It still amazes me that the heirarchy want a successful test side and yet over the years not only continue to reduce the number of red ball games but at the same time introduce more and more slog cricket with no time for a batsman to build an innings.
When one day cricket was introduced we had 60 over and 50 over games. The opportunity was there for the top 4 to spend some time at the crease. Then not satisfied with bringing in 20 over games this lot decide to reduce it to 100 balls!!
It's like Jaguar saying they want to build the best quality executive car and deciding the way to do that is to develop something akin to the Reliant Robin!!!

A Stirling performance and Hain looks in good nick this season too!! I just wonder what we would have got with the full 20 overs.

There used to be an old saying about winning the toss. Considering fielding first - then think about and then decide to bat first! Certainly it looks like another wrong decision to field first

Car PArk charges is a British decease. Everywhere you go if there is an opportunity to make money from car parking then that opportunity is grasped with both hands. Over in France is similar to the US experience - Hospitals, Seaside resorts, city centres all free or at least loads of free spaces available. It is a shame that Warks has gone down the same road. I too remember the 90s with the very reasonable charge

Is anyone really surprised? Nothing about The Hundred is attractive to me and the sooner it meets its demise the better. 20 over and 50 over is enough white ball cricket

UrsaMinor - The cc games were played Thursday Friday Saturday Monday with the 40 over game on Sunday. If it was only 3 days then it started on a Friday. We are talking about 1990s - memory fades

Reading PaulBear was just like old times !!! Very interesting read from Paul and the rest - combined says it all about what is wrong with CC and more importantly what is needed to correct matters. The main need is for the 4 day game to be played throughout the summer. In the old 40 over days having it on the Sunday in the middle of the 4 day game worked with decent attendances. It was only changed because the players didn't like it.
If there is one factor that sums it all up it is the players and the administrators have long forgotten they are in the entertainment business.

Two very good partnerships today considering the start. Watching this on TV am I right in saying it is a very poor crowd. When the camera has featured the main stand (I can't call it a pavillion) or Section 9 there is hardly a sole in sight. Please tell me there were many watching from inside.

Excellent. Obvious to anyone who cares that there is a connection between the fixture list and test match performances. The only piece I would disagree with is the idea of bringing back an 18 team championship. A quarter of the way into the season and most teams have nothing to play for. The 2 divisions of 9 with each team playing each other home and away worked almost perfectly.
I would suggest start the season with a knock-out 50 over competition. Then play the championship throughout the season interspersed with the 20 over slog. Scrap the appalling Hundred.
As well as improving the test team there is a need to give the membership/supporters value for their money

Sundays will never be the same, Terry!!! Will have to wait for the film now.

Sad loss of a larger than life character. I will remember the 2005 Test at Edgbaston when the crowd gave him a round of applause when 100 was scored off his bowling and he had the good humour to take a bow to the crowd.

Seeing Woakes batting in Antigua made me remember the old Unofficial Forum and wondered if it had been re-born. Wow! Well done Exiled Bear and a thank you from me - it has been missed.
Due to travelling to Edgbaston not being as enjoyable (and affordable!) as it used to be sadly I am no longer a member. This forum is just what I need to keep on following THE team and, of course, voicing an opinion.