Won toss and elected to bowl.

I missed the afternoon session but watching after the tea interval I agree,Paulbear, Malik was playing a very mature innings quite happy to just take the runs available and keeping the ball on the ground. In fact in facing 222 balls only 18 boundaries were scored.

No way should Malik and Smith be dropped. The opening pair had a shocker of a game but I don't know who you would pick to open the innings and, of course, they could possibly come good and get a good start for the team.

Yet another example of the attraction of the four day format. At tea on the final day all results were possible.

Exiled Bear wrote:

To be fair I can see the advantage of trying to get as many runs as possible before the new ball.

Good point - although as it turned out not needed - some excellent batting.

Excellent innings and excellent partnership but why not simply carry on getting ones and twos. Hopefully all is not lost and we can still get over the line.

ITE7376 wrote:

I'm in the minority, I actually like Finals Day being somewhat later as I hate being in the sun all day and actually quite like watching cricket in cool weather.

It seems to produce relatively low-scoring games, too (again I am probably in the minority, I really enjoy nip and tuck T20 where the bowlers have a fair chance and batters need to think and work hard for their runs)

Seems to me you should give up cricket and watch rugby instead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do agree though with your second paragraph.

In fairness to Yates how much does taking a break mid season affect your form? The T20 block with Latham opening effectively retired Yates for a few weeks. Batting right down the order in a 20 over innings is no way to keep the form required of an opener. Herein lies the problem of playing cricket in blocks.
I am not going to join in the criticism of Davies I'll leave that to those who see the game from the ground rather than a laptop.

Well that didn't take long - 9 left to save the match.

I'd like to think the batting conditions are perfect - it's the bowling that's brilliant!!!!!

OK own up who's been doing the rain dance over lunch?

Yes I agree however to do that you would remove a 4 day game eg this year it would be this game against Worcs. Althoughn the quarter finals could have been played last week end, next weeks county game could start on Monday and the Blast Final day could be the following weekend 2nd August. It's quite simple when there is a will to actually give spectators what they want.

Isn't the best way to get to a true average batting average is to remove the highest and lowest score and work on what is left.

Just received email from Edgbaston (not WCCC!) regarding major fixrtures next year. With a test against Pakistand scheduled for 9th-13th September Finals day is likely to be pushed back to virtually the end of September. If it wasn't for the Hundread the Finals could be held in August like it used to be when the weather is warmer. Such a shame.

Their tailenders spend nearly 2 hours at the crease. Our top three can't manage half an hour!!

Mattmike66 wrote:

About 500 in ground for morning session ,hardly any kids ,first week of school holiday as well .

I am not surprised. Where was it advertised? Wondering through Facebook I keep seeing adverts for the Hundread but nothing from Warwickshire County Cricket Club , or Edgbaston as it prefers to be called, for anything. It is as if the club along with the ECB are doing everything they can to justify relegating real cricket to history.

Mattmike66 wrote:

About 500 in ground for morning session ,hardly any kids ,first week of school holiday as well .

I am not surprised. Where was it advertised? Wondering through Facebook I keep seeing adverts for the Hundread but nothing from Warwickshire County Cricket Club , or Edgbaston as it prefers to be called, for anything. It is as if the club along with the ECB are doing everything they can to justify relegating real cricket to history.

Just to add to SC Bear's 3rd paragraph - the T20 Final will end around 10pm on 13th September. Not like when the final was held in August with the chance of a warm evening it will now be quite cold but then who cares about the paying public.

Just to add to SC Bear's 3rd paragraph - the T20 Final will end around 10pm on 13th September. Not like when the final was held in August with the chance of a warm evening it will now be quite cold but then who cares about the paying public.

Gerry when people like you write what you have just written then this sport really does have a serious chance of dying.

What we can hope for is that support for the Hundread drops off quickly to the point that sponsors reduce the money they are prepared to pay and TV likewise or even give up allocating time for it. At the same time if "climate change" gives us a few warm springs and autumns resulting in an increase in attendance then perhaps all is not lost. Above all it needs someone at the ECB to see that change and for the players to realise that without spectators their employment is at risk. All that is an enormous ask but if sports writers, especially in the nationals, write about the demise of the game and start telling the ECB and the PCA they have to change their attitude then all may not be lost.