Highveld
Member
Seeing how successful their working relationship was, could we persude Matt Walker to take a short & agressive Keeper/batsman with him to Sussex?
:-)
He had opportunities to join us several years ago that he declined, as he was free to do.
Hopefully the club realises and accepts the value of a persons character when choosing who to employ, especially as the success this season was built on the positive character, and skills, of the key performers.
Have the club considered approaching Somerset to aquire one of the Rew's or Ben Church? We could even send them Alex Davies plus cash as part of the deal :-)
Final championshop averages https://countycrickethub.net/team-averages.html?teamid=16&comp=1&year=2026
They show that bringing Kai Smith in for the last few games was a vital change that paid off.
A promising youg seam bowling all rounder who would be an assett to out squad and well worth a look, Kian Roberts https://somersetcountycc.co.uk/news/first-xi/kian-to-leave-somerset-this-winter/
Theo Wylie is been relaeased and won't be offered a new contract https://www.edgbaston.com/warwickshire-ccc/media-article/wylie-to-leave-warwickshire-at-end-of-season
Shame as he was a home developed player who never let the c;lub down and did very well on his one chance this season.
He actually seems more deserving of a new contract than some who have been given extensions.
The final game, starts with Warwickshire having a 11 point lead at the top of the table.
I'd expect that Young for Malik would be the only change from the team at Chelsford.
The club have announced free admission, with pre ordered tickets, for the first day, with general admission being just £15 for the remaining days.
Averages after the game https://countycrickethub.net/team-averages.html?teamid=16&comp=1&year=2026
It was a very weak Notts side, so as they say, "one swallow does not make a summer"
It would be a massive mistake to recall him for the game against Leics. Young for Malik would be the only change to the batting that should be made.
As I said, there is lots of time, need to stay relaxed and just bowl and field as we know we can.
No need to get tense or press to hard the wickets will fall
Brilliant catch from Kai, who has done a very good job with the gloves in very difficult conditions for keeping.
He's well worth his place in the side and a real positive for the team spirit.
The important thing for our side to remember is that we have lots of time left in the game and not to press too hard and become tense in our performance. If they just concentrate on bowling and fielding normally, to the best of thier ability the wickets will fall.
Averages etc goiung into the game https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m48c293b5-14d5-49a9-bb82-206bc7bb9a9b
Four day red ball game at Notts, live scores etc here https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m48c293b5-14d5-49a9-bb82-206bc7bb9a9b
Currenty there is a ground delay.
Won the toss and elected too bowl. A very young 2nd 2xi with Ed Millar as captain.
Warwickshire Men 2nd XI
1
E Miller*
17
AL Davies
3
AS Nahal
83
JR Eckland†
5
LS Gekis
6
MO Khan
7
N Mahmood
10
TC Ali
9
J Pidgeon
10
A Khan
11
J Walley
Averages after the Glamorgan game https://countycrickethub.net/team-averages.html?teamid=16&comp=1&year=2026
I fail to see how signing an injury prone 35 year old, who has rejected offers from Warwickshire in the past, as the number 1 keeper is a sustainable option, or how it will help a young keeper develop if the first team job is blocked.
The decision of who to sign will have long lasting effects on the club and the development of the squad. We have lost two quality keepers in the last two seasons through having a lack of opportunities.
Do we really want to go into next season with an injury prone 35 year old and a 32 year old that averages single figures with the bat and will be out of contact in September?
We have a very talented young keeper/batsman in Kai, he has to be given the chance to develop, there may be errors along the way, but you get that with every young player. Just look at the times Yates and Mousley have faiked while maturing into thier first team roles, even Sam Hain, Ian Bell and Chris Woakes had errors as they developed, but they were allowed a long run in the first tea,m to develop their games and grow into the international class players they became, or should have been in Sam's case.
We either sign an older keeper to be the backup and mento/coach to Kai, also totally removes the need for Davies or find the budget to sign an absolute top level keeper and accept that the club will lose Kai, as there would be no point in him staying if there is no possibility of regular first team cricket.
There are specialist wicket keeping coaches available, Jack Russell is only an hour down the road, Chris Read does specialist coaching and despite their great age it's not unknown for Bob Taylor and Alan Knott to take individual sessions. Also Kumar Sangakhara is in the country a lot of the year and he's a former Bear so could be approached.
Do we want/need someone to come is as the number one keeper, or an experienced player who can help to develop and mentor Kai, and be ready to take over the gloves if needed. Which I feel would be the best option, unless we were able to sign an absolute top level keeper who would fill the role for the next 6-8 years. The wisket keeping ability must be given top priority over any batting ability.
The costs involved, and the character of the person would be different for both roles.
If the club goes for the first option, it should be prepared to have to find a second keeper as well, as there would no point a player staying with teh club if his path to the first team was effectively blocked.
How any new signing will fit into the team atmosphere should be considered too, the players spend long periods of tiem together, would it be sensible to sign some who would be a negative influence on the team culture, and who's presence would harm the performance and development of the team, and players overall.
I'd put that claim down with the stories in the North Korean press of Kin Jun Il scoring 18 holes in one on his first ever game of golf!