UrsaMinor wrote:

I suppose I'm being hopelessly naive but is it in order to ask why we were playing a Cup semi-final on a used wicket that even the opposition knew would be difficult to bat on? Is this another example of just where Warwickshire cricket sits in the "Edgbaston" priorities?

Questions need to be asked about the wicket we prepared. The toss should provide a slight advantage but not determine the outcome to such an extent.

After today it is clearly time for Robinson to go. Who do we think should be his replacement? Allan Donald for me.

mad wrote:

The fall out from today could be massive. I know all this will have perhaps been sorted already but it will come to a head today.
OHD off to Pears perhaps Rhodes relinquishing the captaincy, what of Briggs and Burgess?

I think today is a watershed moment for some of the squad.
It would be a travesty to lose OHD, especially to the Pears.
All captains have a shelf life and Rhodes has surely reached the end of his, although we haven't got a natural leader ready to step in.
Burgess I'm not fussed if he wants to go elsewhere, his form with the bat has been underwhelming.
Briggs isn't the force of old so maybe we look to recruit a quality spinner from elsewhere. Not sure who though.
I'd also like to see Miles and H Brookes moved on if possible, as neither are good enough if we want to win things.

Andy wrote:

KingofSpain wrote:

meashambear wrote:

ExiledBrummie wrote:

Not just the management etc, I do wonder if some of our players are just not as good as we think they are. For example, Hain aside would you ever trust any of our batters in a tough situation? We need better quality/attitude.

Yes, I agree but that too comes down to the management as it is them that recruit & hand out the contracts. Cricket has a much smaller pool of players and clubs than football but if the coach & DOF (and therefore should know the players characters well enough)at one of the biggest clubs in the country were constantly getting hammered when in the knock out stages of competitions they would be out on their backsides. This is not good enough for Warwickshire.

Bears fans deserve better. We are a test match ground county and are always outbid on the recruitment front by the likes of Notts and Surrey.

And I bet we've had more success than both in the past 10 years. How do you know we get "outbid" for the players those counties recruit? Do we really want to be poachers like Notts?

Whenever a good player becomes available and multiple counties are interested, 9 times out of 10 they go elsewhere. I think we should be looking to recruit the best talent, regardless of whether it is defined as "poaching".
It is hardly a badge of honour to have a squad who are classed as 'homegrown' if they continually fail in knockout cricket and don't have that elite winning mentality.
For the record, in the last 10 years Notts have won 4 white ball trophies to Warwickshire's 2. Surrey are about to win their third county championship in 5 years.

mad wrote:

Any more making the short trip over from Warwicks?

Henry Brookes can go with his brother. He might fare better there under the guidance of Alan Richardson.

meashambear wrote:

ExiledBrummie wrote:

Not just the management etc, I do wonder if some of our players are just not as good as we think they are. For example, Hain aside would you ever trust any of our batters in a tough situation? We need better quality/attitude.

Yes, I agree but that too comes down to the management as it is them that recruit & hand out the contracts. Cricket has a much smaller pool of players and clubs than football but if the coach & DOF (and therefore should know the players characters well enough)at one of the biggest clubs in the country were constantly getting hammered when in the knock out stages of competitions they would be out on their backsides. This is not good enough for Warwickshire.

Bears fans deserve better. We are a test match ground county and are always outbid on the recruitment front by the likes of Notts and Surrey.

Robinson has taken us as far as he can I'm afraid. He needs to go at the end of the season. I would also jettison Rhodes and bring in a quality middle order batsman who can captain.

That batting display was frankly embarrassing.

Was reported to be dead by Henry Olonga. Thankfully he is still alive.

Davies will be the subject of more discussion after making just 2 off 5 balls.

Mikkyk wrote:

I've not watched any of today, but looking at the scorecard they were 200-6 after 42.5 overs, and finished on 275 - how did that happen?

They certainly had three big double figure overs off Lintott, OHD and H Brookes.

Still no Country Membership option. Shame.

275 looks a bit under par.
Barnard bowled a superb spell first up. OHD looking a little laboured today, perhaps down to fatigue. H Brookes produced some absolute filth and was expensive yet again. He surely doesn't get near our best XI. Thankfully Rhodes took the last over himself and bowled nicely.
Smith was very tidy keeping and two smart run outs.

Just another 50 overs of commentator Clive Eakin's irritating sharp intakes of breath left to suffer!

Smith in for Burgess behind the stumps. Briggs for Miles.

Davies clearly divides opinion but he is a good cricketer and we should try and give him our support.

Bring Hamza back in for Davies and give Booth another go instead of Miles or H Brookes.

The ODC continues to produce tight finishes. It is such a great competition.
Barnard deserved to be on the winning side but it wasn't too be.
Of the 16.4 cohort, Davies understandably looked rusty, Bethall is such a joy to watch but is frustrating when he gets himself out, H Brookes as always too many four balls and his wickets come at a high price.
Why didn't Rhodes bowl? I'm never confident in Miles being economical. Norwell would be a game changer if we can get him on the field..Any news on him?

Match was a bit of a farce but glad we came out on top. I was surprised we didn't use a spinner after Kerrigan had success, but our seamers bowled great lines to them. I thought the umpires called a few harsh wides against OHD and Brookes.
Fingers crossed for a home semi final.

If Gary Barwell has to prepare a wicket that close to the Pershore Road side, it is obvious that Edgbaston cannot cope with this amount of cricket. What was the boundary... about 40 yards? The infield circle was so close the rope.

A debut for Tazeem Ali. Bethell and H Brookes in. Smith, Booth and Miles make way.