Annoyance is the first emotion that comes to mind with this news. Shame to let someone of his entertainment value go, but I can't make an argument in runs scored for his retention. I guess my annoyance is that for all his apparent skills he hasn't really improved and I think this is the clubs coaching fault. England had the same problem with Jason Roy at one stage (ie asked to score so quickly they are more susceptible to loss of form) but they managed to still improve him overall.

I don't think they were ever going to go for it and I think that is fine. A loss is worse than a draw. At some point in this teams evolution I think they need to be a bit more positive than this though. Lancs have scored a little quicker and that might have made a difference had Warwickshire done the same over both innings. For now I'm just happy they have played better than in 2020, a full winter with a more settled set up they should get better still.

Well documented that bonus points don't determine the destination of the pennant so I'm minded to agree with those who said slowing up was the correct thing to do. What you can't prove, at least easily, with data is whether bedding in gives the initiative to the opposition and allows them to regroup, allows them to gain confidence. As I type 340/7 so it was no guarantee that a blockathon would deliver a 400 score. Its not as simple as saying bat slowly = less chance of losing wickets.

Yah. He and Norwell in the wickets against what looks like Worcester's first team. Good news for the business end of the season.

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Playing today for the Seconds, in the 4 day game at New Road.

Reply to Paul-bear, white-lightning and Andy

I think that is a good point about the central contracts having a perverse effect for Woaksy. Especially this time around where it seems the bruised heel was from playing after a long period of not playing. That NZ tour was totally absurd, remember that. You do have to remember with these contracts though he is the ECBs employee, not the Bears. If you aggregate it all up though, is it so far from equilibrium? He hasn't been playing that much and he has a chronic knee injury. These facts are linked.

In far better and less controversial news, however, the club posted a gif of him bowling in the nets. Might be ready for the Kent QF after all.

Good update, would have missed that. Cheers.

I stirred the pot a bit there but didn't offer an opinion of my own. I don't think we can blame England at this point (though definitely in the past). Have to remember Woaksy is now a 32 year old with dodgy knees. It seems, on the face of public statements, he was being managed because of this and an extremely unlucky run of not playing then got a stress injury, bruised heel.

I think he and his team will have to work hard to manage a few more years of his career, and unfortunately I think that will see a fair bit of franchise cricket and less with the bears. I think he loves the club and wants to do more for us. But might not be as simple as that.

GerryShedd wrote:

Chris Woakes update - Chris Silverwood hasn't a clue.
According to Cricinfo, "Woakes also remains a doubt for Headingley after sustaining a foot injury prior to the series, with Silverwood admitting he "didn't have an answer" about his prospects of a return."

The time is ripe for more idle Woaksy predictions. T20 quarter final? There's not much more for him to play on this year, I can't see him going straight into the test squad.

The time is ripe for more idle Woaksy predictions. T20 quarter final? There's not much more for him to play on this year, I can't see him going straight into the test squad.

Would have been unjust for us to make a semi final and we burnt up our quota of good luck on others results for the T20.

On the whole I'm fairly happy with the competition though and I like the fact it is development. Bethell looks a great performer and it was good to see his runs contribute to a victory today. Johal and Bulpitt got better as the competition went on, this time next year they will be confident of kicking on further - though I see neither of these two are quite as young as I thought. Benjamin isn't really a grad of this competition, but good to see him move up at the same time.

Another point that occured to me today is that our experienced players have come into better form from the competition too. Lamb has scored heavily, not just this knock. Pollock has quietly improved, though he's mixed ducks with scores. Mousley snapped a run of poor form in the 2nds.

Something that hasn't gone well is the amount of batsmen out when set. Clearly a mental block, but easier to solve that if you have the ability first...

Cheers mate. Alas, a nursery-based pandemic event prevented me bellowing one on your behalf! It's taken me this long to commit to type I was that gutted. I saw some of our innings on YouTube. I think I've been a bit harsh on our batsmen in the past, because they all looked very decent. But they all just got out when set. I might suggest a bit of what Graham Gooch would call "run-getting" is in order. Mentality looks the biggest issue. I didn't watch the Surrey innings but you have to give credit to their lad from Singapore. Having said that, it's slightly more disappointing to see our more established bowlers getting a tonking. Happier to see Johal and Bulpitt get an education really and chalking it up to learning - but we couldn't have known that at the start.

Andy wrote:

Give them a 'you bears' shout for me.

I think that makes the most sense. Johal and Bulpitt have got better as the competition has gone on. Bethell at 7 Bresnan at 8 and Miles at 9 sounds reassuring too. After what seemed like a tropical storm in London this afternoon, the weather should be good so looking forward to going tomorrow ...

Andy wrote:

Perhaps. Think Carver might miss out. Chance Brookes misses out maybe.

Wish I was going tomorrow, should be a great game.

Is it now the case that Johal and Bulpitt are our only two fit full-time seam bowlers?

Is it now the case that Johal and Bulpitt are our only two fit full-time seam bowlers?

Hidden away on free-to-air I just caught the end of the successful Birmingham chase against, err, some other team which Chris Benjamin finished. Completely took control of the chase, ran hard and pressured and then gave a terrific bravado-infused interview to Sky. I think he's made for it, basically, and someone with that confidence Warwickshire need. Nice interview with Mo afterwards in saying he vouched for him after a 2nds game, would be poetic if he has played a role in showcasing a bears player.

Watching that I thought he was starting to see that this was a big step up. But even taking on that reverse ramped six showed some temperament and from then he seemed to know he was going to win it. Nice to have a player with that amount of confidence, we need it. I didn't see a SAf flag next to his name in the line ups, so presume he's English-qualified.

I'm with you there mate. A two-track summer with the 100 and then this competition is weird. But I am withholding comment until I see Birmingham against "London Spirit" which is on Sky One this evening...

ajones1328 wrote:

Tayls79 wrote:

As Exiled Bear says, if anyone should be blamed it's ECB and the hundred (and our problem keeping seamer fit). Personally I'm happy to see our development players get a decent crack in a sustained way and if its against top players than so much the better.

I mentioned the level playing field and the international problem up the feed, but as ever there is a precedent with rugby. The domestic cup competition is now a development competition but there does seem a gentlemen's agreement that the group stages are youngsters then you get more first teamers for the semi finals and final. Perhaps there is a quota of fully-capped players at play somewhere and I wouldn't mind seeing that here.

Intrigued on the point about reducing the entrance fee (it's the same price as the Oval where I will be heading on 10 August) but I guess there must come a point where reducing it even further starts to risk not covering costs.

Let's all remember the counties signed up to this.

Hopefully next year we won't have the issue of players isolating etc. So we will have a better squad ready for this competition

Think we all agree it's just a real shame that in the height of the summer our county (and all others) have been diluted for 6 weeks.

As Exiled Bear says, if anyone should be blamed it's ECB and the hundred (and our problem keeping seamer fit). Personally I'm happy to see our development players get a decent crack in a sustained way and if its against top players than so much the better.

I mentioned the level playing field and the international problem up the feed, but as ever there is a precedent with rugby. The domestic cup competition is now a development competition but there does seem a gentlemen's agreement that the group stages are youngsters then you get more first teamers for the semi finals and final. Perhaps there is a quota of fully-capped players at play somewhere and I wouldn't mind seeing that here.

Intrigued on the point about reducing the entrance fee (it's the same price as the Oval where I will be heading on 10 August) but I guess there must come a point where reducing it even further starts to risk not covering costs.

Not sure how we go in the game, really in the balance from just looking at the scoreboard. But glad we got a proper development team out against a decent amount of county experience and they're not getting panned. Chris Benjamin in particular had played two really good knocks. I see he is SA born but has spent at least three summers playing in the UK. England qualified? Does anyone know?

Don't quote me on this, but I think the entire competition is designed as a development competition and every team will be using youth and second team regulars. How this is policed and how England are expected to do well internationally with this format are the real points, in my view. I think it will work well for us and good to blend in and rotate the likes of Rhodes, OHD and Bresnan as we go into August.

Vihari over Malan makes sense for a number of reasons. That he's presumably going to be in the UK for the India tour means he'll be better tuned to UK conditions. If Malan goes back to SAf I can't see him coming back and if he does he's back to square one. Keeping him here to not play for six weeks makes no sense. All this is only a small part of the picture though. Getting some seamers back fit and some form into our homegrown batsmen I think are bigger factors in succeeding or failing in the post season.