No denying that was poor this morning.
But I also think it was hugely unlucky.

That pitch was placid yesterday, very sedate paced, the ball was just getting to the stage where the kookaburra gets soft and stops moving. We were well placed when the bad light and rain intervened.

Suddenly we’ve got a pitch that’s been undercover and it’s moving off the pitch with rested bowlers. Batsmen are fresh at the crease effectively. It was a perfect storm of bad circumstances.
As we can see, now it’s been uncovered, sun and wind on it, it’s dried off and offering little.

Don’t get me wrong, not impossible to battle through it. But definitely hard to do in those circumstances.
All made far worse, by the fact we let them get 100 runs more than they should have. They were 67-4. We let them build partnerships.
If we bowl better, we’re not following on now, and it’s far less of an issue.

The biggest issue this morning was the 1030 start just as it’s been the last two days!

BristolBear wrote:

No denying that was poor this morning.
But I also think it was hugely unlucky.

That pitch was placid yesterday, very sedate paced, the ball was just getting to the stage where the kookaburra gets soft and stops moving. We were well placed when the bad light and rain intervened.

Suddenly we’ve got a pitch that’s been undercover and it’s moving off the pitch with rested bowlers. Batsmen are fresh at the crease effectively. It was a perfect storm of bad circumstances.
As we can see, now it’s been uncovered, sun and wind on it, it’s dried off and offering little.

Don’t get me wrong, not impossible to battle through it. But definitely hard to do in those circumstances.
All made far worse, by the fact we let them get 100 runs more than they should have. They were 67-4. We let them build partnerships.
If we bowl better, we’re not following on now, and it’s far less of an issue.

This is a fair comment.

BosworthBear wrote:

The biggest issue this morning was the 1030 start just as it’s been the last two days!

And the stand now rather proving my point.

Even through we benefited the first two days I don’t know why Counties aren’t complaining about this. Every county who wins the toss will field. Surely they remember what a farce the old Natwest Trohy finals used to be!

Where is all the rain at Worcester that we have had in Halesowen which is not that far away. I do not want to lose to this lot, it has been so long since we lost to them in a CC game, that I cannot even remember when it was.

Just had a quick look through my Warwickshire Yearbooks to see when the last time we lost v Worcestershire in the CC and I think it was a 2nd Division game - in 2000.

I'm over the border due west in Wales and it's been raining in short bursts all day.

My goodness we do moan on this forum. Is Warwickshire the only team entitled to win? Comments that Davies does not deserve to be in the side and yet he is one of the most successful batsmen in the CC this season. As for being captain well we did not do too badly in the whiteball games. - a lot of teams did worse. With Hain missing most of the season and plenty of injuries to bowlers there are excuses. Perhaps criticism should be levelled at management - coaches etc. Just my take on the picture.

There haven't been many moans about the captain in the last 2 days on here but we have heard plenty about the management but I think we are all so despondent that nothing will be done, that we have given up on Robinson/Frost moving on.

Yes our fans do like a moan, that’s for sure! Most comments levelled at the management/coaching are fair I think but in the championship I think we’ve just been one strike bowler away from being towards the top in my opinion. It’s the lack of being able to take 20 wickets that’s cost us, turn a couple of our 7 draws into wins and it makes a huge difference. Rushworth being injured certainly harmed us a lot and yes, this goes back to the management relying on an ageing seam attack.

Play abandoned so now we have the 1030 start again tomorrow and start still short of parity. Could really have done with a couple of hours more today!

So realistically need to bat until tea tomorrow, bit of rain would help, and that should get a draw.

The Blast defeat was gutting for a couple of reasons and the most immediate here is it's meant the end of the season. Looks like Lancashire have all the momentum for relegation so don't think we really need to fight to avoid that. With it being the end of the season it's also pretty obvious the team has played below its' ability more often than at it or beyond it. And that's depressing. As others have said I think the batting is nearly there. If Simmons does properly break through next season that's one fast bowler and comes down to OS recruitment for another.

BosworthBear wrote:

Play abandoned so now we have the 1030 start again tomorrow and start still short of parity. Could really have done with a couple of hours more today!

So frustrating. The best time to bat on this pitch is clearly the late afternoon and evening sessions, when it’s dried out from being undercover and the overnight dew this time of year.
Twice we’ve been robbed of batting at the best time of the day.

LeicesterExile wrote:

I'm over the border due west in Wales and it's been raining in short bursts all day.

My goodness we do moan on this forum. Is Warwickshire the only team entitled to win? Comments that Davies does not deserve to be in the side and yet he is one of the most successful batsmen in the CC this season. As for being captain well we did not do too badly in the whiteball games. - a lot of teams did worse. With Hain missing most of the season and plenty of injuries to bowlers there are excuses. Perhaps criticism should be levelled at management - coaches etc. Just my take on the picture.

Amen

Ton for Rhodes, outstanding knock under the circumstances.

He strikes me as a player playing with no baggage right now.
We’ve always known he’s an excellent player. No captaincy and clarity about where he’s going next year has meant he seems to be able to just bat and not worry about other things.
Great shame to lose him.

BristolBear wrote:

He strikes me as a player playing with no baggage right now.
We’ve always known he’s an excellent player. No captaincy and clarity about where he’s going next year has meant he seems to be able to just bat and not worry about other things.
Great shame to lose him.

Totally agree, will be a big loss.

Notts and Lancashire have both lost so if we can hold on for a draw, it will be a good result.

Yup. Raining now as well so I think that just about wraps up a draw. Hope Hamza gets the chance to bat on a bit further. I've seen plenty of good 30s from him, a fifty when under pressure would do him a lot of good I think.

Despite the obvious downer feel at the moment, there have been a few occasions this year when they've rallied after a setback and shown resilience. More of this!

Match drawn.

A good draw in the end which should see us safe for this season