GerryShedd wrote:

Looking at the bottom of the table, it’s getting interesting at Southampton.

Are Hampshire going to survive due to bad light with 9 wickets down?

Well the team won't be getting worn out fielding for long to end the season. Then they can put their feet up for 6 months.

Plus Woakes comes across as someone who does not think they play too much cricket which might be an example to young ones coming through.

Players need to realise they are in the entertainment business, They should be playing when majority of people are not working. In otherwords at weekends and in school holidays and public holidays. I dread to think how many weekends over the season there was no cricket being played.

If they think they play too much cricket why did they agree to The Hundread being added to the fixture list and why do they willingly agree to play in franchise cricket around the world?

Highveld wrote:

In the USA Major League Baseball players play 162 games between April 1st and Sept 30th, including up to 4 games on successive days, with late night finishes and a long flight to the next city, often arriving c 3-4am and starting a game about 7pm the same day.

It makes the workload of cricketers seem very light indeed.

I remember being in St Louis for a week back in the '90's. Found I had a free evening and noticed the Cardinals were playing 4 or 5 evenings on the bounce. I then looked at their fixture list and couldn't believe how they play these series on successive nights. And because they do not have draws the games can go on past midnight!! Makes you wonder exactly what our cricketers are moaning about!

Problem is the club makes money on the white ball games and the players get paid as much or event more playing 20 overs a game compared to 96 overs a day for 4 days. However, they are missing the bigger picture of Test Cricket needing batsment to play the 4 day game and test cricket makes big money, gets publicity and advertising stream.

I bet they used to time to hone their skills....................in poker and pool.

Well the players have really worked hard over this week.!!! The more I read of players wanting to play less cricket the less interested I get in the game. I do believe the one day formats have made them lazy.
Bowlers only have to bowl 4 overs in a match and most times do not even have to bat. Batsmen are only out on the field for a few overs and when fielding it is no more than 20 overs or even 16-6 overs.

You do wonder what happened to their love of the game they must have had before turning professional.

Gerry X out of X for a perfect explanation for the state of the game!

Paul - nothing so dramatic - work was the reason over 50 years ago. I am still a Brummie and can honestly say I have never said me duck to anyone. The one big downside to living in this county is they just don't understand our sarcastic humour - I am still frowned upon after all these years! Perhaps Bosworth Bear would agree with me!!

On the old forum there used to be plenty of debate about Leics Derbys and Northants with some suggesting there should be a merger because they are not good enough.

Well Leicestershire have gained promotion so a short trip to Grace Road to follow Warks is something to look forward to.

GerryShedd wrote:

As for the curse of Edgbaston, if it exists then maybe we need to find a way of lifting it.
We need to contact one or more male witches ("warlocks", I hear you say - but they do exist) and get them to perform an exorcism on the square at Edgbaston. The half hour before midnight is the ideal time for "good" magic; and all the best warlocks and witches prefer to perform their rituals "skyclad" or naked.
I'm not sure if tickets could be sold and/or whether Sky would be interested in the broadcast rights but it's worth a try.

My immediate thought was to get Barry Fry to do what he did to lift the curse at St Andrews. But then I realised there are no corners at Edgbaston for him to "perform". Maybe a visit to the foot of each floodlight!!

Another quarter final blown. Why was Lintott only given one over?

Not sure how this helps develop cricket worldwide. Pakistan is already a major cricket playing country. I would have thought a tie in with a minor country (in terms of cricket playing) would be better. Looks to me as if this is more a business opportunity given the massive Pakistan origin citizens in Birmingham.

I will add my congratulations on a great achievement. With that backingand knowing the effort required to get there surely the club has to listen and take note of the membership's wishes.

O H-D's moment!!!!!!

Calm down ITE this game is getting a bit exciting - too close for comfort with wickets falling at a steady rate. ( Never heard it called poom-poom before)

So many positives today - Yates back in the runs, Sylvester sublime 5 overs and Taz getting those wickets and good knocks from Kai and Jani. Let's get the Rugby hatrick on Friday.

Another 5-fer for Ali. I have one criticism of him- could he at least look a bit excited when he takes all these wickets!!

strange bowling selections. No sign of Sylvester and Yates on ahead of Taz.