GerryShedd
Super Moderator
Those massive bonuses awarded to the top people at the ECB who were responsible for launching The Hundred look even more embarrassingly inappropriate now than they did at the time.
I just wanted to wish everyone on here a Merry Christmas and a happy cricketing New Year!
Can't argue with that, Highveld! Pope and Burns both averaging 12 so far and lucky to have managed even that. Best get Rob Yates on the next plane back to Australia.
Chris Woakes is having a strange series - no luck with the ball (and not bowling at his best) but third in the batting averages behind Malan and Root.
Although Australia are undoubtedly the stronger side, if England had held all their chances, the scores would be much closer.
I'm not sure that I can see the bit about it being a wider ranging role.
On the Club site, his current role is described as: "He now has a broad brief, to work with the current first-team bowlers but also set up a conveyor-belt of bowling talent which will benefit the first-team squad in medium and long term."
Hampshire say: "Alongside working with the bowling group of the senior squad, Welch will oversee the development of all the Hampshire bowlers throughout the age-group system. "
That seems like two different ways of describing the same role.
Another bad day for England.
That gibe directed at the England side of 1987/7 by the late Martin Johnson - "Can't bat, can't bowl, can't field" - may at last be coming true, though - Jack Leach apart - the bowling seems to have held up reasonably well.
This is the message from the Club to members:
https://edgbaston-comms.com/1AFS-7NGP2-C639A8FDB42EF659R425FP20E44EB447EC9D5C/cr.aspx
As the message says, the proof will lie in actions rather than words but at least the Club is starting off by saying the right things.
As a Warwickshire supporter, I'm not disappointed with Darren Gough's appointment. It's on an interim basis; and according to the Talk Sport website, he will be a "figurehead", in which capacity he may do very well. And, to be fair, I probably underestimated the extent of his popularity in Yorkshire. Also, I did read that when he undertook some coaching on a consultancy basis with England, he did a lot to help Chris Woakes.
As for McGrath, I agree that it would be a strange appointment. Of all the counties that Yorkshire might turn to, Essex would be an unlikely choice bearing in mind the racism allegations that are emerging there. McGrath has not been implicated so far; but the independent inquiry into the Essex racism allegations is only beginning its work today and anyone who wants to provide information has until just before Christmas to do so, so anything could emerge.
....and David Hopps has some interesting insights:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/yorkshire-racism-crisis-sacked-staff-seek-legal-action-after-purge-1292274
I agree that the key criterion is the ability of the candidate to carry out the job. But in this instance, that means much more than being the best coach. The appointee will have to embody everything that Yorkshire CCC wants to be from now on. So somebody like Darren Gough who seems to have the same characteristics of those who have just departed - white, Yorkshire born, played for the Club - starts with several disadvantages in the selection process. When you add in that he has no great coaching experience, I think that rules him out, hence my remark.
I actually think that sacking all 16 coaching staff, whilst a powerful gesture, may cause Yorkshire some problems. Either they were all guilty of offences justifying being sacked and have each gone through agreed dismissal and appeal procedures (which is unlikely) or Yorkshire have lumped the innocent in with the guilty. Unless they are allowed to re-apply for their jobs, I can see a few employment tribunal claims happening.
I'm not sure what would get a middle-aged white Yorkshireman with virtually no previous coaching experience to the top of the list:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-10273229/Ex-England-bowler-Darren-Gough-emerges-contender-director-cricket-role-Yorkshire.html
This is a long interview with a Surrey bias; but Rikki has some very positive things to say about his time at Warwickshire, with particular reference to the influence of "Pop" Welch, Jim Troughton and Ashley Giles:
https://www.kiaoval.com/rikki-clarkes-new-life-his-final-surrey-interview/
Update from the Club:
https://edgbaston.com/news/2022-fixtures-update/
I guess we should at least be pleased that there will be more Championship cricket in July. But overall, the ECB are trying to get the proverbial quart into a pint pot (or whatever the metric equivalent of that is).
More information from the Surrey website:
"The ECB have confirmed the announcement of the women’s and men’s domestic fixtures for next summer will be released as early as possible in 2022.
The creation of a fixture list is a complex task that requires certainty around many factors including tour schedules, venues for all internationals, men’s and women’s, and other major matches. The ECB is working as quickly as possible to confirm those details.
LV= Insurance County Championship matches will be played regularly from the start of the season until the end of July. The Royal London Cup and The Hundred will follow before the Championship finishes in September.
The Charlotte Edwards Cup will be played in May and June with the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in the second half of the season.
The Vitality Blast will commence at the end of May with Finals Day to be staged at Edgbaston on 16 July.
The ECB state they are determined to ensure a fixture list that provides the best possible situation for our domestic teams – including more LV= Insurance County Championship matches in July – to benefit the preparation of the international teams.
We know how much fans like to plan ahead for next summer and thank you for your patience. We will update when we have further details from the ECB on when fixtures are to be published."
Wayne Larkins is the speaker at the next Cricket Society meeting at Edgbaston:
https://edgbaston.com/news/wayne-larkins-to-speak-at-next-cricket-society-meeting/
I was at last week's meeting when the speaker was Geoff Miller. He was extremely entertaining.
I have seen a tweet today from Somerset saying that fixtures won't be announced before Christmas. I presume that this is because of uncertainty as to what will happen to Yorkshire - could they be relegated or even thrown out of one or more of the competitions for 2022?
I can understand that there are mixed views about the Tim Bresnan decision. Having read the Club's statement in full, however, I don't agree that the whole thing has been brushed under the carpet.
The Club statement was:
"Mark McCafferty, Chair of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said: “The Club has now spoken at length with Azeem Rafiq and Tim Bresnan about their time at Yorkshire CCC.
“We are grateful for Azeem’s courage and perseverance in spotlighting these issues within the game. It’s clear that both players want to use their experience to support positive change and ensure all players can enjoy the game in a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.
“Following on from these discussions, all cricketers and coaches at Warwickshire and its Academy will participate in further cultural awareness and appreciation training. Tim will be heavily involved in this process. He fully supports Warwickshire’s stance on inclusivity and understands our expectations of him as a player.
“This awareness training will also be extended to the Club’s wider management team to ensure they adopt the same inclusive principles in all aspects across the business. Warwickshire CCC is determined to reflect the communities we serve at every level, with Edgbaston a safe and welcoming place for all. Nothing will prevent us from achieving this goal.”
Tim Bresnan said: “I have apologised for any distress caused to Azeem when we were both part of the Yorkshire dressing room. I understand that there needs to be a shift in cultural awareness and understanding in the game.
“I am firmly committed to using my experience to support the next generation of Warwickshire cricketers, so that they can learn how to make the dressing room a safe and welcoming place for every cricketer to thrive.”
It's also my understanding that Azeem held lengthy conversations with Chief Executive Stuart Cain and he was in agreement with the end result. Stuart Cain is also meeting with and having telephone conversations with multiple former Warwickshire players to learn more about their experiences at the Club and how the Club can improve.
So that sounds to me much more than just a PR exercise.
Hopefully we will be updated on any further developments and planned actions by the Club.
I recall the Bears' Royal London win at Lord's in 2016. It had already been announced that Recordo had been released and he wasn't in the squad for the final. But when the team paraded the trophy around Lord's after the game, they called him out to join the parade.
In the context of everything that's going on in English cricket at the moment, this is great news:
https://edgbaston.com/news/warwickshire-cricket-board-honoured-at-chance-to-shine-awards/
As they used to say in the Saturday morning cinema serials for kids, "with one bound, he was free!"
https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/12478786/warwickshire-will-not-discipline-tim-bresnan-after-role-in-bullying-of-azeem-rafiq-at-yorkshire
To be fair, I am all in favour of redemption and second chances. Maybe Tim can be the archetypal poacher turned gamekeeper.