Good article in The Times about counties charging young players (or more accurately the parents of young players) to take part in training and development squads. I do love county cricket but have always felt part of its rationale is that it develops the next generation of cricketers. If young players are being charged rather than youth schemes being ability based it makes even me wonder whether the counties might have outlived their usefulness . One bit of good news is Warwickshire were named (alongside Somerset and Glamorgan) as a county that didn't charge young players (or only charged a "nominal" amount).

The decision to take no specific action against Tim Bresnan sits very badly with me. I appreciate Warwickshire are in a tricky position and natural justice requires that people aren't thrown out of a job just because they are accused of something, there needs to be a proper process. I'm no expert on race relations but I'd imagine in some circumstances there's no need to punish individuals if we can acknowledge what we did wrong in the past & try to do better in the future. But at some point there has to be accountability at an individual level. Azeem Rafiq identifies Bresnan as one of the principal racist bullies at Yorkshire and it's clear other Yorkshire players accused Bresnan of bullying. There are reports that Warwickshire spoke to Rafiq but no indication they spoke to anybody else at Yorkshire for an independent view or that they asked Yorkshire for details of their investigation into bullying accusations. I also think there are questions to be asked about individuals at Warwickshire other than Bresnan - when an experienced player is signed, the county is hiring a personality as well as a bundle of cricketing skills. I'm sure there's a lot of county gossip, what did people on the Warwickshire staff know about Bresnan and about accusations of racism and bullying? That might be a particularly uncomfortable question for Will Rhodes who would have known Bresnan from their days in the same Yorkshire squad.
It's also not clear who at Warwickshire has dealt with the investigation. If they have taken it seriously they would have appointed a barrister, someone trained in asking questions and assembling evidence.
It might be the case that Warwickshire have done all these things, but as members we don't know because we haven't been contacted about the issue and as far as I can see there is nothing on the web site about their "investigation". There is lots about the county board winning a "Chance to Shine" award. Maybe I'm too cynical but it seems to me Warwickshire view this as public relations problem not a racism problem.
Anyway I've probably rattled on for too long, but as I said a while ago everyone deserves a fair process. But that applies just a much to young players wanting to make their way at Edgbaston & Azeem Rafiq as it does to Tim Bresnan. As far as I can see the only process has been to brush the whole thing under the carpet.

Championship player of the year - Norwell
Young player of the year - Bethell
T20 player of the year - Brathwaite
Overall player of the year - Norwell

Batsman of the year - Yates
Bowler of the year - Miles (Taken a lot of criticism so so good to see him succeed.)
Fielder of the year - Bresnan
Moment of the year - Burgess stumping Joe Clarke off OHD against Notts.
Clanger of the year - Not many - But batting 2nd in the Blast Q final?
“Turning point” of the year - So many but 4th day win at Notts.

Good performance from Kent - thought we'd struggle to chase 160. Very quick look - I reckon we won 2 lost 5 batting second this year & won 5 lost 2 batting first. And we won the toss?

Results with wickets lost in brackets.
Sussex (5) beat Yorkshire (7)
Hampshire (9) beat Notts (10)
Somerset (3) beat Lancashire (9)

Look like these Hundred batsmen lack the defensive technique and concentration for The Blast. Send for Sib.

Attendances have been low at Edgbaston haven't they? I'd say less than 1,000 for the Notts game which is the only one I've been to live and watching bits & pieces on the stream seemed even less at the other home games. I'm sure we aren't the only county with low attendances but not been universal. Somerset as ever seem to have good crowds, Yorkshire have had 3,000 or so at York and when I went to the Oval yesterday must have been 4,000 - 5,000. Was noticeable Surrey had, dj booth aside, taken down all the hundred paraphenalia. At Warwickshire of course it's only flags that get removed.
RB

Thanks

Does anybody have a link for the livestream?

Yes I was there in 2019. Really enjoyed it. Not as lovely as some out grounds but with a decent crowd in (3,000 or so) and an ice cream on the go really good atmosphere. The club were good hosts and obviously getting a first class game was a big event for them. Usual down sides to out ground cricket - only 1 temporary stand and a bit cramped for leg room, if you get a chance to go I'd turn up early with your own chair. You'll need a plan B if it rains because no shelter on the ground really, but centre of York a quick bus ride or about half an hours walk down the road.
RB

Well that was a very exciting way to spend two hours on a Thursday. Not for the first time this season we win a game we looked very likely to lose. Good batting from Lamb and Ethan to get us to 300 and Rhodes and Garrett were steady at the end - but Leicestershire threw it away a bit. Watched it on the feed - with 7,000 others at the end plus another say 300 in the ground?

Thanks both. All seems unsatisfactory to me. I appreciate just turning up might not be possible with coronavirus but it should be easy for members to get tickets they have already paid for via the subscription.
RB

I'm trying to book member's tickets for the game against Durham (June 26). Ticket office (as ever) isn't picking up. I'd do online, but all I see is paid for tickets, I'm obviously doing something stupid, if anybody can point out what, I'd be very grateful.

Ah not quite, perhaps Notts v Essex still getting bonus points today. With that game completed we are 2 ahead of Essex, 5 ahead of Notts.

Really pleasing start to the season. Oddly the squad, on paper, looks weaker than those that struggled over the last 5 years or so.
Assuming Essex and Notts draw today, we will be 3 points ahead of Essex with a game in hand, 8 points ahead of Notts and 9 ahead of Durham. With Essex having just the one game to play (against Derbyshire) I'd say we are well placed to finish in the top 2. If we beat Durham in our penultimate game I'd think we were pretty much qualified for the top group, a draw and we'd still be in a very strong position with us to play Worcester and Notts v Durham. Durham beating us would make things more .... interesting.
RB

Thanks terrygerry. Nice stuff - was lovely to be there.
RB

Does seem a mess doesn't it? Told today, policy has changed and parking is available for disabled members, but you probably knew already.

Tried to get one for my Mum, who is 80 and a member. Response was they'll only be made available to people who had one last year. I explained her and Dad had a pass for years but didn't update the year he died. But didn't do any good. Also not possible to buy parking by the day for the Notts game - don't know why. Real problem for Mum (and other elderly members) where walking or the bus aren't great options.

Yes I agree with all of that. Looks like a fine player based on his stats but I'm not sure short spells ever really work. A bit tough on the player as well who will be scraping the ice off his car windscreen before driving to the ground. Perhaps one advantage is player and team get to have a look at each other and if they both like what they see might do a longer deal in the future (Did Jeets come to us that way?)

I'm glad this is back, a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, a pure deed in a crooked world.
RB