GerryShedd
Super Moderator
Not much of a Warwickshire content; but I can thoroughly recommend this book as good reading:
https://deepextracover.com/2023/10/book-review-footprints-david-foots-lifetime-of-writing-by-stephen-chalke/
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.
Here's my season review:
https://deepextracover.com/2023/10/season-review-warwickshire/
As usual, happy to accept (constructive!) criticism.
Update from BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/66613767
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 know that we criticise our ground staff from time to time; but I'm not sure that they have ever been guilty of anything like what happened in Bristol today when the match had to be abandoned.
From Cricinfo:
".. an issue with the covers being caught in the wind left the pitch exposed, before the three mobile covers came on from Ashley Down Road End. The tractor dragging the covers ended up driving down what would have been just outside the off stump of a right-hander batting from the Pavilion End. There was also a delay in closing the gaps between the covers allowing the rain to get onto the playing surface. Groundstaff then had to squeeze under the covers where they were passed mats to towel down the damaged areas at both ends."
Starting off with a backwards look at the away fixture - it's a pity that this work wasn't done in the last close season:
https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/sport/23810059.somerset-ccc-undergo-outfield-renovation-county-ground/
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."
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 an opportunity to air all the moans that have been expressed on here - and maybe even listen to what the Chief Executive has to say:
https://edgbaston.com/news/stuart-cain-to-host-members-forum-during-northants-fixture/
Mr Robinson has his say about this fixture:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/66660069
And we learn:: "Robinson hopes Chris Rushworth (hamstring) will prove his fitness but expects to be without Alex Davies in addition to Hasan Ali while Liam Norwell is unlikely to return this season."
Details have been published:
https://edgbaston.com/warwickshire-ccc/membership/?utm_campaign=14073418_WCCC%20-%202024%20Full%20Club%20Launch&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=DotDigital&dm_i=1AFS,8DN4A,8II8VY,YJTQA,1
I haven't had chance to compare prices with 2023, but I'm sure someone will do that.
Spectator guide here:
https://wccc.co.uk/spectator-guide-worcestershire-vs-warwickshire-2/
My colleague Graham Smith has produced a comprehensive preview of prospects for the Metro Bank One Day Cup:
https://deepextracover.com/2023/07/preview-of-the-metro-bank-one-day-cup/
Interesting that Somerset are fielding almost a second team against Hampshire while their T20 team played a practice match yesterday to prepare for Finals Day - and it looks like they might win the 4 day game.
The signing of Dominic Drakes has caused me to wonder how many fathers and sons have played for Warwickshire.
I can think of the Smiths (Mike and Neil), the Maddys and, from further back, the Santalls and the Quaifes. I'm probably missing a few more so feel free to remind me!
In 1922, Willie Quaife and son Bernard played for Warwickshire at Derby while Billy Bestwick and son Robert represented the hosts.
That wasn't a name that I had expected but it may be a good signing:
https://edgbaston.com/news/bears-sign-dominic-drakes-for-blast-run-in/
A pity that they haven't quite spelt his dad's first name correctly - should surely be "Vasbert".