The Crucible looks pretty full for the Snooker in an INDOOR Arena! Why are Cricket stadiums empty? Surely 3 to 4,000 could be allowed in to Edgbaston? Especially as it's open air sport!

Pity Olly Stone or Chris Woakes didn't play in this one. The latter plays so few games for the Bears. Is he playing in the IPL?

7/1 already! Rhodes gone cheaply. I do think we've had bad luck with Sibley's injury and Malan's Visa delay. Those two in the top order would certainly have given us a solid base with technique and experience. Still, it's a good start overall despite what can only be hoped is a blip in the current game after 4 matches. I think it'll be an innings defeat. Hope I'm wrong.

We might end up with zero bowling points the way Durham are going at 183/0! Only hope is if it rains!

110/0 after 58 overs. How can we be so comprehensively outplayed by an average Durham team? I hope we at least get some bowling points!

Yes, a very poor day. Bowling looks average although Norwell looks threatening. Could really do with Stone!

The wicket is rubbish. The ball is keeping low quite often with an unpredictable bounce. Somewhat of a recovery by Miles and Norwell!

25/6 now. Awful start!

What's happened to Henry Brookes? Such an exciting prospect getting knocked out of the park by Notts seconds! I hope this is only a temporary blip?

I do think the experienced head of Tim Bresnan has had an impact. He's a fighter and a winner which is the sort of mentality you need to influence the team, especially the youngsters.

Well done you Bears! Excellent knock by Rob Yates.

Interesting chase is on. Two sessions to score 208. Vihari has looked solid so far. Harmer has had a couple of overs before lunch. COYB!

We haven't got that last wicket! Lead is 247 now. To think they were 36/5, now 236/9. Probably end up as a draw. Unless we try and chase it down?

Hopefully we'll take that last wicket early. Then plenty of overs to chase down a modest but awkward total. But Essex are such a good team, and will make life difficult.

Miles and Briggs were largely untroubled by the new ball. They looked solid, and can possibly get well past 250 and earn the extra batting point. Good resilience late on with this 9th wicket stand.

A decent day in the end. Good bowling to keep their score below 300.
One thing: why can't the Government allow say 2,000 into the stadium in the open air? Especially those vaccinated or tested, obviously well spread apart in a 25,000 capacity stadium.The Crucible (indoors) people are watching the World Snooker - around 300 per session in a capacity of just under 1,000. I don't get it.

Good from Olly Stone. 2 important wickets to break that stand.

As the saying goes: catches win matches....

Norwell has a heel injury, hopefully back soon. He is somewhat injury prone? A lot of promise but rarely fit for a sustained period.

GerryShedd wrote:

Confirmation that Jonathan Trott is back in the coaching set up at Edgbaston:
https://edgbaston.com/news/warwickshire-confirm-trotts-return-to-edgbaston-in-consultant-role/

Good to hear. A true Bear