Someone hit the nail on the head earlier regarding the batting. Our batting has been weak for years and the only constant during that time has been the batting coach. Has any player improved under Tony Frost? All I can see is regression. I recall when Sibley wanted to work on technical things he paid for the services of an external coach. This speaks volumes. Yet Frost survives year after year despite a catalogue of failure.

To be fair, Rae had a decent debut. Che Simmons should get credit for a good debut too.

Looking forward to another post match Robinson interview about "taking the positives" from the defeat. We shouldn't be losing from that position.

Hope it works out for the Kiwi lad but Yorkshire have managed to get an experienced test left arm quick bowler.
https://yorkshireccc.com/news/sri-lanka-quick-vishwa-fernando-signs-three-match-overseas-deal/

Lintott for Briggs maybe.

Andy wrote:

Robinson mentioned in his interview post Surrey that Jamal was feeling his back. If they knew this, why on earth give him the new ball when Surrey only needed 89?

My lack of confidence in Robinson grows by the week. If this is another season of mediocrity then we must look elsewhere for a head coach.

GerryShedd wrote:

George Dobell on The Cricketer website is slightly scathing about the quality of this signing.
He also points out:
"Zaman Akhter... spent several months training with the club and living in Birmingham but, when they failed to offer him a contract, joined Gloucestershire.He is now starting to be name-checked as a potential England fast bowler and has one of the fastest average speeds of bowlers in county cricket. Given the lack of pace in the Warwickshire attack, such a signing might have proved wise."

This is yet another example of a massive failure in the club's recruitment. This likely happened before Larsen arrived so we should give him the benefit of the doubt and hope he changes this for better in time.

Bit of a step up from the East Anglia Premier.

Bald_Reynard wrote:

white-lightning wrote:

So, bowler situation:
Woakes, unavailable at the IPL and not being selected.
Hasan Ali: unavailable and not being selected by Pakistan.
Norwell: Injured pectoral muscle and out for several weeks.
Rushworth: Injured calf and out for several weeks.
Michael Booth: (remember him?) Injured and out for several weeks
Craig Miles: Injured, not sure at length of absence?
Have I missed anyone??

No, don't think so !

It is a terrible state of affairs. I know people get injured and I'm sure the Physio's are doing their best to get everyone back and I know WE don't appear to be able to recall anyone contracted elsewhere (though other Counties seem to manage it !), but for goodness sake, surely the Club can be a lot more honest in their reporting of length of absence.

IF Norwell has bigger injury problems than his pecs, or Rushworth more than a calf strain - tell us straight - its sad, but we can take it. Tell us what's happening with Booth (injury / contract issues). Tell us when Woakesy will be back and able to play. Tell us (not immediately, obviously) how bad Miles' injury is and when Physio's EXPECT a return.

It's all to do with transparency and honesty to supporters.

It is possible that Norwell's problem is mental as well as physical. Perhaps he doesn't trust his body any more to carry out the demands of a fast bowler. Either way, this situation can't go on.
Woakes really needs to play some competitive cricket rather than be a highly paid net bowler.

We were lucky to have Jeetan for so long but since he retired we still haven't found a reliable overseas player. Hassan Ali is superb and clearly is committed to the Bears but keeps getting international calls, so can't blame him for that.
The recruitment has been poor, we desperately needed a top strike bowler and quality middle order batsman to be able to compete with the best teams this year.
Notts brought in Pennington and Tongue, domestic players we should have been trying to sign. Instead we spend our budget on mercenary white ball bowlers.
Yet again we are reliant on the likes of Hain and OHD to carry the team in the championship. Woakes is unavailable, Rushworth old and injured, Miles is bang average and the less said about the mythical Norwell, the better.

Bears racked up 591. Kai Smith 170 not out off 192 balls. He is another talent set for a breakthrough year.

What an exciting talent Bethell is. An all-format player and genuine all-rounder. Great attitude too.

Pakistan all rounder due to be announced as second overseas player until the end of the T20. Available for selection on Friday.

BristolBear wrote:

Problem is that’s part of getting in. Picking it isn’t as easy. And he played with a straight bat. Checked the drive. It wasn’t some huge swing across the line or a hook. Just down the wrong line and not enough foot movement. That’s arguably the same issues he’d have if he just tried to defend it.
And you can’t just block it for 20 balls and be in. Doesn’t work like that. Need to get the timing playing some shots. Not saying it was good by any means. But I’ve always got sympathy for a batsman getting out like that early on, more so than Davies, Yates and Rhodes.
That’s why going away from what’s working as a set batter is confusing.

On the Booth signing. We seem to be the only side other than Middlesex (who can’t afford one due to sanctions I believe), playing without a recognised, traditional overseas. I know they expected Hassan Ali to be available but if clubs with much lower income like Sussex and Essex can afford 2 high class overseas, can’t see why we?

Northants have got Karun Nair too. We should be signing players of that calibre. One again we have failed to recruit a quality batsman and are reliant on Hain. The bowling attack doesn't look too clever either. Another season of struggle beckons.

I guess the private school was the only venue with deep enough pockets to stage the games. Its a missed opportunity really.
I went to one of the previous games at Rugby (wasn't Povey's son a pupil at the school at the time?). The transport links to the town are poor and the viewing experience is equally poor.

Signing for T20. Brookes replacement.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/richard-gleeson-joins-warwickshire-for-2024-t20-blast-1418907

An interesting appointment which should greatly benefit our young spinners. We desperately need a decent batting coach, but unbelievably Frost is still there.

Brookes departure confirmed. Good luck to him in his career but he won't ever be top class.

Off to Middlesex on a long term contract according to the Telegraph. The move suits all parties.

It's best for all concerned that he moves on. I've never known a bowler so over-rated. After that long spell out injured he never regained his pace.