Malik had the benefit of attending Malvern College, on of the top cricket schools in the country, and has been involved with first class counties for about ten years, do his performances really justify a new two year contract?

The evidence would suggest not.

https://countycrickethub.net/team-averages.html?teamid=16&comp=1&year=2026

Sam averaging 60 and Kai averaging 44, it makes the fact he has hardly played even more mysterious.

You do have to wonder how a red ball average of 16.18 justifies a two year contract extention, for a 29 year old, especially as Matt Lamb was released when averaging 48 and was significantly younger.

Post game averages https://countycrickethub.net/team-averages.html?teamid=16&comp=1&year=2026

A good team victory, with Sam getting 90 on one leg and the overall performance of Kai amng the highlights.

Did anyone else notice that the team seemed happier, and with much more positive body language throughout the game.

Perhaps we have, finally, got our team selection right.

He is in the sdide. but not keeping. Hopefully this means Ki is playing and keeping for the firdt team.

Live scores link https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m44c6c209-2b49-46d0-b941-ce43f456bfa6

It will be interesting to see the side for this game.

Probably a delayed start thanks to the rain the last few days.

Averages after the game https://countycrickethub.net/team-averages.html?teamid=16&comp=1&year=2026

It would have been a breech of Law 15 to have declared, due to the situation in the game, the time lost and time remaining.

His average was 14.87 from 15 innings, it is now 14.125 from 16, a total of 226 runs for the season.

As somene said a few days ago Matt Lamb had an average of 48 and had scored centuries in the season he was forced out. Matt was a local player as well, from Barnt Green.

3 runs of 28 balls, out to a dreadful shot, with no foot movement.

Davies is currently unselectable and needs to be dropped for the rest of the season.

Allowing him to continue in the side, with zero consequences for his constant failures, is harming the side and has a dreadful demoralising effect on the rest of the team.

George Thomas scored a century and announced he had signed a two year deal with Worcs.

I feel he was a player we should have tried to sign.

Also, good to see Charlie Taylor doing well with the new ball yesterday.

Live scores etc link

https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#mb180e2c8-0647-4d14-84b6-8702d35ad033

It would probably be the sensible option to include both Davies and Malik in the side for this game, and let Kai have a couple of days resting/practicing before the Notts game.

Averages after the Sussex game

https://countycrickethub.net/team-averages.html?teamid=16&comp=1&year=2026

There is no logical reason to select two specialist batsmen that are averaging less than 17 in championship games.

Malik should be considering himself very lucky indeed to have been given a two year extension. Remember he is 29, benefitted from a private school education, at one of the top cricket schools, and has spent about 10 years around professional county cricket. He's now at an age where it is highly unlikely he is going to improve into a consistant high performer at first team level.

Not only is Davies failing to score runs, but his batting is lacking any fluidity or timing and is actually painful to watch. His lack of batting form is affecting his wicket keeping, which was very sloppy in hte Sussex game. There is also the psycological affect on the rest of the squad of management contimuing selecting a player that is failing without any consequences. It really is time for him to be omitted from the side, and even allowed to leave if some other county would want him.

Just been announced that both Malik and Garton have been given two year contract extentions.

Both should be considered very lucky, as their contributions have not really been desrving ox the extended contracts.

Also Yates and Jani.

It would be fair to say that Charlie Taylor, just 16, is the standout player from the current academy squad. To be playing /u19 international cricket as a 16 year old is a very good indication of a very high level of talent and potential,

He had 2 wickets, at just 2 runs per over, in his first spell this morning.

With a change of Smith for Davies, that looks a reasonable team, but I'd , have Jani batting at 5 with Smith at 7, & keeping.

Obviously if Chris Woakes is fit I'd include him in the team.

The Championship resumes on Aug 20th v Sussex.

Averages before the game https://countycrickethub.net/team-averages.html?teamid=16&comp=1&year=2026

Suthar and Will Young come into the squad, with Young replacing Beau Webster.

Hopefully we do not include specialist batters who are aaveraging below 17 in the championship.

I was and am logged in.

Perhaps it's a form of punishment for having differing opinions :-)

The "start new thread" and "mark as read" functions seem to have been lost.

I wonder how much he received from Warwickshire for his spell in the T20. based on the above figures he hardly represents good value for money.

Live scores link https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#mc5520000-6664-a623-3bd4-08de2dc24748

Still no opportunity for Theo Wylie.