The time is ripe for more idle Woaksy predictions. T20 quarter final? There's not much more for him to play on this year, I can't see him going straight into the test squad.

Would have been unjust for us to make a semi final and we burnt up our quota of good luck on others results for the T20.

On the whole I'm fairly happy with the competition though and I like the fact it is development. Bethell looks a great performer and it was good to see his runs contribute to a victory today. Johal and Bulpitt got better as the competition went on, this time next year they will be confident of kicking on further - though I see neither of these two are quite as young as I thought. Benjamin isn't really a grad of this competition, but good to see him move up at the same time.

Another point that occured to me today is that our experienced players have come into better form from the competition too. Lamb has scored heavily, not just this knock. Pollock has quietly improved, though he's mixed ducks with scores. Mousley snapped a run of poor form in the 2nds.

Something that hasn't gone well is the amount of batsmen out when set. Clearly a mental block, but easier to solve that if you have the ability first...

Cheers mate. Alas, a nursery-based pandemic event prevented me bellowing one on your behalf! It's taken me this long to commit to type I was that gutted. I saw some of our innings on YouTube. I think I've been a bit harsh on our batsmen in the past, because they all looked very decent. But they all just got out when set. I might suggest a bit of what Graham Gooch would call "run-getting" is in order. Mentality looks the biggest issue. I didn't watch the Surrey innings but you have to give credit to their lad from Singapore. Having said that, it's slightly more disappointing to see our more established bowlers getting a tonking. Happier to see Johal and Bulpitt get an education really and chalking it up to learning - but we couldn't have known that at the start.

Andy wrote:

Give them a 'you bears' shout for me.

I think that makes the most sense. Johal and Bulpitt have got better as the competition has gone on. Bethell at 7 Bresnan at 8 and Miles at 9 sounds reassuring too. After what seemed like a tropical storm in London this afternoon, the weather should be good so looking forward to going tomorrow ...

Andy wrote:

Perhaps. Think Carver might miss out. Chance Brookes misses out maybe.

Wish I was going tomorrow, should be a great game.

Is it now the case that Johal and Bulpitt are our only two fit full-time seam bowlers?

Is it now the case that Johal and Bulpitt are our only two fit full-time seam bowlers?

Hidden away on free-to-air I just caught the end of the successful Birmingham chase against, err, some other team which Chris Benjamin finished. Completely took control of the chase, ran hard and pressured and then gave a terrific bravado-infused interview to Sky. I think he's made for it, basically, and someone with that confidence Warwickshire need. Nice interview with Mo afterwards in saying he vouched for him after a 2nds game, would be poetic if he has played a role in showcasing a bears player.

Watching that I thought he was starting to see that this was a big step up. But even taking on that reverse ramped six showed some temperament and from then he seemed to know he was going to win it. Nice to have a player with that amount of confidence, we need it. I didn't see a SAf flag next to his name in the line ups, so presume he's English-qualified.

I'm with you there mate. A two-track summer with the 100 and then this competition is weird. But I am withholding comment until I see Birmingham against "London Spirit" which is on Sky One this evening...

ajones1328 wrote:

Tayls79 wrote:

As Exiled Bear says, if anyone should be blamed it's ECB and the hundred (and our problem keeping seamer fit). Personally I'm happy to see our development players get a decent crack in a sustained way and if its against top players than so much the better.

I mentioned the level playing field and the international problem up the feed, but as ever there is a precedent with rugby. The domestic cup competition is now a development competition but there does seem a gentlemen's agreement that the group stages are youngsters then you get more first teamers for the semi finals and final. Perhaps there is a quota of fully-capped players at play somewhere and I wouldn't mind seeing that here.

Intrigued on the point about reducing the entrance fee (it's the same price as the Oval where I will be heading on 10 August) but I guess there must come a point where reducing it even further starts to risk not covering costs.

Let's all remember the counties signed up to this.

Hopefully next year we won't have the issue of players isolating etc. So we will have a better squad ready for this competition

Think we all agree it's just a real shame that in the height of the summer our county (and all others) have been diluted for 6 weeks.

As Exiled Bear says, if anyone should be blamed it's ECB and the hundred (and our problem keeping seamer fit). Personally I'm happy to see our development players get a decent crack in a sustained way and if its against top players than so much the better.

I mentioned the level playing field and the international problem up the feed, but as ever there is a precedent with rugby. The domestic cup competition is now a development competition but there does seem a gentlemen's agreement that the group stages are youngsters then you get more first teamers for the semi finals and final. Perhaps there is a quota of fully-capped players at play somewhere and I wouldn't mind seeing that here.

Intrigued on the point about reducing the entrance fee (it's the same price as the Oval where I will be heading on 10 August) but I guess there must come a point where reducing it even further starts to risk not covering costs.

Not sure how we go in the game, really in the balance from just looking at the scoreboard. But glad we got a proper development team out against a decent amount of county experience and they're not getting panned. Chris Benjamin in particular had played two really good knocks. I see he is SA born but has spent at least three summers playing in the UK. England qualified? Does anyone know?

Don't quote me on this, but I think the entire competition is designed as a development competition and every team will be using youth and second team regulars. How this is policed and how England are expected to do well internationally with this format are the real points, in my view. I think it will work well for us and good to blend in and rotate the likes of Rhodes, OHD and Bresnan as we go into August.

Vihari over Malan makes sense for a number of reasons. That he's presumably going to be in the UK for the India tour means he'll be better tuned to UK conditions. If Malan goes back to SAf I can't see him coming back and if he does he's back to square one. Keeping him here to not play for six weeks makes no sense. All this is only a small part of the picture though. Getting some seamers back fit and some form into our homegrown batsmen I think are bigger factors in succeeding or failing in the post season.

I haven't seen any of his bwl in this game.e so just hypothesizing... But could he be the left handed Adil Rashid? Fine in white ball but the batsmen can just wait until they get a bad ball and hit it away in red ball? I hope we see a bit more of him though - love a wrist spinner.

BristolBear wrote:

Agree Lamb and Yates have been good. Though I think we’re seeing why Lintott might be a white ball only phenomenon.

Yes I think it is unlikely in cricket bearing in mind how much of the game there is to play and how difficult it is to win. I mention it as this was how rugby games were settled this season: if you have an outbreak and the game is cancelled as a result, the other team get the win.

BristolBear wrote:

For Essex, I think it was all mathematical anyway. They needed a full bonus point win, plus both Durham and ourselves to only get 3 or 4 points each.
I can’t see them being awarded the win either. As in last year’s abandoned matches each side received 8 points for a draw plus any bonus points acquired.
In my mind, it’s now a case of matching Durhams points to qualify.

Re Essex v Derbys, they haven't decided what happens to the points yet. Might give Essex a win bearing in mind a Derbys case...

Irrespective, good start to the day and seems we're one of not many starters. What's the weather like in Worcs? It says rain here in London but had been a bright morning.

Frustrating end to the day. The youtube feed is a bit of a revelation in that you can see players techniques up close. Hain always has that crooked backlift but when out of form, which must be where he is now, looked a walking wicket with no idea where his off stump was. With six balls to go before everyone knew the rain would take over the day, it was inevitable he wouldn't last it.

So are all those collapses bad technique or psychological? Looks like both.

Frustrating end to the day. The youtube feed is a bit of a revelation in that you can see players techniques up close. Hain always has that crooked backlift but when out of form, which must be where he is now, looked a walking wicket with no idea where his off stump was. With six balls to go before everyone knew the rain would take over the day, it was inevitable he wouldn't last it.

So are all those collapses bad technique or psychological? Looks like both.

Would be difficult for him after so much residency here. I don't know his parents status (ie are they aussie) and also don't know if he has played for the England second team or not. If he's played for the Lions it makes it very hard to change. Perhaps most important l don't know if he wants to do that or not - and he's said before he's more English than Aussie.

ajones1328 wrote:

BristolBear wrote:

Excellent for Briggs.
But in my head that just shows England have no interest in Hain no matter what. Which is bizarre.

Does he still have opportunity to play for Australia ? Must be considering a switch now.

Would be difficult for him after so much residency here. I don't know his parents status (ie are they aussie) and also don't know if he has played for the England second team or not. If he's played for the Lions it makes it very hard to change. Perhaps most important l don't know if he wants to do that or not - and he's said before he's more English than Aussie.

ajones1328 wrote:

BristolBear wrote:

Excellent for Briggs.
But in my head that just shows England have no interest in Hain no matter what. Which is bizarre.

Does he still have opportunity to play for Australia ? Must be considering a switch now.