Highveld is spot on. We over the last few years have really let ourselves down. The Blast is so there for the taking, but counties seem to continue to not step up and take the competition seriously. There is so much more that can be done to improve chances of success. Following the suggestions above would go along way to address our failings. Its not that hard, we can't continue to flop about year on year.

We have seen this side over the last few years, they are inherent bottlers. They have the talent but simply cant be trusted to deliver. They bowled lovely at Worcester and won us the game after the batters were probably 20 runs short. Yet 2 days later they bowl like drains. Lets just hope that they have a go day on Friday. Hope we win the toss and bat first.

Usually very harsh on the T20 setup but credit when it is due, that was a really big win. Also, begs the question why did Gleeson not play against Durham?

It is impossible to understand how the management works behind our T20 efforts. Yet another game goes by where we should have come back from a tuff away fixture with a win. We seem so unbothered, bad luck fellas, good effort. I am sure, if they put some focus and effort in we would do far better. Yesterday, please tell me how we did not select our T20 specialist Gleeson and instead opted for Miles who has yet to play a T20 game this season. Gleeson is on a contract for the T20, he has only just become available following injury, bowled lovely on 1st appearance and then not selected, If we had picked Gleeson we would have won yesterday. Gleeson bowling 4 overs would have easily turned over a 8 run defeat. Just Why?

Miles for Gleeson sounds like a good plan? Assume we are trying to not qualify?

Is Gleeson going to be playing in the T20 moving forward.

Think it is getting close to a must win today. How do you fancy a Friday evening, at Edgbaston, against local rivals, with old boys Brookes, Hose and Issac around to embarrass us.

I agree with your points Paulbear, however, due to pathetic planning we literally have no options. That is why the team has been unchanged. Guess the only one we could consider bringing in is Yates. Hoping Gleeson comes back in soon. We are terribly unbalanced and lacking in belief. Carrying Latham (not a T20 player), Mo (scratching around, desire?) Garton (bowls one over?), Smith (poor kid comes in 8), Lintott (form? not actually very good?).

It is really clear the squad for T20 is simply not good enough. They are competent cricketers, but they don't as a team have that thing that makes you a winner, lack of belief. Last year I got suckered in that they had everything in place, but they bottled it (by the way never understand why we don't with home advantage really set things up with pitch location and condition of wicket to really suit our team). The team is out of balance, carrying players, out of form, not available etc this starts with the management (pathetic job again), it makes it so much worse when the opposition are so weak.

They really dug that one out but fair play to the lower order. We are not yet firing with a number of players seemingly fighting for form. Anybody know when we are going to see Gleeson, he could make a huge difference in this side.

Is Gleeson back from IPL? any news on is injury and when he will play for the Bears?

I commented on the weakness of the T20 squad back on Friday. They have "performed" at a level in even worse than that could have been expected. The management really needs to take the flak for this, inept is not even close. Really hope the marketing team are on good form, they are going to do well to push tickets to watch that dross.

Pathetic, does not even cover it. Planning non existent, its a total shambles.

Has to be one of the weakest squads we have begun a T20 campaign with. Bears fans have been sold a pup.

That's the point, we have invested heavily. Yet every year, they mess it up. Either injured, unavailable or simply don't deliver. That is exactly the situation this year, again!!

Sorry, don't see it that way, we are bouncing along with seemingly no real plan. You mention young players, when in the last red ball game we had a 36 & 38 year old opening bowlers and when the 36 year old misses out, he will be replaced by a 35 year old. Great plan.

Sorry, I can't agree. Westwood has managed to achieve exactly the same as Robinson, a weakened Blast squad down to poor planning. Granted, he may not go the Robinson, panic mode approach, but we should never get ourselves into this position. As with any T20 game, where luck plays a significant part and individual brilliance can win a game, it may roll our way. However, surely the job of management is to give us the best possible chance, which they clearly have failed to do. If you look at the player options we have available, not sure we will need to worry about bottling the quarter final.

I get the "circumstances have worked against him" but it happens every single year. They knew that Ali is a liability with call ups and injuries, Webster would likely be called up, England could well take Woakes, Bethell and Mouse. Mo plays in the IPL. Personally, the blame lies firmly with management, I mean come on, they have signed players before. who are available for most of the qualifying games and then not around for the quarter final or finals day??

Forgot that we have lost Gleeson for the 1st 2 matches. Seriously, it is a joke trying to even get a team together. The fans really get short changed, after the marketing team go to town pushing the Blast.
The potential squad looks exactly what it is, short of at least 2 players with zero options.

Yep further underlines the point, Woakes and Mouse now missing at least the first 4 / 5 Blast Games. The Blast tournament is by far the most exciting county tournament yet the Bears "attempt" is undermined before it even starts. At least we wont have to witness the lads bottle it in the quarter finals this year.