Another Behind the Badge article:
https://edgbaston.com/news/behind-the-badge-martin-porter/

The most exciting incidents so far have been DRS showing bias against Steve Smith and the third umpire getting a catch decision wrong.

Good to see three young Bears selected:
https://edgbaston.com/news/bears-trio-selected-for-england-under-19s-india-tour/
Essex are the only other county to have as many as three players selected.

Yes, I agree.

My most embarrassing moment of 2023 was when i was travelling down from the 4th floor in the lift at Edgbaston, the lift stopped and Alastair Cook was waiting. For some reason, I said: "Do come in", as if a cricketing knight of the realm needed an invitation from me before he could get in the lift!

Olly gets a Benefit year:
https://edgbaston.com/news/proud-bear-olly-hannon-dalby-awarded-testimonial/
Surely well deserved.

Yes, good luck to him.

UrsaMinor wrote:

Wouldn't disagree with any of that Mr Shedd. Just one question: as the photo of Ed Barnard at Taunton must have been taken during the first match of the season, had you already made your mind up or did you take everybody's photo?

I'd like to say that I had the foresight to know what would happen; but the truth is that my colleague Harry Everett (who also does some of the Somerset on-line commentary) took the picture and allowed me to use it.

George has signed for Kent:
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/sport/seam-bowler-signs-for-kent-294626/

Here's my season review:
https://deepextracover.com/2023/10/season-review-warwickshire/
As usual, happy to accept (constructive!) criticism.

I'm not sure what proportion of players have agents these days; but if a player has an agent and if he is marketable, I assume that the agent will have negotiated a new contract either with the existing club or a new one well before the existing contract ends.
I see that Richard Gleeson is leaving Lancashire and Alex Blake leaving Kent.

Update from the Club says:

"We’re also discussing the implications of the Birmingham City Council Section 114 announcement. Whilst it doesn’t impact on any historic arrangements, it does mean they can’t support us with the stand and hotel redevelopment, which is in the next phase of work, so we’re having to look at alternative funding options. "

So if anyone has £20-30 million to spare, do let the Club know.

Update from BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/66613767

Looks like Chris Wright is staying at Leicestershire, though a few others are leaving:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/66982348

My mind is made up. Don't confuse me with facts.

Three Bears in the top 25, though I don't know why they are identified as Birmingham Bears when the rest are identified by county:
https://www.thepca.co.uk/mvp-domestic/
Anyway, well done to Ed Barnard for making the top ten.

I see that, for personal reasons, Chris Wright is no longer moving to Sussex next year.

Yes, I thought it was only players for teams where something was at stake so don't know how Hartley crept in.

Here's my take on yesterday's play:
https://deepextracover.com/2023/09/waiting-for-agnes/
As for today - it's a bit chilly!

Play to resume at 5.15 - 18 overs left.

45 runs in 6 innings is a dreadful record.
The problem is - how can you judge in advance if someone is going to succeed? Brathwaite’s track record would have suggested that he would have scored runs.