Judging by last night's debacle you may well get the call yet GS so keep checking your phone, you couldn't do any worse! I know it's been said before, but we rely so much on Hain that when he fails, invariably so does the team. There has to be an argument for trying out Benjamin and perhaps mixing up the batting order too. Let's hope for better things against Northants, we're not out of it - yet!
Couldn't agree more GS - I sincerely hope we can very quickly add 'RIP' to your acronym!
Bears batting first and doing OK at the moment - 81 -3 at the half way stage. Some interesting team selections - Dom Sibley in, a chap called Matthew Montgomery opening the batting and going well so far (I think he scored 100+ against us for Notts recently). Also Andy Umeed is playing although he didn't last long at the crease. Must take issue with BB's comment that there will be no bowlers of note playing - OHD is in the team too!!
Another very convincing win with particularly good contributions from Bethell and Benjamin. Very nice to see Woakes bowling again too.
I'm feeling surprisingly positive about the T20 this year. We've done very well in the practice games and look to have a nicely balanced team. I'd like to see Mousley in the team, partly as he offers another bowling option - perhaps instead of Hose, who seems to be struggling a bit, or in preference to Lamb if the ECB in their wisdom, decide that having briefly batted in one second eleven T20 match is quite enough, and Woakes now needs to be rested again!
Should have made them follow on, the ball is clearly doing a lot today!
Unchanged 11 and we have lost the toss and are batting. Interesting that our 12th man is listed as J Couhglin, once of Durham I believe. I don't think he's played any second team games for us so not sure what the story is there.
After losing both T20s to Glamorgan last week, let’s hope for better things today.
Wonder what happened to the South African who played a few weeks ago and along with Henry B won a game we should have lost. I expected to see his name appear regularly after that but apparently not.
Seconds seem pretty poor this year overall, maybe the sunny weather will change their fortunes!
Great last wicket stand this morning, OHD looked like a proper batsman at times! Re Tom Moore's keeping, whenever I see him play he seems a real curate's egg of a keeper, very good some of the time but very sloppy at others. Overall, certainly don't think he's any better than Burgess.
I thought Malan was unlucky too, not sure the bowler was very convinced either. Shame because he was starting to look good, let's hope the Captain can make a big score now...
Would be good to see Chris Woakes in the team getting a very rare game of cricket; just hope he can remember what to do! I really think the way he's been treated by the England management is shoddy to say the least. With the NZ Test starting next week I'm sure Stone and probably SIbley too will be out so we'll need to add another batsman as well, Mousley presumably. Let's hope we can do the double over Notts who will be without Stuart Broad this time.
Or perhaps we just wanted to avoid the humiliation of having to follow on, now 76 - 5
I wonder what's happened to van Vollenhoven - he did pretty well in the one game he played for us and I would have expected to see him back in the team.
A bit off piste but it doesn't look as if Josh Poysden is getting many outings with Yorkshire and I can't help wondering whether he really has much of a future there. Be disappointed if that was the case, always liked him when he was with us and hoped he'd go onto better things.
Seems extreme to write off a four day game after only one day, all the others seem to be on still. Should have thought a one innings match of some sort could have been arranged at the very least - even at another ground if that was the issue.
It really was a great result against a very strong team who generally find a way of winning from any given situation. As others have said, massive credit to Rob Yates, Sam Hain and Vihari but also to Mark Robinson and Will Rhodes who, it would seem, have galvanised a team who were previously lacking in confidence and self belief.
I don't think we're the finished article by a long stretch but I'm now looking ahead to the rest of the season with renewed optimism!
Thanks LB, that makes sense. I see that Dan Lincoln is keeping wicket in the current game - Playfair doesn't mention any wicket keeping abilities but it does say he was a goalkeeper for Reading and Arsenal junior teams so probably picked up some transferrable skills!
Anyone know what's happened to Jake Lintott so far this year? I haven't seen his name mentioned in any squads or on any scorecards and wonder if he's got an injury.
Our batting options look pretty limited with Mousley and Hose the only contenders, assuming that Malan won't be an option and that Pollock is still seen as a white ball only player. On that basis, I'd expect Mousley to replace Sibley and agree that Stone is likely to be rested, which opens the door for Norwell again. I would like to see Henry Brookes back in the team although other than brining him in for Yates I can't see that being an option as things stand.
It's certainly going to be a tough ask against Essex but the team will be buoyed by yesterday's amazing victory which will surely give them massive self-belief and confidence, long may it continue!
Looks like it's a no for the time being at least:
https://edgbaston.com/news/fixtures-update-womens-team-and-mens-second-xi/
I think Vihari has to play - if he is permitted to - but would suggest he replaces Danny Briggs with Stone for Miles the other change i'd make. Would also like to see Henry Brookes back in the team, I was surprised that Craig Miles was preferred to him in the first game but perhaps he wasn't fully fit.