This is included in the membership, will anyone be attending any games?

There's a lot of loose bowling here. Notts bowlers did have better conditions but used them well by being very consistent with their lines and lengths.

We're offering a boundary ball nearly every over it feels like.

If we get skittled very quickly then we will have the same conditions!

But yeah I think they'll get generally better conditions when batting so we'll have to get runs (and probably to save a draw) in our second innings.

And he got 4 wickets first innings last time round, I think he's earnt his place for this game

First bit of cricket i'll be watching in the flesh this season.

Any changes for this one? OHD potentially fit according to Westwood - if so I would bring him in for Fernando but it's unlikely that Fernando will be dropped in his third match of a three match deal

I thought the point of the Hundred and franchise sales was a cash injection that would help protect the county game?

To me protecting the county game means maintaining county cricket and the county championship - apparently not

It was a fantastic game of cricket, and would've been even had we lost, and a fantastic win.

Also fair play to Durham/Alex Lees for the declaration which led to the excitement (take note Sussex).

However we shouldn't be going over the top with where we will end up this season. We still have some glaring deficiencies, being an inexperienced batting lineup and a middling bowling unit that struggle to bowl teams out (we won without taking 20 wickets). I'm not sure that Durham bowling unit was that great and they didn't have one of their four seamers available for most the second innings. Also perhaps a mistake on their part to not pick a spinner.

Clearly we have exciting times ahead with such a young team and in 3-4 years could have a fantastic team but I think there will be a lot of ups and downs before then and this season should still be aiming for mid table consolation and getting experience into the young lads.

On par with Kent at home a couple of years ago for an exciting win

I've not managed to watch any of today - is the pitch deteriorating or is a decent total chaseable?

Highveld wrote:

The big question for today is will we avoid the follow on?

Both dismissals so far were poor shots. Yet again it is down to Sam Hain and Ed Barnard to rescue the team.

Yates is still in??

paulbear wrote:

From 174-2, we will take 249-7, well done bowlers, now lets get rid of this tail which has been a problem for a few seasons.

Yep - at 234-7 we're in a potential winning position. If that slips away then the win disappears and this is why we haven't won many CC games in the last couple of years

Is Fernando a dud?

Simmons didn't bowl in the second innings on the second XI game - perhaps he comes in for Booth?

Well we're gonna be heavily reliant on homegrown seamers as Rushworth, Woakes, Miles and possibly OHD don't have many games left between them!

I think there is an even bigger Burgess shaped hole in the batting lineup. For someone so inexperienced Smith has a lot to do to fill that hole.

Dry weather recently could mean a bat friendly wicket.

Good news - hopefully he becomes a regular in the 4 day side this year

Josh Cobb to become our academy batting coach:

Cobb quits playing to become Bears academy coach
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/clyjp1p8wq8o

Josh Cobb to become our academy batting coach:

Cobb quits playing to become Bears academy coach
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/clyjp1p8wq8o

Making the most of our overseas slots this season!

GerryShedd wrote:

According to Cricinfo::
"Warwickshire's head coach, Mark Robinson, said they had been in contact with the PCB about securing the player, who is no longer centrally contracted, for an unbroken spell.
Robinson said: "His call-up last May came out of the blue and took Hasan away from our County Championship start. We've had reassurances this year from the PCB that Hasan will be able to focus on the Bears which is great news."

That would be great if it came from anyone other than the PCB! Change their mind more than a weather vane!