Highveld wrote:

Surely it is better to make the, needed, change now to help end the season on a positive note, and start to repair the toxic workplace culture that exists?

Of the current squad, Ed Barnard seems the obvious choice, burgess and OHD as vice captains would be a good choice.

Nothing Robinson said was convincing, or gave an impression that he even knew what caused the situation, and definately not that he had the answers to turn the situation around.

The phrase "Dead man walking" came to mind.

The head coach does look a dead man walking. In the interview he seemed irked at the suggestion that they were lacking "fight". Call it what you want but they are certainly lacking the minerals to win cricket matches, and that stems from the lack of leadership.
It would be a bold call to strip Davies of the captaincy but I agree that Barnard could at least galvanise the team. Robinson put his neck on the block with his choice of skipper so they both need to go to break us out of this culture of failure.

I'd like Smith to come in to the team along with Mousley and Woakes (if available).
I wouldn't sack Davies as captain until after this game but, as has been said all along, he is not leader in terms of tactics and motivation. We are short of leadership options but Burgess seems a good fit in the short term with OHD vice captain.

Highveld wrote:

Robinson after the game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKIY0E-_xEM

Please comment on what he said

Some of the usual excuses about the pitch and conditions but, alas, no positives for once. He just seemed accepting that we were rolled over by better bowlers.
Robinson has nothing more to offer I'm afraid. He needs to go, along with Frost and the bowling coach so that we can build a team with winning mentality.

Over in 4 sessions. A new low.

78 all out is pathetic. Apparently Robinson is due to address the members at lunch on Thursday - perhaps he is hoping the game is finished before then and he can make a quick getaway, or he could do the decent thing and use the opportunity to give his resignation speech.

Highveld wrote:

I'd suggest that Sam takes a total break from cricket for a few months, so his body and mind can be fully rested and repaired for next season.

Perhaps he has reached the stage where he needs a new challenge elsewhere. Going into the same toxic work enviroment everyday would get anyone down.

I wouldn't begrudge Hain going elsewhere for a fresh start. He has single-handedly held our batting together for about three years while surrounded by inconsistency and mediocrity. I've said for some time that our failure year after year to recruit an experienced and reliable middle order batsman takes its toll on the team.

Highveld wrote:

I must remember

"Our opening partnerships have improved vastly."

150 all out incoming.

GerryShedd wrote:

Hardly an upbeat preview here:
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/warwickshire-vs-essex-tuesday-17th-september-2024/#match-match-previews

Can anyone verify what Robinson said about the loan system only allowing us to bring in a player who has played less than two matches and from another division?

I am confused because Durham have been allowed to bring Emilio Gay in on loan and he has played more than twice for Northants. Or do different rules apply if a club has agreed to sign the player permanently?

Not meaning to disrespect Roman Walker but if that is the best we can do, it is really poor recruitment from a club of our stature.

This game has a real end of season feel about it. Drafting in a reserve bowler from Leicester shows how poorly stocked we are for bowlers.
Robinson talking about taking momentum into the winter is nonsensical. I won't miss his uninspiring leadership.

I had exactly the same thought that Bethell's selection had a whiff of Troughton's call up. It took Jim a while to get over that experience. But I have confidence that Bethell is a rare talent and the England set up is good at nurturing talent these days.

Better effort second innings salvaged a draw. We will really miss Rhodes and need to replace him with a quality middle order batter, along with adding a match-winning spinner and quick bowler to the squad for next season.
Robinson's interview afterwards was interesting. Instead of the usual excuses and taking the positives, he called out the bowling and batting underperformance in the first innings. Quite unlike him. Perhaps he is fearing for his future.

It is hard to be positive coming to the end of another dismal season. The collapse from 76/1 to 128 all out is a case in point.

I am going to write to the Secretary of State. My opposition is based on the fundamental issue of franchise cricket and creating a capitalist vehicle which destroys the very fabric of the sport. It is pure greed.

Larsen needs to be ruthless. Northants sacked their coach immediately after their T20 quarter final loss. Robinson needs to go now so we can start rebuilding.
An interesting point previously made about signing cricketers from other counties who need an opportunity, which was a successful policy when we recruited the likes of Chopra, Clarke, Ambrose Rankin etc.
Gilo was a specialist at doing this and he is replicating it at Worcester bringing in players like Hose, Ethan Brookes and Rob Jones. Alan Richardson is doing wonders with the coaching plus they have homegrown players coming through. That is the template for us.
The policy of spending our playing budget on mercenary players for one competition led by a weak head coach and supplemented by poor batting and bowling coaches needs to be ended.
Time for a fresh start.

The Moeen signing was purely a marketing thing. His availability is sketchy and he doesn't seem that invested. This is the problem with signing mercenaries just looking for their next gig.
I wish him well on the franchise cricket circuit and going into coaching. He would be a better batting coach than that fraud Frost.

A reset is needed. Starting with the reinstatement of Warwickshire Bears and binning off the Birmingham nonsense.

The dressing room is a comfortable place, even in defeat. Robinson will be telling them about the positives and sometimes you can lose games of cricket but it's OK because we have young players blah blah blah.
Get Trotty in, he will take no prisoners and install a winning mentality. Continually accepting failure is the start of a decline.

Larsen, the so called "performance director". Let's see him earn his money now because to date all he has done is bring in second rate cheap Kiwi players.

Sibley left because we wouldn't select him in T20s. Scored a march winning knock for Surrey in their quarter final. Similarly Rhodes is leaving because of a similar situation and will probably go to Durham and win matches for them. Yet we can keep picking serial failure Benjamin and the like.
Go now Robinson and Frost.

Davies already moaning about the slow pitch. Surely Gary Barwell will have prepared a pitch to order with our home advantage. Also the usual talk about 'positives'. Rubbish. Season over.