Ethan Bamber. Why can't we bring them through like this? He doesn't do anything special but he does the basics right over and over again, always putting the ball in the right areas. So consistent.

BristolBear wrote:

I think we got a bit unlucky that they managed to build that score. Umpires screwed us badly.
Davies and Simpson were both out but not given multiple times early in their innings. If they’re out early as they should have been, they don’t bat those 20 overs between them. So De Caires and Higgins come in on a tougher pitch, newer ball etc. and they probably struggle the same way we did. It was clear it got easier to bat the older the ball got and as the pitch dried more through the day.

This is a fair assessment.

Re. Outgrounds. I sometimes feel the idea is better than the reality. They often feel overcrowded and uncomfortable and the viewing is often terrible from your folding chair. The novelty quickly wears off with them. It's not nice using portoloos all day either.

Scarborough is good though.

Is it only points deduction worthy if its considered dangerous? I'm not sure.

This is proper Jamaica 1998 stuff, look at that ball Davies got, that ain't normal!

BosworthBear wrote:

If they have to reserve wickets for the Hundred why on earth didn't they plan ahead and use an outground?

Especially during the school holidays.

Unfortunately we seem Edgbaston obsessed these days!

Which outgrounds do you suggest? Rugby school was always rubbish and apparently Stratford used to cost a fortune.

Truth is Barwell has the arse and has put us on a minefield.

Burgess batting about a foot and half out of his crease to TRJ

I've seldom seen batting conditions so difficult.

It's jagging everywhere off the pitch. OHD would have had a field day with ball in hand here.

Green pitch, ball swinging, 4 down. Toss was vital here.

Bethell and Brookes in for Rushworth and Briggs.

Lost the toss, batting.

Fair play to Johal, he's been decent for the 2's lately and in the Birmingham League.

Shame Pieter Malan won't be playing. An absolute walking wicket.

Yeah only one team was winning this had it not rained and it weren't the home side.

GerryShedd wrote:

I know that I have defended our groundsman and his pitches on here, probably to the annoyance of others. But the fact that this match is being played on the same pitch that was used for Finals Day is very worrying - it's not surprising that it has deteriorated massively.
I get the fact that the Edgbaston square has to accommodate an enormous number of matches. But my suspicion, maybe unfounded, is that we will have a pristine new pitch for the first match in The Hundred.

The pitches for 4day cricket at Edgbaston are painfully slow and they just get slower and lower as the game goes on. Rhodes mentioned this in his post day interview with Radio WM's Mike Taylor yesterday, Robbo has mentioned it numerous times this season and last season. Its really hard work for the bowlers. My back hurts just watching Michael Burgess taking everything round by his ankles even on Day 1. And don't get me started on the Test match pitch!

It's not a knock on Barwell I must stress this, huge respect for him and his team, so hard working, it is a busy ground, so many matches, square gets a lot of use. I think it's just the way it is Edgbaston. It's never gonna be like Headingley or Old Trafford.

We don't exactly have a brilliant record of producing our own seamers through the pathway/academy, maybe the pitches are a factor? That might be a reach though I admit. An entirely different issue altogether.

This match won't live long in the memory.

Agreed 100% that somehow there will be something with a bit of pace and good carry for the Blundred though.

BristolBear wrote:

The keeper and slips seem to keep pointing to something Jennings is doing with feet when he’s coming down. That’s what OHD was pointing at too.

Suspect they’re all very unhappy with some of the decisions that have gone against them this morning.
Would be interested to know what it was all about.

Jennings was batting outside of his crease then advancing into the protected area. Think our fielders felt the umpires should have addressed it. I'm not sure what the protocol is to be honest.

Assume he's just helping out. Loads of lads played for the 2's this week. Shaikh, Maddy, Amir Khan and a few others etc all played for the ECB Midlands rep side this week, Garrett away on loan etc. Guess we were short.

Ackerman has been playing for Knowle and Dorridge this summer in the Birmingham League.

Seems a bit ill tempered out there at the moment.

Mousley gives it away so often.

Been very impressed with Lancashire. Been impressed with the discipline and commitment in the field. Balderson and Mitchell backed up Bailey and Williams really well. Both better bowlers than I thought, tricky.

Rhodes worked hard against some good bowling and nice to see him put up a score. Mousley looked fluent, reserve sweep off Morley was sublime. They bowled brilliantly at Hain, he barely had a loose ball to hit.

Hamza bowled well this morning. Not sure we got the tactics right against Balderson this morning though re. field placings.

An attritional day.

Strange old day, we generally bowled well for periods I thought, it's a slow pitch (am I allowed to say that on here?) but it's not a road and it definitely looked easier to bat on when the sun shone. There looks to be a bit of turn but slow turn as opposed to sharp turn. A fair few edges didn't carry. Barnard beat the edge of Baldersons bat many times.

Tom Bailey is a really admirable cricketer, it's well known he's a heavy wicket taker bit he batted very well today, he's got some shots and looked strong square through the off side. Could we have tested him with the short ball though? Probably haven't got the bowlers to do that without Brookes.

OHD was excellent and it was probably the best I've seen Barnard bowl. Hamza looks a bit loose and some of his histrionics were a bit odd, he seems to think everythings out. I can see why he's had some success though, you can see he has something.

Difficult to see how we force a win here, factoring in the weekends forecast, really needed them all out for 200. Very frustrating because Lancs are missing a few here.

Any news on Rushworth?

Edit to say: Robinson confirms Rushworrh has done his hamstring.

No idea. Wasn't obvious he had a problem at first, even to the players. Worrying though, Hamza is getting dealt with here.