Warwickshire CCC unofficial fans forum
bearsfans.org.uk
Member
Joined:
Posts: 935

There will be at least one change to the team with Chris Rushworth, probably, having played his final game against Essex. I'd also expect Dan Mousley to return. I'd also like to see Kai Smith and Chris Benjamin been given a chance, with Rhodes and Mousley opening the batting and Ed Barnard leading the side.
A batting order of

Rhodes/Mousley/Hain/Barnard/Smith/Benjamin & Burgess is probably the strongest top 7 we can field right now. Obvious if Chris Woakes was available, hed drop in the order at 6 or 7.
For Bowlers, OHD/ Briggs plus 2 others

Change is needed, the above change to the team would be a small step in the right direction.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 227

Davies the batsman doesn't deserve to be dropped although I agree as a 4 day captain he lacks tactical and motivational abilities.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 935

Positive change is needed, having a demotivated ex captain is likely to be a negative towards the teams performance, therefore it is logical to leave him out for this one game.
It gives the new leader a clean sheet to influence and guide the team.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 177

I assume Highveld is being provocative. I can't see what Benjamin or Mousley have ever done to deserve a place in our red ball team, whilst Hamza Shaikh is surely worth sticking with.
Meanwhile, I'm praying for a lot of rain next week.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 935

People were asking for change, I was just suggesting possible changes.

As Albert Einstein said "To keep doing the same thing and expecting different results, is madness".

Member
Joined:
Posts: 949

If this team is able to get up off the canvas and put in a good performance against Notts I’d be staggered.
Not because they’re not capable of it, but they just look broken. All the confidence seems to be drained from them. Those in charge are already scrambling to save themselves, by shifting blame.
The disquiet is obvious to all by the play on the pitch, and there are those amongst us that have been privy to information confirming it as such behind the scenes too. (No I won’t be saying how, because that’s a betrayal of trust, so accept it or not).
The leadership is not there on so many levels, building a balanced squad that can compete on all fronts, funding recruitment, inspiration & motivation, and repeated demonstrations of tactical ineptitude.

Super Moderator
Joined:
Posts: 1547

Highveld wrote:

People were asking for change, I was just suggesting possible changes.

As Albert Einstein said "To keep doing the same thing and expecting different results, is madness".

Yes but Albert Einstein never had to go out to bat in fading light on a dodgy pitch against Allan Donald so what would he know?
(PS - yes, I agree that changes have to happen - in a way, the disastrous nature of the Essex defeat may have done the Club a favour in focusing minds on the need for change)

Member
Joined:
Posts: 935

Old Albert was good with light, which is significantly faster than even Alan Donald at his best!

I'd like to hear what changes other here would like, but one thought, toxic workplaces are created by in most cases bad senior leadership, so it could be that middle managers, position coaches in the cricket context, may not be the real cause of the issue, and they may not even be able to perform their role properly, due to presuures from above.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 949

100% senior leadership plus cricket coaches.

If you asked the senior club management what their aim was for their job. Not 1 would answer “win trophies and make Warwickshire the most successful county and grow the game in the county”.

You’d get, make edgbaston a top venue for live sport, conferences and weddings. Maximise revenue through investment into a redeveloped ground.
Continue being a venue for test matches and international sport.

The way we judge success needs to change. And that means hiring people in the head coach role and director of cricket role that work together to achieve those aims.

Super Moderator
Joined:
Posts: 1547

What would senior management say about success criteria? I think they would say "all of the above" , including success on the pitch. The latest Annual Report reflects this.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 268

I'd like Smith to come in to the team along with Mousley and Woakes (if available).
I wouldn't sack Davies as captain until after this game but, as has been said all along, he is not leader in terms of tactics and motivation. We are short of leadership options but Burgess seems a good fit in the short term with OHD vice captain.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 935

Surely it is better to make the, needed, change now to help end the season on a positive note, and start to repair the toxic workplace culture that exists?

Of the current squad, Ed Barnard seems the obvious choice, burgess and OHD as vice captains would be a good choice.

Nothing Robinson said was convincing, or gave an impression that he even knew what caused the situation, and definately not that he had the answers to turn the situation around.

The phrase "Dead man walking" came to mind.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 268

Highveld wrote:

Surely it is better to make the, needed, change now to help end the season on a positive note, and start to repair the toxic workplace culture that exists?

Of the current squad, Ed Barnard seems the obvious choice, burgess and OHD as vice captains would be a good choice.

Nothing Robinson said was convincing, or gave an impression that he even knew what caused the situation, and definately not that he had the answers to turn the situation around.

The phrase "Dead man walking" came to mind.

The head coach does look a dead man walking. In the interview he seemed irked at the suggestion that they were lacking "fight". Call it what you want but they are certainly lacking the minerals to win cricket matches, and that stems from the lack of leadership.
It would be a bold call to strip Davies of the captaincy but I agree that Barnard could at least galvanise the team. Robinson put his neck on the block with his choice of skipper so they both need to go to break us out of this culture of failure.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 935

It would be better if Robinson and Davies resigned today.

Appoint Ed Barnard as captain and make Ian Westwood interim head coach.

Davies should not be involved at Trent Bridge, to allow the new captain and coach the maximum opportunity to make a fresh start.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 1355

Early forecast, very early admittedly, would suggest a drawn game here. I mean we won't lose in 4 sessions again will we?!

Member
Joined:
Posts: 319

Agree with your point that Barnard would be a great captaincy pick, he leads by experience and he's talismanic. He typifies the spirit and the style in which Warks play (or want to play).

Don't think Robinson or Davies will go as soon as that though, or even in the off season, however the club do seem to be taking this review seriously.

Highveld wrote:

It would be better if Robinson and Davies resigned today.

Appoint Ed Barnard as captain and make Ian Westwood interim head coach.

Davies should not be involved at Trent Bridge, to allow the new captain and coach the maximum opportunity to make a fresh start.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 935

The club need 5 points to ensure safety.

Surely it is negligence by the senior management not to make the changes to give the best chance of securing those points?

The Robinson/Davies combination hasn't worked so far, why would it work in the last game?

Member
Joined:
Posts: 656

Not sure the suggestion of leaving out Rhodes is a good idea. Just because he had a poor game v Essex, so did all batmen. He is in form has had his best season with the bat and I think he would relish a chance to score some runs to help us survive. Not sure that Woakes would be allowed to play but what a boost that would be if he could. I would not even want Benjamin near the team or Mousely who hasn't had a good bat since The Hundread and didn't score many then.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 935

Not sure who suggested leaving Ehodes out, he'd definately play if I was selecting the side. He has been totally professional and commited since he announced his move.

It's disapointing that he felt he needed to leave.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 8

Highveld wrote:

Not sure who suggested leaving Ehodes out, he'd definately play if I was selecting the side. He has been totally professional and commited since he announced his move.

It's disapointing that he felt he needed to leave.

Had this been a dead rubber I would have put Kai in for Rhodes, he is leaving after all.

However with 5 points needed, Rhodes and Davies must play. Woakes would be good in place of Rush worth but who knows!