GerryShedd
Super Moderator
Congratulations to him - 8 fours and 5 sixes. He's also been doing quite a bit of bowling so another string to his bow. Let's hope his injuries are behind him.
Olly Stone considering retiring from Test cricket:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59336369
I guess that might mean giving up on four day county cricket too.
Ex-Bear Ateeq Javid now getting drawn into this whole mess:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/azeem-rafiq-ashamed-after-historic-anti-semitic-exchange-comes-to-light-1290047
Jack Brooks seems to have escaped with a reprimand:
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/somerset-tymal-mills-cheteshwar-pujara-yorkshire-azeem-rafiq-b1960191.html
I suspect it may not be so easy for Tim Bresnan because the accusations against him suggest a wider pattern of behaviour.
I feel sorry for the Club because, as others have pointed out, they are in a very difficult position. On the one hand, everything that is alleged to have occurred happened while Tim Bresnan was with another county; and he denies the allegations so it may prove very difficult to decide what did and didn't happen. On the other hand, the Club certainly will be concerned about reputational damage and will not want to be lined up alongside Yorkshire CCC as the bad guys in this case.
Tim Bresnan was obviously brought into the Club partly because he still had something to offer as an all-rounder but also because he was seen as an influential senior figure at a time when the Club had lost players like Trotty, Ian Bell, Tim Ambrose and Jeetan Patel. Mark Robinson urged Tim not to use winning the Championship as a reason to retire but to play one more season. He could well be regretting that now that Tim is accused of being (though not actually proved to be) a racist bully.
I agree that these are really serious allegations.
To be fair to the Club, they have now issued an updated statement that in part reads:
"We are seriously concerned to learn of Azeem's direct allegations against Tim Bresnan.
"As a result, Warwickshire CCC will seek to talk to Azeem at the earliest opportunity so that we can fully understand the detail of these allegations. We will then talk to Tim to get his perspective.
"This is a delicate matter, as it involves allegations about Tim's behaviour while at another club. However, as we have said before, racism or bullying will not be tolerated here at Warwickshire, and we will not shirk from investigating these matters in full and taking action if necessary."
I agree that the Club needs to re-think what they are saying and what he is apologising for.
I can't quite match up the Club statement with the extract from the report - the Club says that Tim made a comment about Azeem's weight but the extract from the report is more about general put-downs about Azeem's performances on the field.
The only positives are (a) that he is not alleged to have made any specifically racist comments and (b) that he has unreservedly apologised.
Plenty more to come:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/yorkshire-racism-crisis-azeem-rafiq-the-most-stubborn-man-in-yorkshire-achieves-his-vindication-1288427
(PS - I see that George is still writing for Cricinfo although he is no longer their Senior Correspondent.)
I agree that this is good news:
https://edgbaston.com/news/bears-secure-brathwaite-return-as-t20-captain/
Other than the recurrence of a nasty case of haemorrhoids, it is difficult to imagine much worse than the return of Colin Graves.
The list of sponsors withdrawing has grown:
Nike, Anchor Butter' Yorkshire Tea, Tetley’s Beer, Harrogate Spring Water, David Lloyd Clubs, Bagnalls, Leeds Beckett University
It's rumoured that Lord Patel is to be the new/interim Chair of Yorkshire CCC.
George has taken an expanded role with The Cricketer which should make it required reading from now on:
https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/news/george_dobell_to_join_the_cricketer_staff_across_print_and_digital.html
I agree that, sadly, there is much more to come.
As for Jacob Bethell being from an ethnic minority, he is as white as I am. When he signed his first contract, George Dobell described him as being "so fresh-faced Ollie Pope could be his dad". If having him in the Warwickshire squad improves its ethnic diversity, Yorkshire could argue that having Gary Ballance who was born in Zimbabwe does the same for them. Technically, they could both describe themselves, in the categories used in the 2011 census, as "White, other" so I suppose that is a minority of sorts.
It is not a good time to be a Yorkshire CCC supporter:
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/azeem-rafiq-yorkshire-julian-knight-sajid-javid-england-b1951278.html
I guess before we gloat too much at the plight of the Yorkies, we should at least register that two of the current Bears squad were at Yorkshire during the time when Azeem Rafiq was being racially abused. Hopefully, they will not be in any way incriminated by any further revelations that are bound to happen in the coming weeks.
Those running our Club will also be aware that, until the late season emergence of Manraj Johal, the first team squad was notably lacking in players from an ethnic minority background.
A month on, this is worth a look:
https://edgbaston.com/news/behind-the-scenes-film-as-warwickshire-win-county-championship/
I'm not sure if it was reported anywhere else; but when Will Rhodes was asked after the match if he had the ball which he caught to win the Championship, he said: "I've given it to Briggsy's kid!" I think that, at about 47 minutes and 30 seconds into the video, you can see the young lad with the ball.
Depending on what you think of South Africa and India as opposition, it's a bit like agreeing a date with a beautiful young lady and then discovering that she has sent her ugly and grumpy cousin instead.
Not that I bear any grudges, so many years later, for this having happened to me!
I agree that what was presented by the Club as good news is at best a mixed blessing.
Indeed so, Monsieur Highveld.
I should have listened to my mother when she told me that "Procrastination is the thief of time" and "The early bird catches the worm".
Fortunately, I have you to point me towards the paths of righteousness.
I am writing this sat on the naughty step, wearing a hair shirt and bowing my head in deep penitence for my wayward behaviour.