowd. I'm all in favour of encouraging women's cricket and back-to-back women's and men's games seems like a good idea. But whether playing a Bears match on a Saturday evening rather than in the afternoon will work is another matter.
I'm probably biased because I don't want to face an almost two hour journey home late at night so am put off attending.
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/
Seems like an exciting finish at Barnt Green:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/second-xi/worcestershire-vs-warwickshire-24-may-2023/#match-match-reports