300 to halt Notts chances altogether as it gets us to 208 the maximum Notts can possibly get to

250 gets us to 207 which means in order for Somerset to overtake us they would need to actually win their game. If Somerset are restricted to 449 or less in 110 overs then they automatically need to win their game as of now

We won't be champions when we get to 300. We will have to still not lose or hope Somerset drop some of the 19 points they can still claim

We hold the tie break over Notts on points 26-24 from the 2 matches

We hold the tie break on Somerset on fewest defeats whatever happens as they've lost 3 already and we hold the tie break on Somerset on bonus points aswell 13-11. Most wins (the primary tie breaker) would be the same (6) for all 3 sides if we end up tied on points

We need this 250 then even a manufactured win for Somerset won't be any use if our game fizzles out Sat/Sun

We're certainly losing overs now they might take lunch at 12?

250 300 means Notts can't win the title (I got confused)

300 250 means Somerset would have to win this week with full batting points to have any chance. A draw for them would take them to 207 if they get full batting points level with us if we lose. If we do lose we would pip Somerset I think on fewest losses as Somerset have already lost 3 this season whilst we would have only lost 2 in that scenario

News from Taunton Surrey 378-7 (110) meaning they collect 2 bowling points so;

If Somerset get all 5 batting points and draw their match that would get them to 207 points so when Warwickshire reach 250 a draw is no good for Somerset anymore

Notts aren't out of it at all. If they get 1 batting point, bowl Yorkshire out and win their game that gets them to 208. We lead currently sat on 206. If we get to 300 that'll put us on 208 and Notts cannot then overtake us. They can pull up level but we'd stay above them on head to head

Could do with Olly Stone missing a straight one first thing tomorrow and then 207 is the magic number

If it's a 3 way tie, and if they do use 3 way head to head to determine the championship, they'd have to half our points in our 2 games versus Notts as we only played Somerset once and then half Somerset's points in their games with Notts if they played each other twice

In that situation I think we'd win as we won 13-12 (26-24) overall in the 2 matches combined against Notts and we won 13-11 in our solitary match against Somerset at Taunton

If it's a 3 way tie it might go all the way down to most wickets taken as wins + losses are equal and I guess they ignore head to head in that scenario?

I'm thinking 207 might be a magic number. Currently on 206 so we need that first batting point to get to 207. Notts would then be 19 behind us and to draw level will need 3 bonus points and win. Level with us is no good for Notts as we have the head to head unless Somerset also finish level with us?

To overhaul us if we ended on 207 Notts would need 4 bonus points and win

Next Saturdays games are definitely on after Aston Manor won both their matches so sit on 40 points. They need 3 points in their final game to secure promotion. Wellington need snookers (need to beat Stourport at Smethwick - restricting Stourport to 4 points or less and they need to hope Aston Manor beat Fordhouses)

Are we getting bob the builder to stand down for 4 days next week so we can utilise one of the test strips or are we putting all our 11 point chips on a tired Hollies stand side strip again?

Have to guard against losing the toss of course

They're all great in my opinion maybe I'm a bit of a happy clapper in that regard but I salute them all. I quite like the ones who float in and out from other commitments. I even like Don Topley on comms who I disagree with loads on social media. I think we at Warks in Wilford, Eakin and Taylor genuinely have 3 of the best 10 that are out there mind. Not going to rank them 🤣

All depends what mood I'm in. At times I get slightly annoyed by the excitable nature of the Surrey and Somerset comms teams and at other times I'd prefer a bit more of that out of the more laid back fayre you hear on Yorkshire comms or another sleepy county.

At some point we won't get comms at all 9 grounds it'll be whittled down to 1 or 2 main games and it'll just be occasional updates from the other 7 games so enjoy while we can I say

It hasn't happened yet since play-offs were introduced around about the time of COVID but remember that if there are 2 clear leaders after the first 4 matches then matches 5 and 6 at the neutral venues will not take place I don't think as they would effectively become friendlies

County League Play-Offs 2026

All matches start at 11am.

Saturday 19th September

Match 1 Aston Manor CC (Warwickshire) v Wellington CC (Shropshire)

Match 2 Fordhouses CC (Staffordshire) v Stourport CC (Worcestershire)

Sunday 20th September

Match 3 Wellington CC (Shropshire) v Fordhouses CC (Staffordshire)

Match 4 Stourport CC (Worcestershire) v Aston Manor CC (Warwickshire)

Saturday 26th September CC

Match 5 Aston Manor CC (Warwickshire) v Fordhouses CC (Staffordshire)
at West Bromwich Dartmouth CC

Match 6 Stourport CC (Worcestershire) v Wellington CC (Shropshire)
at Smethwick CC

Top 2 are promoted from their county League to Birmingham Premier League Division 2. Given how well Attock CC have fared since their promotion last season (16 wins in Bham League Division 2 this season) perhaps worth following

And check out the ball Ben Slater just copped on the wrist!!!

Footmarks and dampness and greenness

Pitch penalty incoming for Trent Bridge?

He was a Brummie Botham but he's more like a Brummie Pringle these days. I hope he proves me wrong this week and smashes a hundred but his batting isn't what it was. Thompson very handy reserve player to have in this respect

GerryShedd wrote:

Andy wrote:

GerryShedd wrote:

I don't think that George likes putting the boot in to the Bears. He is, as well as a professional journalist, a Warwickshire fan; and like many on here, he gets frustrated if things don't go well and he can see how they need to change.

Somerset fan.

Yes, I've heard him say that; but having sat with him in the press box in 2021 when Warwickshire beat Somerset to win the Championship, I am pretty clear where his chief loyalties lie.

He's definitely a Somerset fan. But clearly that day (and also Norwell's heroics 12 months later) was just a great day for championship cricket. I think the only county that would begrudge Warks the title that year was Notts and they can have no real complaints as we did the double over them that season. He's lived and worked up here for a while so naturally has an affinity with Bears and Pears but he's very definitely a Somerset fan

Why did we not sign Rory Haydon?

It's good news. Pleased how Sunday went given I'd had to miss the last couple of years visits there. It was certainly well attended and looked better than 2015 when I last visited. Pity we can't have one of the championship games there

If counties are finding 4 day cricket difficult to justify surely 3 day cricket must be back on the table

For 2 reasons..

They can save on the expense of operations for the 4th day

They can fit more of the games into the middle of the season in-between all the other stuff rather than having so many of them in early April and late September

Where's all the money gone Tom?

Today's missive from HQ reminds me of the Ken Wheldon days down the Blues

If only Warwickshire played 5 days cricket per fortnight (a balanced diet of 4 and 1 day cricket) through the summer months of May June July and August - they might have held onto a decent figure for their membership right now. Bound to be lower than Worcestershire this year