Bald_Reynard wrote:

white-lightning wrote:

So, bowler situation:
Woakes, unavailable at the IPL and not being selected.
Hasan Ali: unavailable and not being selected by Pakistan.
Norwell: Injured pectoral muscle and out for several weeks.
Rushworth: Injured calf and out for several weeks.
Michael Booth: (remember him?) Injured and out for several weeks
Craig Miles: Injured, not sure at length of absence?
Have I missed anyone??

No, don't think so !

It is a terrible state of affairs. I know people get injured and I'm sure the Physio's are doing their best to get everyone back and I know WE don't appear to be able to recall anyone contracted elsewhere (though other Counties seem to manage it !), but for goodness sake, surely the Club can be a lot more honest in their reporting of length of absence.

IF Norwell has bigger injury problems than his pecs, or Rushworth more than a calf strain - tell us straight - its sad, but we can take it. Tell us what's happening with Booth (injury / contract issues). Tell us when Woakesy will be back and able to play. Tell us (not immediately, obviously) how bad Miles' injury is and when Physio's EXPECT a return.

It's all to do with transparency and honesty to supporters.

It is possible that Norwell's problem is mental as well as physical. Perhaps he doesn't trust his body any more to carry out the demands of a fast bowler. Either way, this situation can't go on.
Woakes really needs to play some competitive cricket rather than be a highly paid net bowler.

We were lucky to have Jeetan for so long but since he retired we still haven't found a reliable overseas player. Hassan Ali is superb and clearly is committed to the Bears but keeps getting international calls, so can't blame him for that.
The recruitment has been poor, we desperately needed a top strike bowler and quality middle order batsman to be able to compete with the best teams this year.
Notts brought in Pennington and Tongue, domestic players we should have been trying to sign. Instead we spend our budget on mercenary white ball bowlers.
Yet again we are reliant on the likes of Hain and OHD to carry the team in the championship. Woakes is unavailable, Rushworth old and injured, Miles is bang average and the less said about the mythical Norwell, the better.

Bears racked up 591. Kai Smith 170 not out off 192 balls. He is another talent set for a breakthrough year.

What an exciting talent Bethell is. An all-format player and genuine all-rounder. Great attitude too.

Pakistan all rounder due to be announced as second overseas player until the end of the T20. Available for selection on Friday.

BristolBear wrote:

Problem is that’s part of getting in. Picking it isn’t as easy. And he played with a straight bat. Checked the drive. It wasn’t some huge swing across the line or a hook. Just down the wrong line and not enough foot movement. That’s arguably the same issues he’d have if he just tried to defend it.
And you can’t just block it for 20 balls and be in. Doesn’t work like that. Need to get the timing playing some shots. Not saying it was good by any means. But I’ve always got sympathy for a batsman getting out like that early on, more so than Davies, Yates and Rhodes.
That’s why going away from what’s working as a set batter is confusing.

On the Booth signing. We seem to be the only side other than Middlesex (who can’t afford one due to sanctions I believe), playing without a recognised, traditional overseas. I know they expected Hassan Ali to be available but if clubs with much lower income like Sussex and Essex can afford 2 high class overseas, can’t see why we?

Northants have got Karun Nair too. We should be signing players of that calibre. One again we have failed to recruit a quality batsman and are reliant on Hain. The bowling attack doesn't look too clever either. Another season of struggle beckons.

I guess the private school was the only venue with deep enough pockets to stage the games. Its a missed opportunity really.
I went to one of the previous games at Rugby (wasn't Povey's son a pupil at the school at the time?). The transport links to the town are poor and the viewing experience is equally poor.

Signing for T20. Brookes replacement.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/richard-gleeson-joins-warwickshire-for-2024-t20-blast-1418907

An interesting appointment which should greatly benefit our young spinners. We desperately need a decent batting coach, but unbelievably Frost is still there.

Brookes departure confirmed. Good luck to him in his career but he won't ever be top class.

Off to Middlesex on a long term contract according to the Telegraph. The move suits all parties.

It's best for all concerned that he moves on. I've never known a bowler so over-rated. After that long spell out injured he never regained his pace.

Hands shaken. No play 'possible'. Nice early finish for the players.

Clive Eakin on commentary doing his best Darth Vadar impressions again.

Once again the ODC produced a close finish. I reckon this competition has had much more last ball drama than the 16.4.
It's a shame the competition and the showpiece final is not promoted by the ECB. It is proper cricket and needs to be cherished.
Well done to Leicestershire, a great county who deserve the trophy.

We got over the line and it provided a tense finish. Burgess got us out of jail from 24/5. Credit due to Northants who bowled well and exposed our batting frailties.
But.... it was struggle against the worst team in the division who were missing some players. The win may have papered over the cracks but the same problems remain.
If we do not want to accept mediocrity and compete with Surrey, Essex and Hampshire then there needs to be a full review of our coaching and playing staff at the end of the season. Where are you Gavin Larsen?

Mikkyk wrote:

They aren't rally tucking into it - played themselves in. Burgess was probably slightly better than expected. Rhode was keeping to Burgess, suffice to say he won't be taking up the gloves again anytime soon.

I know it's been mentioned before but Clive Eakin's breath intakes are infuriating. It's bad enough when the game is exciting, when it's dead like this at the moment... i'm turning off because of it.

I had to turn off. I cannot stand Eakin's sharp intakes of breath. Time for the BBC to give the listeners a break and put him out of his misery.

24/5. Pathetic.

Andy wrote:

mad wrote:

Not sure it's possible to get two overseas of the requisite standard anymore. We'd probably have to get two for the first half of the season and two different overseas players for the back half

Ethan Brookes should clearly have been selected for the Surrey game

Agreed, getting one quality overseas is hard enough, so two, with the international cricket calender the way it is and franchise comps etc is going to be extremely difficult.

Re. that Robinson interview. I'm not his biggest fan but I think he's spoke ok there, not sure what else he can say under the circumstances.

He might be trying to protect the players but the supporters don't want to hear the coach after we've been thrashed saying 'hopefully we might be as good as Surrey in four years time". Utter nonsense.

Listen to Robinson's comments:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0gbrqk4

His interviews are like a Robbo Bingo card.
Disappointed ✔️
Take it on the chin ✔️
Long term planning ✔️
We move on ✔️

Heard it all before. All amounts to a coach who has lost his way trying to buy more time.
Sounds like his method is for players to take ownership of their performances and analyse themselves as opposed to offering any kind of leadership himself. He doesn't call them out though, to be fair to him
We need a fresh start and some smart recruitment.