Very well batted by Burgess. I liked the way he battled, he earned every run. He hit some lovely looking shots too and managed the tail really well.
One thing I think we might have overlooked is the influence of Malan in this innings. We didn’t immediately go from 20-1 to 30-2 like we’ve seen a lot recently. Getting to 100-2 even with the mini collapse of Hain and Lamb afterwards means there’s a platform for the rest that we haven’t seen too often for this season or last.

Think Worcestershire bowled a little bit better than we have thus far.

I’m expecting a wash out tomorrow, which is a shame because I suspect with 4 days we could get a positive result. Got very unlucky today with the ball passing the outside edge so often.

I'm assuming that both sides will be accepting that it's going to be a draw today and are just playing for the points available - no declarations or joke bowling to set up a target as in the "good" old days.

BristolBear wrote:

This is how to build an innings. Don’t lose lots of wickets early. Stay in, take the shine off the ball, put overs in the bowlers legs and build a platform.
Apart from the 4th innings against Essex that must be our best start to an innings all year.
Just do the same after lunch. They can’t let this turn from 95-1 to 150-5. Because of the weather, looks like we’ll lose a whole day, you’ve got to think the best chance of forcing a win is batting once, put up a huge score and try to force the follow on.

Surely the Captain has to drop down the order now. He's had a poor start to the season with his batting (great with his bowling) and simply doesn't look like he'll get a score at the moment, opening. With Malan here now and Yates doing so well, they should be the opening partnership - and obviously the ideal left / right hand combination. I'd try Rhodes at 4 or 5 - move Lamb to 3 (he's better technically than Hain - and has better concentration), with Hain at 4 or 5, competing with Rhodes. Burgess has cemented his No. 6 position now and so Bresnan becomes the 'sixth batsman' - who can 'bowl a bit' (ie he's not the front line bowler he was) and share duties with Rhodes ?

GerryShedd wrote:

I'm assuming that both sides will be accepting that it's going to be a draw today and are just playing for the points available - no declarations or joke bowling to set up a target as in the "good" old days.

I think the 8 points for a draw has killed all that. Which is a shame. And also deeply annoying as at the end of this we’ll be on almost identical points with Worcestershire despite us winning 2 and them none.
Bonus points also badly effecting us. We don’t score enough runs and we let other sides score too many. This morning being a prime example, got a couple of wickets, took the new ball and then bowled very poorly.

2nd game in a row we've failed to bowl the opposition out?

Draw. 13 points. Worcestershire look pretty handy to be fair. Our group is so close points wise.

We move.

Ridiculous to have 8 points for a draw! I wonder which idiot thought that was a good idea?

Root wasn't it?

He wanted teams to bat longer, have players to be able to bat long test match style innings.
Which a lot of the time means a draw is most likely.
But also forgets that bowling is a rather large part of the sport too.

Final day report from cricinfo, including a great tribute to Jane Hyatt, that many of us knew
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/county-championship-2021-1244186/warwickshire-vs-worcestershire-group-1-1244253/match-report-4

Yes, a nice report from George, paying tribute to Jane. He told me a week or so ago that she was very ill. She was a formidable lady and a true Bear. RIP.

Sadly MND is a vicious cruel desease, with no cure.