GerryShedd
Super Moderator
I agree that getting the proposals agreed will be the major challenge for the ECB's Richard Gould. Using an analogy that his illustrious father would recognise, it is far from an open goal.
As part of the presentation ceremony for the One Day Cup Final, it was announced that Ed Barnard was the Player of the Tournament - very well deserved!
https://edgbaston.com/news/barnard-named-metro-bank-one-day-cup-player-of-the-year/
Yes, congratulations to Leicestershire!
Another Behind the Badge episode that tells an interesting story:
https://edgbaston.com/news/behind-the-badge-robin-french/
The Cricketer reports that ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould: "wants to replace The Hundred with a new 39-team T20 tournament involving the grounds of all the first-class and National Counties.
The alternative for English cricket is an expanded Hundred, taking in new teams from Durham and Somerset.
It has not been determined if the new sides in Gould's model would be named after their counties or the towns or cities in which they are based. They would be part-owned by the ECB, and part by private investors. It is not certain how much stake the counties will have in them.
This tournament would not incorporate the Blast, which would also continue to run in English cricket's congested programme."
From The Cricketer:
"Fans of the County Championship are set to be disappointed by the look of next year's schedule, meanwhile. There will not be many four-day matches in the heart of summer again.
The problem is that the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA takes up all but three days of June.
Therefore schedulers are planning to sandwich the Blast either side of The Hundred. In a switch from this year's model of playing the entire tournament in an eight-week block, the Blast group stage will be played before The Hundred begins, with the quarter-finals (probably) and Finals Day (definitely) returning to September.
The One-Day Cup will again be played alongside The Hundred, with the final at Trent Bridge on either September 7 or 28. This year there were two Championship rounds in June, and three in July, a distinct improvement on previous years. Red-ball fans will pray 2025 sees a return to that."
Mark Robinson says: " It obviously proved to be a thriller on a great wicket that had good carry and it did nip around a little bit when the overheads came in."
I thought that the pitch had a bit of life and carry when I was there on Sunday; and though others on here have said differently, I am inclined to bow to Mr. Robinson's opinion.
https://edgbaston.com/news/robinson-it-proved-to-be-a-thriller-on-a-great-wicket/
Ged Scott gives a balanced view of what happened, including quotes from the coaches:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/66788102
At the moment, it's a close contest as to who has been the least successful player named Brathwaite to play for the Bears.
Never in doubt (well, only a little!)
I think Northants are just desperate to get a win and are willing to risk defeat by setting a gettable target in the hope that the Bears will self destruct (which of course they may do).
Many thanks.
I think my birthday is finally over now and I can't cope with any more surprises!
Looks like a deal has been done to give both sides a chance of a win.
A bold declaration.
Northants are desperate for a win to give them just a faint chance of avoiding relegation so it will be interesting to see how things play out from here.
Yes, it was a fantastic surprise!
When I arrived at Edgbaston yesterday with my daughter, I had no idea of the surprise that she and the Club were going to spring on me!
https://edgbaston.com/news/80th-birthday-surprise-for-lifelong-bears-fan/
As well as Will Rhodes, I got birthday wishes from the legendary OH-D and also Mark Robinson.
Many thanks to Brigg Ford for making it happen.
Here's my report of the day:
https://deepextracover.com/2023/09/lv-county-championship-warwickshire-v-northants/
I agree with the above comments. Some of the early bowling was too good (or the batters were not good enough to get an edge).
OH-D as usual was outstanding.
Maybe you got the weather right after all. Raining now.