Well some of you did say it was our worse team in years. I didn’t think we’d be 0-4. A few brighter points today but Northants looked a stronger team with the bat.

If they declared overnight and it stayed fine tomorrow it would be a cracking game. My view is neither is likely to happen.

Funny - I'd say today was the best I've seen Gilchrist bowl once he'd got that first over out of his system. Generally I'd say a competitive day's cricket played at a good standard, Glamorgan have the advantage but we're not out of it. Impresed with Kellaway & Carlson.

Now that the stagger has unwound we are 4th on 55 points, Notts top on 67 with Surrey second on 59. Leicestershire are in 9th on 36 points.

I think it's been a pretty solid initial block of games, especially bearing in mind maximum points from the two draws. Second innings wickets is the obvious weakness. Hopefully Barker will come back against Yorkshire after the break, although Jordan Thompson played all of the first four games I'd leave him out although I'm sure he'd like a crack at Yorkshire. The Booth / Gilchrist job share seems to be working, I'd have Booth slightly ahead with bat and ball and so would play him against Yorkshire. I'd love to see them play Taz Ali but see value in having 4 front line seamers and allowing Barnard and especially Webster play as batters who bowl a bit. Perhaps leave Zen Malik out and Woakes and Booth 7&8? Anyway it's nice to have more than 11 players who deserve a game.

By the sound of it you have received the AGM papers, Richard? I haven't yet, but I'm in London and the stage coach has probably been delayed.
Some of you may remember me collecting signatures for a rule change towards the back - end of last season. I got the necessary 250 signatures but after discussions withdrew my rule change which was replaced by a board approved change which incorporated some of my proposal (I'd say the heart of it) but not everything. This board supported rule change ensures that where there are proposed alterations to the men's championship fixture list the board will tell members how it intends to vote at the ECB on those proposals. The members will then vote, if 50% support the board's intention it can proceed. If it doesn't get that 50% backing it has to abstain on the vote at the ECB.
There are a few changes to my original rule change. Firstly the AGM proposal only covers the championship, my original covered changes to Blast fixtures and any possible expansion of The Hundred. Secondly the members' veto described above only applies if 250 members vote on the board's proposal. (Which I thought was quite a good amendment.)
Ultimately I agreed to these proposed changes. This was partly tactical, the rule change needs a 2/3srds majority of those voting to go through and I wasn't confident I would get this with the board actively opposing. But perhaps more importantly I felt Stuart Cain / The Board had made an effort to understand and address the concerns of "traditional" members and I wanted to show the same flexibility.
Anyway the proposal still needs a 2/3rds vote to be carried and I hope those of you who are members feel able to support the rule change.

Tough one to lose - a bit of a reverse from last year's home fixture against Worcestershire, with one team edging it over the first three innings & getting pegged back at the close. I'm a bit less worried about the rest of the season that some others. Batting deep and having lots of decent right arm seam options works well in the county championship and I think Sussex are one of the stronger teams we'll play, potential championship winners IMO. What does worry me is Jake Lintott being ahead of Taz Ali and in the squad. There is an obligation on the club to dvelop players and not just pack the team with old stagers, but as with all these things we don't see what goes on at practice so maybe there is an explanation.

Heartening to hear how commited he was both to Warwickshire and the county championship. Did say he was still having issues with the shoulder he dislocated, seems like it won't be a complete recovery and he won't be diving around in the field for fear he does it again.

I think winning the championship would be a stretch, regardless of the piches. But I'd say the wickets at Edgbaston are too placid for good red ball cricket. Last year the Surrey, Sussex and Somerset games all looked draws from half -way, if not before. Given rain for the Essex match (I think Essex, last game of the season anyway) I'd say we had three competitive games at home. Obviously Gary Barwell is a well respected groundsman (actually Head of Sports Turf) but I wish he could produce pitches with a better balance between bat and ball.

Always fun to think of the season ahead and with blue skies above (in London) cricket seems near at hand. I'd have Rob Yates, Alex Davies, Zen Malik, Sam Hain, Dan Mousley (?), Ed Barnard, Kai Smith, Michael Booth, Ethan Bamber, Nathan Gilchrist & OHD. I feel we have more cover / competition for places than in recent years but perhaps fewer top quality championship players. Most runs Ed Barnard, most wickets Michael Booth, young player Kai Smith and most improved Michael Booth again. Looking forward to it.

Not excatly a hard hitting analysis. But one or two interesting snippets in this.
https://www.cricexec.com/birminghams-moment-how-warwickshire-is-building-crickets-next-great-destination/689567587/

Hello Gerry

Yes it's an odd one. I went to the members briefing during the last cc game and I think Stuart Cain did say success in the championship was an aim, so hopefully a slip. Won't be long before we have the 2025 accounts and it will be interesting to see if the wording has changed.

Hello all
Hope you are wintering well. I do an annual review of the finances of the first class counties and the latest of those can be found here
https://sideonviewcricket.substack.com/p/bentley-forbes-county-cricket-financial

Interesting to note that after a 6 month season where I think he may have played every game (aka the full Barnard) a two week break was enough and Alex has returned refreshed to action in the Canada Super 60. I did for a marvellous moment think they were playing 60 overs a side (one of my favourite formats) but sadly just 60 balls an innings. Equally sadly he scored 2 of 4 balls and his side, Brampton Blitz lost.

John Claughton?

Trevor Penney for the tri - sportsman?

Neil Smith I think played ODIs and not Tests.

Good questions

Sam Hain has played ODIs and not tests. Does Neil Carter qualify for the Scotland question, I know he played for them, but maybe after he'd stopped playing for us. Dougie Brown as the coach in the world cup before he played in the world cup?

I think that's a good point. I could live with 13 games, or maybe even 10, but I think there has to be some quid pro quo which is that the games taken out of the schedule are in early April / late September. You would have thought the players would have been equally keen on breaking up the long run of 4 day games through April and May which must be a strain for them (especially unusually tall fast bowlers who are getting on in age) but they don't raise.

The Notts stuff is interesting. As well as the vote on reducing the county championship there were votes of no confidence in all of the member elected board members, none of which were carried (i.e. the board survived unscathed). I think it shows member's are very reluctant to get behind anything that seems confrontational. And as the Notts vote showed you can call an EGM and win on the resolution but that doesn't necessarily mean anything under the club rules. I'm still hoping to get our rules changed to give the member's a vote on fixture list matters. I have the necessary support of 250 members but if there's anybody else who would like to sign up, please message me, the more the merrier. I'm also planning to attend the Stuart Cain update which I think is on the Tuesday of the Essex game.