Another big tick for Henry Brookes too. Heis getting there. Fingers crossed he can have a big impact across formats through the summer now

Think there'll be some changes by June. Dan Mouseley will be back by then for a start. Wonder if McAndrew will stick around for the later games. I know he's scheduled to but theres always circumstances change etc... I must say I do like the fact he keeps running in and might be a long term project for Warwickshire

And the pitches will be a factor. If it stays largely dry might be handy to have an all rounder with the ability to spin the ball so Bethell and/or Lintott may come into the equation then bring Miles back if it's expected to swing round corners at Southampton aka Keith Barkershire

Pre-season game with Worcestershire he looked very sharp indeed. Only seen bits and pieces of him for the 2nds team he seems to be able to put gas on for spells when required but also bowl within himself which is a heck of a skill. If the weather stays mainly dry over summer and the pitches go rock hard I can see him possibly even getting a game or two (The Oval game in July for example) as he will be a handful even at this early stage of his development.

Well beaten today by a strong Gloucestershire 2nd XI they must have a week off from the Championship this week as had lots of first teamers in there - . Bethell looked class again but wickets falling at other end and getting bogged down so ran down the wicket and was stumped. Braithwaite must've used up all his runs for the week v Ombersley at the weekend, horrible hack again today.

Thought they'd never get that total despite the short boundaries. Johal bowled well when he came on 2 wickets in an over got us back in the game but after the rain breaks he had the same treatment Simmons and Henry Brookes had faced. Fielding was a bit sloppy although they had to contend with a wet ball. 3 dropped catches in the deep including 1 very tough chance for the keeper running back towards the boundary plus a couple of misfields being spilled over the ropes for four. 163-3 after 15 overs. Feared Duckworth Lewis would up the target significantly and was quite relieved in the end it was below 180.

Then Bethell got to work and suddenly we were 88-0 off 7 half the runs knocked off with 8 overs to go. He later ran himself out going for a very optimistic second run. Almost a formality from that point, Glamorgan kept going gamely had a drop or two of their own in the deep, but I was particularly impressed with Ethan Brookes innings. Braithwaite and Hose won't be particularly pleased with their dismissals but they were down to needing less than a run a ball by that point.

Monday 16th May 2.30pm Glamorgan home
Wednesday 18th May 11am Gloucestershire home
Thursday 19th May 1pm Worcestershire away (Barnt Green)

Hoping to get to 1 or 2 of these matches with 4 more home games to come before the end of the month

Couldn't get to a game yesterday of course with the Bears in action but there were some potentially mouthwatering ties and the round of matches certainly lived up to expectations. Managed to watch the last 3 or 4 overs at Halesowen on thre livestream for the thrilling finish there. Similar scenes at Ombersley where Moseley who've stumbled along since the formation of the ECB Premier League with a few relegations along the way, suddenly do look a decent outfit again - maybe just maybe could get back to their successful years from the 1980's.

https://www.birminghamleague.org/story/premier_division_one_review_23rd_april_2725

There's a couple of cup semi-finals today too

Today yet more noises from press twits about 3 divisions of 6 including barmy proposals to merge the points from CC, T20 and whatever other formats they decide to allow us to watch

Have to confess I am getting pretty fed up with people who profess to report on cricket in the media who never have to pay to get in telling those who do that we paying members are wrong and they are right for insisting on fewer games (presumably chiefly because they hate driving up and down the country having to watch 16 (now 14, soon to be they hope 10 or even fewer) rounds of championship cricket FOR FREE by the way.

If the ECB do get their way I do trust they are prepared to compensate the counties for the reduced membership and ticket sales income they will face or alternatively the ECB will subsidise the travel expenses to away matches for all members for - minimum 2 rounds of CC matches - to make up for the reduction in home matches available on the membership.

8 days first class cricket fewer on the membership. We face the prospect of a shrunken game brought about by people with shrunken heads

Interesting. Getting more and more like football now with this kind of speculation

Some good performances today although a right old Warwicks style collapse after a good top order effort chiefly from Adam Hose and Hamza Shaikh who looks the business I have to say especially for a 15 yr old. Moseley's ground seems to be having some money spent on it too new drainage etc... probably needed in case there's a summer deluge a few days before the Commonwealth games teams arrive at their training camp and the outfield while still not pristine flat and a bit bumpy in places looks far better than last few years when they've had weddings and car boot sales on there.

https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#mae0f460d-aaf7-44c7-881b-dbdfd68f2754

This somewhat curious role now passes to Rob Key on a free transfer from Sky TV.

https://www.birminghamleague.org/story/premier_division_one_review_16th_april_2716

Several close games in very pleasant weather this weekend. Standout performances from Craig Miles & Ateeq Javid. Also good to see Adam Hose in the runs and 2nd division runs & wickets for Graham Wagg

Plenty of games in the area this weekend to make up for no Warwickshire game lots of county first team players on show

The BDPCL website is smoother this year also and I like the Play cricket link to the 4 feeder leagues https://youtu.be/6KOSEchzMbM

Birmingham League Saturday I'm sure all eyes will be on Knowle & Dorridge v Leamington and their livestream but several Bears connections at Moseley v Smethwick too. Check out the K&D side though https://twitter.com/KandDCC/status/1514626997019979777?s=20&t=-Cr8NXwx2wXE3FGBdrCHIg

Don't forget the Graham Williamson Trophy Quarter Finals are on Sunday too

Johal probably needs a few games in his legs just like Henry Brookes. My first look at Furrer tall left armer could well be handy in future. Lintott's first wicket was off a full toss everyone was creasing apart from the poor batter although he admitted himself he was reprieved in the morning when Burgess failed to hang onto a Stone short ball gloved off the hips. 4 drops in the slips was unlike Bears too although they were all sharp chances

Didn't see the email newsletter but the website now has a tab showing the offers

https://edgbaston.com/warwickshire-ccc/member-info/#benefits

Days 2 & 3 rained off. Pity. I wonder if they'll both forfeit innings to set up a run chase for Glamorgan tomorrow

94 mins

Andy Nash former Somerset chairman on probably my favourite cricket podcast this week. Well worth a listen. He suggests perhaps the worm might be turning given David Lloyd's, Mark Butcher, our own Farbrace and Peter Moores coming out over the last week or so defending the county game in the case of at least one of them performing a volte face now no longer employed by Sky/ECB/BBC and having to toe the party line in contrast to Aggers over the last couple of months hitching himself to the wrecking ball for obvious reasons.

https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/episode-85-suing-the-ecb-former-board-member-and-somerset-chairman-andy-nash-suggests-how-to-resist-its-destruction-of-english-cricket/

Impressed with both Hamza Shaikh (15) and Amir Khan (16) today and also the ground is up another notch with the seating and boundary fence as well as the humungous net at the Cape Hill End to prevent sixes leaving the ground. Can't be many county sides with a second XI/development ground like that. Like a mini Loughbrough now. Benjamin right on the stroke of lunch silly way to get out big booming drive when he should just block it out. Quite a dark green pitch and tomorrows weather won't alter things much

Was informed earlier today that Notts, Lancs and Essex are the reciprocal counties for Warwicks members to gain entry for CC matches. Of course not if/when Warks are playing there. Derbyshire apparently not this year so will seek confirmation on that.

Updated - only Notts and Lancs but both represent great news for Warks members

https://edgbaston.com/warwickshire-ccc/member-info/#benefits also suggests Essex