Highveld
Member
All down to the final group game, a win gives a chance of reaching the quarter finals, subjet to other results.
Excellent from Sam & Carlos, their partnership has given us a chance.
very strong article on cricinfo today
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-hundred-2021-with-friends-like-these-a-hundred-reasons-why-the-ecb-has-failed-the-game-1269911
It's good that there is one professional media outlet standing up for the county game.
Warwickshire currently have a ppg of 0.92
Two wins would raise that to 1.07 (15 points from 14 games)
Sides are awarded 1 point from an abandoned game.
The full regulations can be downloaded from the ecb website.
Hi
Not south African, but an admirer of South African cricketers all my life.
From what I've seen on various news outlets, and from talking to South Africans, including those running businesses. The situation is political, and regardless of what CSa do, while quota systems are in place the situation won't improve. Like most places though, the majority of the population just want a safe and stable life, however political extremists make that impossible.
We actually agree on Kolpak's, fortunately Warwickshire only had one Kolpak (Heath Streak), as far as I can remember, and he'd originally been signed as an overseas player. Some counties had several at the same time.
Fortunately Warwickshire are now giving home produced young players a good chance to play, just look at the young players given a chance this season Henry & Ethan Brookes, Dan Mousley, Rob Yates, Matt Lamb & Ed Pollock at first team level, while the second team has given several academy players a chance, including Roshan Balaji, the young leg spinner from Attock (Ali Tanvir) and the batsman who got the hundred last week.Injuries, COVID and England call ups mean that all counties are having to look outside their contracted staffs to raise teams, so it seems sensible that the club takes a look at players who may be able to fill a need, eg Chris Benjamin took advantage of the opportunity to fill the role for a back up keeper.
In an ideal world we'd have a side full of locally born and developed all england qualified players, sadly the world isn't ideal.
What the coaching staff have to consider though is if Malan isn't available for the end of the championship season, what is better, giving our own players a chance, or spending a fortune on a short term overseas player with no commitment and who fails to deliver.
To follow that line of thinking, were we wrong to have given opportunities to, amongst others Dougie Brown, Trevor Penney, Neil Carter, Sam Hain, Roger Twose, Jonathan Trott and Jacob Bethel?
Surely Kolpak players were denying English players employment and opportunities, are you opposed to them? How about overseas players?
Who are all British, but did not come through the clubs academy.
If a player qualifies for a British passport they are British, regardless of where they lived as a child.
For someone who has only been bowling leg spin for a few months Matt Lamb has done a superb job with the ball today. Rob Yates has also done well in his longest ever bowl in first class cricket.
Batsmen are always disgruntled, and if apeals are turned down bowlers and fielders are too :-)
Leg stump wasn't visable at anytime on the clip of Sidebottoms dismissal.
He took a middle stump guard and the leg stump was not isable at any time. Te ball would probably have hit t both middle and leg stumps.
If given an identical ball in the games i'm due to umpire this week, the batsman would be given out.
The Worcester wicket is slow and low, but the entire square looked very damp indeed both on Friday and yesterday.
The absense of Briggs could hurt us in this game, we are missing his ability to bowl long tight spells.
Cricinfo report on the day https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/county-championship-2021-1244186/worcestershire-vs-warwickshire-group-1-1244298/match-report-2
Exiled Bear wrote:
Shocker of a decision for the last LBW with the ball hitting outside leg stump and also going down, but fortunately it shouldn't matter.
Having watched the replay at actual speed and frame by Frame, It looks a sound decision.
Pitching on leg and turning enough to take leg.
The Cricinfo report by Dobell
Interesting that Malan isn't contracted for the rest of the season. Time to get the contract signed I think.
A good days play, in warm and humid conditions.
Malan, finally, showed why the club signed him, he was excellent today. Sibley found it harder, but he battled through and played some good shots.
Rhodes and Lamb have a good foundation to build on in the morning.
We really are streched to the limit.
While it's great for Manraj to be included in the squad, he's not yet at the stage in his development that he should be included.
It could be a long four days, fortunately I've aquired a ticket for the first day, hopefully we can put in a good performance.
I feel having to go into the game with what was effectively a third string bowling attack was the key factor, which combined with poor shot selection for most of the batsmen made winning impossible.
Ed Pollock was the only batsman that looked comfortable and able to score at the pace required.
Very good report on the game by David Hopps for Cricinfo
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/vitality-blast-2021-1250122/worcestershire-vs-birmingham-bears-north-group-1250341/match-report
A couple of observations from the New Road stand, the Worcestershire side seemed sharper in the field, and their throws back to the keeper were much more accurate. Burgess had a hard time tonight with some of the throws.
Sidebottom actually slows down in his run up, when ideally a bowler should be increasing speed to the point of deivery.
For a young player, who shouldn't really be anywhere near the first team at this stage, Jacob Bethell did pretty well.
Ed Pollock batted verry well, showing not only a good range of shots, but the ability to keep rotating the strike.
Some of the others played very poor shots indeed.
As a squad we are probably stretched almost to the limits.
Sam Hain must have done, and Ian Bell.
Quite rare, I believe the very annoying Gary Neville did that for Lancashire many years ago, before he realised he wouldn't be allowed to abuse officials all through the game in cricket!