Queue here for the bus to Rugby and back:
https://tickets.edgbaston.com/resources/samp/EDG/EDG_2024_Rugby_School_Festival_Bus_Travel_NZ8atlfrOmVR9PebOlxD3iGHI%3D.html

Interesting points re strike rate.
I guess that if a side often bats second and has a strong bowling attack (like the Bears), the batters are more able to pace themselves towards a lowish target. I wouldn't fault Sam Hain's judgment in steadily steering the Bears to their target in the last two games.

I thought it was a tricky pitch for batting - the fourth time it had been used.
I agree the camera work was pretty dreadful, far worse than any other recent efforts at other grounds.
A bit worried that Sam Hain seemed to be having problems with an injured leg while batting though if he has to drop out, no doubt Benjamin will step up at number four.

The G-Men look like good signings.

I am, as may be obvious from my posts, a "glass half full" man. But even I think that the continued selection of Chris Benjamin is strange and not necessarily in his interests because he must go out to bat feeling like a walking wicket.
Maybe today is the day he proves us wrong.

Thanks for this.
As usual, it's a really interesting read, if slightly depressing in places.
Regarding the pavilion redevelopment, I guess it's impossible to say what would have happened if it hadn't been done; but it's reasonable to assume that Edgbaston's allocation of major international matches would have dried up more or less completely. I actually loved the old pavilion and spent many happy hours there but it was no longer fit for purpose.

Yes, it's on youtube and it's in the first over. If you freeze it at the right moment, it definitely looks out.
Highveld says Sue Redfern is an excellent umpire and I would never doubt his word; but I think she got this one wrong.

Alex Davies says: "We had a few decisions that were really questionable - we ran Bedingham out early and it wasn't given."
I missed that - and so did the umpire - but that could have made a massive difference because he played a superb attacking innings.

Here's my (fairly brief) report (and I know it should just be "Bears" but I didn't write the headline):
https://deepextracover.com/2024/06/vitality-blast-match-report-birmingham-bears-v-durham/

In the end, came closer than I thought they would.
That was a disastrous start to his first over by Hasan Ali - a no-ball with the free hit going for six, sixes off his next two balls, then a wide and then a four. So with three balls of the over to go, he's conceded 25. And when Mousley replaces him, his first over goes for 22.
Those two overs played a big part in the defeat.

Weather forecast not looking too great.
Who would have thought that it might rain in Manchester?

Oh ye of little faith!

Well, well, well - the return of Mr. Norwell - 4-21.

Barnard four overs for 67 runs and out for 0 - not exactly making a case for promotion to the full Bears team.

KingofSpain wrote:

A few observations on yesterday's game:

The batting is obviously a concern.
The fielding is sharp.
Davies captain's really well in this format.
Garton. The jury's out but he could be a game changer once he finds his rhythm and has a few shots in his locker.
Mousely needs to find some consistency with the bat.
Benjamin is a liability currently.
Get rid of that awful stadium announcer screeching "bring the noise" every ten minutes. Bring back Becky Wood.

The announcer asked us to indulge in what she called the Vitality clap. Apparently it's not, as I first thought, an unpleasant disease.

I think the sales would have been at the lower end of expectations.
There were lots of empty seats in the Wyatt stand so I'm very surprised if it showed limited availability on-line.

The screechy voiced announcer says:
"Come on, you bearsfans, who wants a "Sack Benjamin" t-shirt? Let's hear you. Like me, you're here to make a lot of noise, not to enjoy the cricket. Let's hear your chants of "We want Burgess" and "Where's Barnard?" And how about a loud "You bearsfans!!!!"

PS - her next door neighbours say: "Don't sack her. It's so peaceful here when she's away at the cricket."
PPS - gerryshedd would like to make clear that the above post is not sexist in any way. He would be equally sarcastic about a male announcer with a high pitched, screechy voice.

If I'm reading correctly on here, we have a pace attack who are all crock, one player who is a complete passenger, another who can field but otherwise doesn't deserve a place and we have the wrong wicket keeper. And all but two of the batters play too many stupid shots.
How on earth will we ever manage to win a game?

You could be right!
Just parked my car next to two blokes who are putting on nun’s clothes. Either they are going to the cricket or there’s something very dodgy going on.

With the Bears having had to travel back from Durham late last night, it's a bit like the bride turning up late and hung over for her wedding after a night out with the best man.