Yes, the suggestion is that Will Rhodes is set to leave immediately. That would be a great blow - he has been a tremendous asset to the Club and, of course captained the Championship winning team. There could be all sorts of reasons for him going so I'm not going to start allocating blame, just to say that, if true, it's a great shame - and to thank him for his contributions to the Club.

It was good to see Chris Wright back for Leicestershire. As was pointed out on a different thread some time ago, he got a very raw deal with his drugs ban. I hope that he has a successful time in the rest of the season.
And a brief shout out for Craig Miles who has been given some stick on here - 3-16 today wasn't too bad.

Andy wrote:

Interested to learn that Leicestershire will apparently be charging a fee to watch their live streamed home games from August 11th...

A few more performances like this and Leicestershire might have to pay their supporters to watch them!
Seriously, I hope this doesn't become a trend.

....or maybe a cricket ground stuck onto a hotel!

Update on the Masterplan from the Club:
Radisson RED named as Edgbaston hotel partner

Radisson has been announced as Edgbaston Stadium’s hotel partner as the Club releases more details of its award-winning Masterplan redevelopment.

The proposed Radisson RED Birmingham Edgbaston Stadium – part of the group’s RED lifestyle 4-star brand – will feature 146 rooms including 85 with pitch-facing balconies.

Eighteen of the pitch-view rooms will be fully convertible into hospitality spaces, while Level 4 will feature a rooftop restaurant and bar with a 160 square metre outside terrace offering panoramic views of the Birmingham skyline.

The hotel is the centrepiece of a project that includes the redevelopment of the stadium’s Raglan and Family Stands, incorporating a modern, new concourse with enhanced food and drink options and improved facilities for disabled spectators.

Detailed consultation with Warwickshire CCC Members will take place next month ahead of a planning application being submitted later in the year.

A webinar will be hosted on Wednesday 5 August with Members encouraged to join online to hear more about the planning application and raise questions. To register go to EdgbastonPhase3.com. A recording of the session will be uploaded to the website following the webinar for Members to view.

That will be followed by a public consultation drop-in event at Edgbaston in the Main Reception on Thursday 22 August between 1-7pm – on Day One of Warwickshire’s County Championship game with Somerset – where Club staff and the project team will be on hand discuss the proposals and answer any questions. No pre-registration is required.

If approved by the Club and the Council, the project is expected to be finished by Spring 2027 with the hotel opening in time for that year’s Men’s Ashes Test against Australia.
Chief Operating Officer Craig Flindall, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Radisson Hotel Group; the brand’s upscale lifestyle theme is a perfect fit for our vision of the stadium’s ambitious Masterplan project.

“The redevelopment will cement our position as one of the country’s few premier stadia and hotel complexes and offer a genuine destination experience for people wanting to visit Birmingham or the West Midlands.

“It’s Phase 3 of our Masterplan project to transform the stadium into a vibrant economic centre delivering lasting investment into the local community.

“The initial phase saw the creation of the Corkfield apartments – which were recently named regional Apartment Development of the Year – and plaza area which we now use for community events.

“And Phase 2 saw the opening of Xcelerate with Edgbaston which is a new catering and hospitality centre of excellence, operated with our catering partner Levy, which if offering great career opportunities for local people at the stadium.”

Edgbaston has released architecture illustrations showing how the Radisson RED hotel would be incorporated into the new stadium design.

Thanks.
Interesting squad - glad to see Hamza Shaikh getting a game.

A summary of the latest round and the quarter final matches here:
https://deepextracover.com/2024/07/vitality-blast-week-7/

Regarding Chris Benjamin, there is only so much a coach can do to help someone who is totally out of form. It's not a matter of technique, more an inability to time the ball and (probably) a major lack of confidence.
What was most surprising to me was the decision to promote him to Sam Hain's slot at number four. If (for whatever reason) he was to be preferred to Burgess as keeper, I would have thought that he would have been hidden somewhere in the lower middle order.
Am I right in thinking that he is no longer in the Birmingham Phoenix squad for The Hundred this year? If so, that may mean that he will play in the 50 over competition.

Looks like Hamza has captained England to victory against Sri Lanka. I didn't see any of his hundred; but I did see yesterday morning's play at Cheltenham - and was massively impressed by Rocky Flintoff, still only 16 but playing like a veteran and becoming the youngest player ever to score a century for England under-19s/

A century today for Hamza against Sri Lanka Under 19s. Cricinfo says that he displayed "an admirable work ethic, sound temperament and no little skill."

ExiledBrummie wrote:

When are the QFs as with Moeen back I'd say only pace bowling looks weak currently and could do with the likes of Gleeson or Hasan pushing for spots.

Not till 3-6 September

I must confess to a tear in my eye as I read about the passing of Billy Ibadulla, a true Warwickshire great. And what a lovely tribute to him here from another great:
https://edgbaston.com/news/khalid-ibadulla-club-president-amiss-pays-tribute-to-bears-great-billy/

From some of the comments on the Sussex forums when he signed for us (including some from his mum), I formed the impression that George Garton is maybe quite a sensitive soul. Sad to see how he sank to his knees at the end of the final over as the last six was struck.
I hope that his mum didn't ring him late last night and ask: "So how did your evening go, dear?"

Well, this was my take on it:
https://deepextracover.com/2024/07/vitality-blast-bears-v-worcestershire-rapids-at-edgbaston-stadium/

Playing and getting injured, thus putting his livelihood at risk, isn't quite the same as having a holiday at the club's expense so I agree that we should wish him well.

On Facebook, a Middlesex supporter says:
"10 years at the club came through the North Middlesex Club, Middlesex CCC academy
I thought he would be here for life, another blow to an under pressure club.
Warwickshire have a seriously good bowler there and the best no. 11 around."

There could be some competition there with OH-D for the title of "best no. 11"

I see that his dad played Hitler in the 2009 film Valkyrie with Tom Cruise.
We've had Doctor Who's grandson and now we have son of Hitler.
Anyway, since we obviously can't develop our own pace bowlers, we need to sign them from elsewhere. He's gone in the opposite direction to Henry Brookes, who sits just above him in the current Middlesex bowling averages.

My friend and colleague Graham Smith summarises the latest round of Blast matches:
https://deepextracover.com/2024/07/vitality-blast-week-five/

If Davies' injury puts him out of the team or stops him keeping wicket; and if Burgess's minor injury clears up, he would be the obvious man to come in and don the gloves.

Sam!