Ian Bell has been made an honorary MCC member:
https://www.lords.org/lords/news-stories/mcc-announces-new-honorary-life-members
Shiv Chanderpaul honoured too.

I'm not sure exactly what he will do or what he will bring to the party but I guess this seems like good news:
https://edgbaston.com/news/warwickshire-ccc-recruit-dan-ashworth-to-cricket-audit-committee-to-support-high-performance-development/

I see that the Club is offering partial refunds to Members:
https://edgbaston.com/news/partial-refunds-available-for-2021-members/
No doubt the Club is hoping that, like 2020 subs, most Members will not ask for money back.

Squad announced - Chris Woakes in, Dom Sibley out:
https://wisden.com/stories/ashes/england-name-17-strong-squad-for-mens-ashes-tour
As the only all-rounder, there is a lot of weight on Chris Woakes's shoulders.

Anyone planning to go to this?
https://edgbaston.com/news/warwickshire-announce-champions-dinner-on-4-november/

According to Will Rhodes, Danny Briggs is fit again. He developed a neck problem on the way up to Headingley - one of the more bizarre injuries in an injury-full season for the Bears.
Chris Woakes is available, though Will Rhodes says that the Club had to lean heavily on the ECB to let him play.

Although the Bears (other than Hugh and Carmen) weren't there, I think we should give credit to the Club for organising another fantastic Finals Day.
And maybe there is some consolation for the Bears in having been beaten in the Quarter Final by Kent, the eventual winners.
Congratulations to Sam Billings and his victorious team, especially to Jordan Cox for his match-winning innings plus two catches - the one that was disallowed and the one that he doesn't get credit for in the scorebook because he parried the ball back when he was seemingly hovering in the air behind the boundary.

George has announced on Twitter that he has resigned from ESPN Cricinfo.
He has been a great supporter of county cricket, often a thorn in the side of the ECB and, though he sometimes denies it, very much a Bear at heart.
I hope he soon finds a new home for his writing because county cricket needs him.

What does/did Irish playwright and novelist Samuel Beckett have in common with Warwickshire's greatest ever all-rounder, Frank Foster?

Good to see that he is not only in the England under-19 squad but has also been made joint captain:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/barbados-born-jacob-bethell-to-captain-england-under-19s-against-west-indies-1275685?ex_cid=OTC-RSS

I Zoomed into a press conference with Mark Robinson earlier in the week.
Here is the piece that I wrote for Deep Extra Cover covering some of the issues that he faces as a head coach:
https://deepextracover.com/2021/08/the-trials-and-tribulations-of-a-head-coach/

Sorry to hear of his passing. He was an outstanding player. And although he was much maligned when he was Chairman of Selectors, he was well ahead of his time in advocating ideas such as four day county cricket, full time contracts and England A team tours.
It's sometimes a shock to realise that the heroes of your youth have grown old. I was lucky enough to be invited to a book launch at the House of Lords a couple of years ago and spotted a stooped old man who looked slightly familiar. It took me quite a while to work out that it was Ted Dexter, looking quite frail and not at all the "Lord Ted" that I remembered.
Anyway, I have happy memories of him in his prime and may he rest in peace.

This is an interesting interview with our old friend Neil Snowball on the future of county cricket:
https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/news/how_to_solve_problem_like_english_summer_schedule_neil_snowball_interview.html
I like most of what he has to say, especially his strong endorsement of the value of having 18 counties. I think he has a pretty impossible job of keeping everyone happy so it will be interesting to see how things pan out over the next couple of years.

Looks like this would be a long day out:
https://edgbaston.com/news/coach-travel-to-canterbury-confirmed-for-vitality-blast-quarter-final/
I've realised that it's 50 years since the Club organised a flight from Birmingham to see a Gillette Cup semi-final at Canterbury. We flew to Manston Airport (now closed). The day was slightly spoilt by the fact that it rained so that the match wasn't finished. Also, Kent demolished Warwickshire on the second day after we had all come home. But still an event to remember!

It looks as though Worcestershire are going to play their full strength first team side in this second team game. Maybe the Bears will do the same, though they have that T20 quarter final coming up so presumably won't want to turn their focus fully back to red ball cricket until after that.
https://wccc.co.uk/first-team-squad-in-action-at-new-road-in-second-team-derby-with-bears/

Preview from the Somerset perspective.
https://www.somersetcountycc.co.uk/news/first-xi/royal-london-cup-preview-warwickshire-v-somerset/
They can (just about) qualify, depending on other results/
There's quite a few unfamiliar names in their squad.

As a member, just had an email from Stuart Cain about member behaviour in which he says:
"Since returning, the majority of Members and spectators have been excellent in supporting the Bears, but there have been issues regarding some people’s conduct, particularly in the lounges."
Anyone seen any signs of this? It isn't entirely clear whether this refers to behaviour during The Hundred matches or Bears matches, though the implication is that it is the latter.

Mixed news on injuries:
https://edgbaston.com/news/bears-bowlers-edge-closer-to-return/

Not working yet, then, Graham?
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jun/14/graham-thorpe-the-hundred-can-help-england-struggling-test-batsmen

A short term signing:
https://edgbaston.com/news/bears-secure-karl-carver-for-royal-london-cup/