Good from Pollock. And I hope he learns from it. Too often I feel he takes attack from ball 1 overly literally.
He’s given himself a few balls or few overs in the last couple of games and seems better for it. He’s also batting the situation better.

The catch was definitely over the rope. Poor from the fielder to even try and claim it, but that’s Notts for you.
Unfortunately I’m not surprised the umpire who was relatively close didn't spot it, because the standard of domestic umpires has been abysmal for some time.

The issue is, we’ve not only lost to the injury and the hundred. We’ve lost players like Hose to the hundred, but they’ve gotten injured and we’ve then lost another player to replace him. I believe Hain was an injury replacement too.
We just seem to have been disproportionately effected.

That definitely wasn’t the greatest pitch in the world. Everyone seemed to struggle to score. Think perhaps our effort was more competitive than we at first thought.
Nice to see Brookes and Bethell contribute really well with the ball.

Really good from Burgess and Benjamin too. Though it did annoy me that Benjamin seemed more interested in 100 practice than building a score. If he’d have gone on, instead of going for glory, and played the bigger picture like Burgess and got an extra 20 runs or so, we probably win that match.

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.

I think this is something Reece Topley had done and has come back much stronger.
In fact he blames Hampshire’s refusal to let him have it done, as the reason he left.
Better to do it now and try get fit ASAP.

Update to the previous. Davies is joining because Lancashire are signing Phil Salt from Sussex.

Davies thinks he’s now behind Salt, Allen, and Jennings regarding batting at the top of the order. And can’t force out Vilas or Salt as a keeper because of his fingers.

Yes by all accounts Davies fingers are ruined.
Rumours are this is about him wanting to put himself back in the limelight again, remind a few people especially at the ECB that he still exists.
I don’t think anyone is trying to get into that England side as a keeper currently. Too many like Bairstow, Foakes, Banton, Bracey, already ahead in the queue.

Brathwaite isn’t currently in the hundred. But the list of players who are and aren’t change daily now.
He does also live permanently in Oxford for the last couple of years, so it’s more a question of will he be playing in the CPL? Or will he stay here, I’m guessing like most things currently it’s Covid dependant.

I suspect some players will be rested for the first few or rotated round. Just because of the amount of cricket they’ve played without a rest since April/May. The likes of Burgess, Lamb, Rhodes, Yates and Miles (when the latter 3 return).
OHD was in a protective boot on Friday night, so don’t expect him, doubt they’d play Bresnan until they need him in shape for the T20 and first class in September.
It sounds from what Robinson said we’re going to see the real youngsters, unknowns or players who haven’t played much, Mousley, Brookes, Bethell, Garrett, Benjamin, Kelley, Khan, Sidebottom, Johal, Van Vollonhoven. Be interesting how they go about it, as just throwing the youngsters in the deep end is no good. But equally, you don’t want senior first team players taking up too much of the work. Guessing a good mix and rotation of the first team players.

Interesting Pollock was in the squad. And the club usually say if they’re left out due to an injury. Wonder what’s gone on.
If we do qualify. I wouldn’t bother with Mayers again.
I’d have Benjamin a place or 2 higher. Then Bresnan at 8.
That way you’ve got 8 recognised batsmen/all rounders. Extra bowler in Bresnan and still have the potential of overs from Yates.
Ideally balanced.

GerryShedd wrote:

Just out of interest, what do we think of Yorkshire's sporting gesture when Lancashire's Steven Croft collapsed in agony in mid-pitch with what turned out to be cramp and the Yorkshire fielders declined to run him out? Croft recovered and went on to win the match for Lancashire.
The fact that this might be the difference between the Bears qualifying and being eliminated will not, of course, influence our views in any way.

I’d just say 2 things. Run him out, then you can take back the appeal if he is really hurt. (Cramp isn’t seriously hurt, Croft was sprinting again the next ball)
Also, I guarantee Yorkshire run him out if they need to win to qualify.

No matter what, I’d like the club to just acknowledge that next year they need at least 1 preferably 2 top level T20 opening batsmen.
Go get someone like Chris Lynn, Aaron Finch or Conway. The absolute key moment of the game. Because thats why we’re now relying on other results, because in the most important part of the game, we’re not as good.
I’d drop Pollock and have Hose down at 3.
They’ve got good spinners, got a good middle order, a good keeper/bat, we’d have Bresnan, Brookes and Stone at the death but obviously injury has stopped that. They just need to give those players the support in the most crucial part of the game, which I’d put decent money on us being possibly the worst average power play score out of all the counties.

Does the average points per game set up now because of Derbyshire help or hinder us?

So, I have a question for you (apologies I’m assuming you’re South African by the name). I’ve spent large amounts of time in South Africa. I love the country, I hate what it’s doing to itself currently in Gauteng and KZN.
I’ve always thought the biggest loser in all this is South African cricket. If you look at the talent drain, and the national teams performance vs South African qualified talent spread around the world.
Can you see it being fixed from the South African side any time soon, or is it so political, that CSA stands no chance?

First things first, despite what anyone says, having a British passport simply means that player has the right to work in Britain. It doesn’t mean they have a right to equal opportunity or access to the clubs resources. That’s an active choice the club makes. The club could equally choose to not play anyone who has failed in SA and come over here because they have that right.
I would argue, that choice, means the club contributed to the club failing to meet its corporate social responsibilities and obligations to the community, and those who have grown up locally, and have invested time in the clubs infrastructure. Which many would argue is almost as big a purpose of the club as winning, especially considering it’s recent poor history of producing talent and it’s inability to maximise the talent within Birmingham. You could also point out that the club after all, does receive funding in part to produce local talent, which this process jeopardises.

Secondly, it seems to be an ever increasing phenomenon, of young South African players moving elsewhere. It’s become a matter of scale and what is reasonable. Again it’s nothing against them personally, but their presence removes opportunity for others. And the issue is that it’s a one way street, citizenship or overseas rules elsewhere mean that British players can’t go elsewhere. This is their only option.
Now 1 or 2 every couple of years given a chance, no issue. Those players you’ve mentioned, 7 over a 30+ year period. But as I said it’s a matter of scale, it would be 3 or 4 that have played for the twos this year alone, and seem in line to play in the RLODC. I wouldn’t be surprised if every other county has similar numbers in second teams and potentially playing in the RLODC. Then another 3 or 4 next year?
Just physically how can a 16 year old compete for an opportunity with an 18/19 year old, so their development is stunted, potentially permanently, because of an easy short term option.
And for the record yes, I was hugely against KOLPAKs, I thought it was absolute nonsense, created an attitude and a group of mercenary players willing to play for the highest bidder, that actually often had little to no long term benefit to a club. It was a system far too easy to abuse, and yes blocked opportunities for young British players. There are of course exceptions, and some were wonderful servants to clubs. But on the whole it was a legal loop hole, that was manipulated by players and clubs to get ready made players cheaper than investing long term in their own youngsters. Clubs have a responsibility not just to themselves but the game as a whole, and these sort of short term decisions endanger the growth and sustainability of the game in this country.

Highveld wrote:

If a player qualifies for a British passport they are British, regardless of where they lived as a child.

Think this is true to an extent. But when those players have failed to make it as a pro in SA, one even captaining the SA U19’s I believe, that’s a different story than pitching up here because their parents moved.
I appreciate there are some serious political barriers to many of these players, but when did Warwickshire, or even county cricket become a charity to support young South African cricketers and address those issues?
What can’t be denied is that if these players are picked, local Warwickshire or English players who have lived their whole lives in this country lose out. Which undermines the academy system.
You might have a real gem on your hands; but you don’t know what players you have until you give them an opportunity, but that’s impossible to know if that opportunity is blocked.
And whether it’s a cliche or not, that opportunity should be prioritised for the player that’s come through the academy since he was 9 and has dreamed of this, not a player that would be just as happy at any of the other 17 counties, and is just as likely to walk away if he gets a better offer elsewhere.

When I saw Notts, Essex, Durham and Worcestershire, I wasn’t particularly optimistic.
But they got more wins in these first 10 matches than in the previous 2 seasons combined. So that’s a massive step forward.
Hopefully they can get Bresnan and OHD fit by September. Briggs back too. Get Malan re-signed and back in this form.
And anything can happen in just 4 matches and some momentum.

paulbear wrote:

How wonderful that yet again, the games will feature hardly any weekend cricket and a final that goes into October from Tuesday-Friday. Shows how much value is put on first-class cricket.

But look what happens when England get pumped in the Ashes down under. Everyone will be looking for an answer. It’ll be obvious, it’s on the ECB for mismanaging first class cricket, or the players for not performing.
But the ECB and their lap dogs like Root and Silverwood will come out and blame the counties and county cricket. They’re shameless.

This is the nonsense that the hundred created.
What the ECB fails to notice, acknowledge or god forbid correct, is that none of the other franchise competitions around the world endangers their own domestic FC or List A competitions.

I’ve even seen the ECB trying to take credit for the Pakistan series win, by saying it’s the culture. No, it’s counties producing world class players, playing in strong competitions.
How can they expect to win the World Cup again, when players won’t even be playing the format.

I think he and Rashid are similar in regards to being more effective in white ball, but for different reasons.
Rashid lacks patience, he can’t bowl 3 or 4 overs on the same spot with his stock ball. He wants to try things.
I think Lintott lacks the control to do so, which is just part of being a wrist spinner, but you can get away with it more in whit ball because as you say, players can’t wait, they just go at everything.