https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/60617043

Norwell is first seam bowling reserve in the England Test team for the West Indies. With Robinson's injury, Mahmood is now in the 12 man squad for the First Test, but our Liam is on standby, in case of other injuries on the Tour.

Jason Behrendorff would be my Western Australia pick. An outright bowler - but that 'leftie' many feel we need. Experienced (31), with a good record in red and white ball. Played for Sussex in 2019 (T20), so some knowledge of English conditions - though one downside, is that his stint there was cut short, because of a back injury. I don't know his injury record since.

I wonder whether our Championship and 50 over Overseas player will be either Cameron Green or Jhye Richardson:-

https://edgbaston.com/news/warwickshire-appoint-mason-and-sheikh-in-new-bowling-coach-roles/

I guess we will now be looking at a bowler / all rounder to replace Bresnan. The fact that the WCCC website highlights the work Matt Mason has done with Green and Richardson, could mean they're lining one of them up for the Overseas berth ? In any event, I wouldn't be surprised if the Overseas player comes from the Western Australia / Perth Scorchers squad, aided by Mason's recruitment.

Good news that Mason has been confirmed. As said in TLB's earlier post, he has a good pedigree.

And I'm pleased about Mo Sheikh. He's had to do a lot recently with Pop going. He's a great bloke as well. I'm sure he'll be a success.

And I was right in my reading of the Cricketer report, about another Coach coming in. I still would have liked it to have been a new Batting Coach though - nothing really against Frosty, but I think he's reached his limit in what he can do. Perhaps JT, will take on a more hands on First team batting coaching role now though - and leave TF with the Seconds / Academy (and perhaps Fielding coaching).

On the bowling coaching side, I wonder whether we've got any Spin Coaching now. Mason and Sheikh will be fine on the Seam work, but we miss Jeets' spin bowling input - does anyone know if he's still involved at Edgbaston (or anyone else) ?

A bit of a curveball. Matt Mason is about to be appointed. A name not mentioned in previous reports - everyone was expecting an AD return.

https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/countycricket/warwickshire_turn_to_matt_mason_bowling_coach_role.html

And note that the Cricketer report says we are close to, "appointing another Coach". Could that be a new Batting Coach?!

https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/countycricket/jonathan_trott_returns_to_warwickshire_as_assistant_coach.html

5 candidates on the short list for Bowling Coach. Allan Donald and Donovan Miller at the top of the list, along with Dale Steyn, Mo Sheikh and Shaun Tait. Interviews have been held and a final announcement is expected in the next day or two.

JT has had a promotion at Edgbaston - from Batting Consultant to Assistant Coach. He goes in as No 2 to MR and will be responsible for more than just batting work. Frosty (for the moment ?!) stays as official Batting Coach.

https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/countycricket/jonathan_trott_returns_to_warwickshire_as_assistant_coach.html

I would say this means it pretty certain, that our Overseas Championship player will be an all rounder.

https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/countycricket/paul_farbrace_turns_down_sri_lanka_head_coach_role_stay_warwickshire.html

Farb has turned down Sri Lanka to stay at Edgbaston - for this season at least.

https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/countycricket/graeme_welch_to_move_warwickshire_hampshire_bowling_coach.html

A very sad bit of news this morning. Graeme Welch has left Edgbaston (again !), to go to Hampshire. I'm really surprised, he seemed such a key member of the Coching staff - and was probably the best Coach we've had in many a year - so many WCCC bowlers owe a future to him. I don't know if its down to money, or a feeling that he'd be better off at Hampshire. I guess we'll find out more soon. I hope we've got a good replacement lined up.

If we were lose a Coach, I fully expected it to be our Batting Coach. I do think Frostie has had his day in that job and we seriously need new ideas and skills in that role ?

Jacob got 185 off 110 balls (28x4 & 7x6) as Young England Lions B Captain, in their 50 overs match against Young Lions A, a few days ago (I don't think the A and B represent a first and second XI). Even with that, the B team only won by 1 wicket (406 for 9 - with 1 ball left - against 405 for 6) ! He didn't bowl.

https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/bob_willis_trophy/lauren_clark_wants_bob_willis_trophy_carry_meaning_late_husband.html

Bob Willis's Widow has been talking about the future of the Trophy. She thought last seasons formula was ideal, as it led to the County Championship title. This season's has had less meaning - though, if it doesn't carry on, she'd be happy it the Trophy resided (for ever!) at Bob's old County!

The ECB are looking at alternative formats for it, including a sort of pre season 'Community Shield' - Red ball Champions v White ball (RLC I guess - even they wouldn't suggest T20, would they?!). I would have thought a much better solution, is the County Champions versus MCC fixture, which traditionally opens the season?

Highveld wrote:

Cricinfo report on the day, also confirms the conference format will, probably, remain next season, and the club have decided not to sign an overseasn batsman for next season.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/bob-willis-trophy-2021-1279896/warwickshire-vs-lancashire-final-1279470/match-report-2

Good to see the club will continue to back our young batsmen.

With the signings of Davies and Benjamin (and only the release of Pollock), I always expected we wouldn't be looking at ANY more batsmen (Overseas or otherwise). I think our Overseas player next season will be a Seam bowler - probably a Left Armer. We have desperately needed a good replacement for Barker, for ages. And it definitely won't be Holder!

Lancs 57 for 8 now ! I know winning the toss was crucial at this time of year (and putting them in), but our seam bowling has been immaculate - Norwell, Miles and Johal (I guessed he'd be in, he really has been amazing for the Seconds in the last month or so), all totally bamboozling the Lancies !

Andy wrote:

Squad is up. No Holder. Johal, Sidebottom and Garrett are all in. So is Benjamin. And the rest of the usual faces.

I guess one of the three will start in place of Woakesy. A fair bet could be Manraj, he's had a cracking end to the season with the Seconds and promises much for the future. It could be Ryan though - either because he might be being released soon (a bit of a swansong), or because he still has something to offer.

Wonderful. Even at Lunchtime, I never thought we'd finish it. What great seam bowling, and great fielding, to match an awesome batting display yesterday.

I really am SO proud of my Bears. Congratulations to all, but particular to Mark Robinson, for engineering this renaissance in our fortunes. With just a couple of 'tweaks' (ie with Overseas signings and a new Batting Coach) I really feel this team could go far.

U Bears!

Lilly wrote:

6 DOWN!

U Bears!

Exiled Bear wrote:

Lost the toss, not a great start!

Yep, winning the toss in September is pretty significant.

Team:-

Sibley, Yates, Hain, Rhodes, Lamb, Burgess, Bresnan, Woakes, Briggs, Miles & Norwell.

So Yates in for Benjamin and Briggs for Bethell (from Headingley). Probably what most of us would have gone for, given CB's recent scores ?

14 man squad:-

Rhodes, Benjamin, Bethell, Bresnan, Briggs, Burgess, Hain, Holder, Lamb, Miles, Norwell, Sibley, Woakes & Yates

So Briggs is back in. Which 3 will miss out - I would say Holder is a cert again and Briggs will come in for Jacob from the Headingley team, but the other one - Yates once more ?