BristolBear wrote:

The ECB had to ask the counties for the players. And only players who agreed to play and who’s clubs agreed were released.
A number of notable players said no, in order to rest or prioritise the 50 over competition.

We must have been very happy with our cover from the Seconds, to release 3 key First Teamers (including the Captain), then?!

Tayls79 wrote:

Don't quote me on this, but I think the entire competition is designed as a development competition and every team will be using youth and second team regulars. How this is policed and how England are expected to do well internationally with this format are the real points, in my view. I think it will work well for us and good to blend in and rotate the likes of Rhodes, OHD and Bresnan as we go into August.

I agree with you. I think the status of the RLC in ECB minds, is shown by having the First Class Counties game against India, overlapping with the first match in the RLC. They chose an XI, with little regard for many Counties team needs for the RLC. Presumably, as they thought some Counties would be well provided for, by having large Seconds squads (us being one - hence 3 players, one our Captain!).

Andy wrote:

Sidebottom then a toss up between Lamb and Yates.

Yep, Sidebottom and Lamb out.

We won the toss and chose to bat.

13 man Squad:-

Rhodes, Brathwaite, Briggs, Burgess, Hain, Hose, Lamb, Lintott, Mayers, Miles, Pollock, Sidebottom and Yates.

I guess Sidebottom will be one to miss out, but can't predict the other ?

IF (perhaps a big if ?), the Royal London Cup goes ahead, the first match is Glamorgan at Cardiff next Thursday (22/7). Our squad would be dramatically reduced anyway, because of the dreaded 100, but now we'll be 3 more first teamers down:-

https://edgbaston.com/news/three-bears-in-county-select-xi-to-face-india/

Rhodes, Yates and Miles are playing in the 3 day First Class Friendly against India at Chester-le-Street starting on Tuesday 20th - so they won't be available until the second RLC game, home to Notts on Sunday 25th.

The selection, along with all the other 1st class players taken out of the first round RLC games, once again shows the ECB commitment to the 50 over competition. It also clearly shows, our 50 over competition team will be staffed by many second teamers (and trial players from the Universities) ?!

Highveld wrote:

A good days play, in warm and humid conditions.

Malan, finally, showed why the club signed him, he was excellent today. Sibley found it harder, but he battled through and played some good shots.

Rhodes and Lamb have a good foundation to build on in the morning.

In the afternoon. Looking at the forecast, doubt we'll see any morning play, even the early afternoon looks a bit dodgy.

A Maiden Bears century for Malan - 101 NO. Sibley 53 NO. Ssscchh!

Bald_Reynard wrote:

Team:-

Yates, Sibley, Malan, Hain, Rhodes, Lamb, Burgess, Lintott, Miles, Norwell & Sidebottom.

As expected, Johal left out, but they've gone for Sidebottom as the extra seamer, instead of Bethell. And all the failing batsman have another chance !

We won the toss and chose to bat.

Hasn't it started well again for us - Yates out for a quack after 5 balls ?! There are a lot of nervous Bears batsman at New Road today - at the wicket and in the Clubhouse - this is the last red ball game for 6 weeks and many have a lot to prove !

Team:-

Yates, Sibley, Malan, Hain, Rhodes, Lamb, Burgess, Lintott, Miles, Norwell & Sidebottom.

As expected, Johal left out, but they've gone for Sidebottom as the extra seamer, instead of Bethell. And all the failing batsman have another chance !

We won the toss and chose to bat.

13 man squad:-

Rhodes, Bethell, Burgess, Hain, Manraj Johal, Lamb, Lintott, Malan, MIles, Norwell, Sibley, Sidebottom & Yates.

I guess Lintott will be playing and Johal won't make the starting lineup, but it will be interesting to see who else will be left out. Sidebottom or Bethell, or one of the (many !) failing batsmen ?!

Team:-

Pollock, Hose, Bethell, Yates, Rhodes, Hain, Lamb, Burgess, Miles, Lintott & Sidebottom.

So, whoever said Bethell would play, got it right. I was wrong on Sidebottom being out. And everybody expected Mayers to play !

Worcester won the toss and chose to bat first.

13 man squad:-

Rhodes, Bethell, Ethan Brookes, Burgess, Hain, Hose, Lamb, Lintott, Kyle Mayers, Miles, Pollock, Sidebottom and Yates.

I guess Ethan B and Sidebottom will miss out, with Jacob Bethell in again ?

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

I guess we'll be seeing Jake Lintott make his Championship debut on Sunday. As Danny B is with England, Jake is the only specialist spinner in the squad. He has also has been drafted in for the 2nd's in their (current) 4 day game against Lancs at Portland Road, presumably to get some red ball bowling action in Lancs 2nd innings today.

I agree that Jake will probably be playing on Sunday, but he never got chance to bowl in the Seconds game today, we had some 'declaration' bowling by a couple of our batsmen, to set up a target. We need 250 off 50 overs.

Mikkyk wrote:

Exiled Bear wrote:

Whatever happened to Lamb's legspin?

It got a one over trial in the blast against Derbyshire, which went for 9 runs.

Strange to not use it otherwise, albeit for this game it's not exactly a worn pitch so no problem from me with going for seamers only so far.

I'd say its pretty likely we'll see a bit of it in the 50 over competition. No Briggs or Lintott, spin duties will be handled by Yates, Mousley, Lamb and Bethell - depending on who's there as a batsman (probably all 4, given how short we'll be!).

BristolBear wrote:

They said on the Twitter feed both OHD and Bresnan miss out due to injury. OHD has a foot injury and it’s a calf issue for Bresnan.
With the forecast for days 1,3 & 4, I think it’s very ambitious to think anything other than a draw will be the outcome here.
So a big push for bonus points will be key. Get as far ahead of Essex as possible. Hope Derbyshire put up a fight against Notts, and that it gets curtailed by the weather too.

Strange then that they were both in a 13 man squad, which was announced only 24 hours before that Twitter message.

From the 13 man squad, Tim B and OHD (!) are not selected to start.

Lineup:-
Rhodes, Sibley, Yates, Malan, Hain, Lamb, Burgess, Briggs, Miles, Norwell & Sidebottom

Interesting that OHD has been dropped in favour of Sidebottom, he's been a regular CC starter this season. I guess either Ryan's performances in the Seconds recently (and Olly's !) have persuaded mangement of that - or he is carrying a bit of a knock ? The Captain has obviously also realised he IS good enough to fulfill the fourth seamers role and 'Old Man Bresnan' is not needed !

Durham won the toss and chose to bowl. Obviously, the start is delayed, because of rain. Looking at today's forecast, I can't see any play today. But it looks fine for tomorrow, so we should get a full day then. After that ...... well, not good. We just have to hope that it's the same for all the other teams battling out for the top 2 places in the group.

Team:-

Pollock, Hose, Yates, Rhodes, Hain, Lamb, Burgess, Bresnan, Miles, Briggs & Lintott.

Glad Yates is back, but it's interesting he's in for Brathwaite - I guess Carlos must be injured, he had brilliant bowling figures a couple of days ago.

We won the toss and put Notts in first.

BristolBear wrote:

Bald_Reynard wrote:

I guess Phoenix will be looking for another player next month as well then. What's the situation getting replacements in the 100?

As far as I can tell it’s chaos and no one really knows. There’s a supplementary draft coming up. But I’m not sure if that’s just for extra players or for injury/withdrawal replacements too.

Phoenix have replaced HB - with Somerset's Will Smeed - a batsman ! Strange - but then the 100 is strange ?!

Phoenix have replaced Henry Brookes - with Somerset's Will Smeed - a batsman ! Strange, but then the 100 is strange ?!

In fact Phoenix have had 4 replacements - in addition to Brookes going, Shaheen Afridi has been replaced by Adam Milne, Kane Williamson by Finn Allen and Adam Zampa by old Bear, Imran Tahir. With the exception of Tahir, I think that is a serious downgrading of the team. But what do I care, it's only the stupid 100 !

Highveld wrote:

Should this thread be moved into the "General cricket" area, as Warwickshire are not involved in this competition?

Yes, I think so !