Getting tonked by Gloucester in their 2nd innings. Pretty much all our bowlers are suffering - Johal, over 5 an over, for 1 (late) wicket. Gloucester already 321 ahead, going into the last day.
Our batters did OK, Bethell and Benjamin, both getting tons.
Looks set for a Gloucester win, or a draw if we can bat as well in our 2nd stint at the crease.

Well done EB. It was getting really silly! It's good to know the site has got 97 (or so) genuine followers at the moment.

Hope you can find a more permanent way of keeping the spammers out.

Looking at the number of registered users, I think we're going to get more Russian 'spammers' on the Forum than Bears fans soon (unless we have a huge, mainly untapped, support in Russia !?). About one a day being added. They've even started showing .ru in their username. Streetly talks about silly messages not putting him off, I largely agree, but I am concerned about the sheer number of non-Cricket posters that could be on the site - and uncertain as to what is the point of them coming on. I guess the attraction, is a site named after (what they think are Russian) Bears !

Joel Paris would be my choice of the WA bowlers. Left arm seamer (which we've desperately needed since Barker left), with a decent First Class and One Day average. Equally important, he's not a bad batter - going in at 7 or 8 and having got a First Class century. A ready made replacement for Bresnan ?

Is it now time to put in place our own sanctions - over Russian posters?!

Well, Davies won't be batting (or keeping wicket) in the 50 over, he's in the 100, with Southern Brave.

I think Matt Mason will be a decent appointment. His County experience at New Road & Grace Road and his work with Western Australia & Perth Scorchers, means he does have a good Coaching pedigree. Also, his work with the ECB (and with Mark Robinson in the England Womens Team - I guess a reason for the choice) only adds to his CV.

As regards the Cricketer quote about us, "being close to another coaching appointment, which could come as early as next week", being interpreted by BR as another coaching addition, it could just mean Matt Mason's appointment. It depends upon how you read it. It might mean a new Batting Coach though - nothing against Frosty !

Is it just me, or are others pi**ed off by all these 'dodgy' posters we seem to have inhabiting our site ?! All with very obvious 'troll' names. I hope Admin can do something about them.

I'd go with AD or Tait. Steyn was a great bowler, but so little Coaching experience.

At face value, Donald would be the best for me, but I wonder whether his Bears background might actually be a HINDRANCE. With Trotty coming back and Farbs on record as saying that being ex-WCCC shouldn't guarantee a Coaching job with us, I wonder if appointing another ex-Bear in a week, might be a 'bridge too far' ! I really hope not, AD has by far the best track record for this job - and I'm sure he'd love to come 'home'.

Tait would be a good fall back option, with a decent Coaching pedigree. However, I think the fact that the Cricketer report says, "Donald and Miller, impressed", would mean it is between them.

Good call Highveld. I did post some news here a couple of months ago, which I had heard - the fact that the Club were actively looking at left arm seamers, as the Overseas signing. They considered Shaheen Afridi, but didn't pursue, as he couldn't commit to a full Championship season. This South African guy looks to be an ideal recruit, to me. And I think South African Internationals should be available for a full season this year?

The ramifications of Azeem Rafiq's testimony will flow over to us, in regard to what he says about TB. I see we're going to start an investigation into his involvement. I guess that COULD well lead to Tim's 'early retirement'?

I'd heard rumours that we had been talking to Shaheen Afridi, about an Overseas berth next season. Farbs and MR have identified a need for a Seam bowler - preferably left arm - and he fitted (and his Edgbaston links through the 100 helped). However, he couldn't commit to a full Championship season because of International requirements and so we pulled out. He's signed for Middlesex now - playing in the Championship and T20 until mid July.

Absolutely wonderful. I've been waiting 9 years for that!

Last night I never thought we'd do it (we never seem to exploit last day wickets!), but what seam bowling from all. The joy on the faces of Miles & Norwell and all the fielders, when those 2 last wickets went down, was a sight to behold!

And we mustn't forget, an awesome batting display yesterday.

This (mainly young) team (with probably just a decent Overseas signing - and perhaps a new Batting Coach?!), could really be up there, if they can maintain the progress of this season.

U Bears!!

Andy wrote:

Manraj Johal 10fer, he's finishing the season strongly.

The game had a good stream on Play, so I managed to see a fair bit.

Yep, Manraj was the stand out performer, but there were also some very decent bowling performances from Booth and Ryan S. Garrett was OK, very economical, but didn't cut through much.

I think the last couple of 2nds games will give management some difficult decisions for the bowlers. Stick with Sidebottom and Garrett for a bit longer, give Booth a contract?

With the exception of the increasingly promising Amir Khan (and to a lesser extent, Velani and the departing Pollock), the batsmen (like the 1sts) didn't pull up any daisies. Probably a difficult wicket for batting (the time of year ?), but few others stood out. Hose got 23 (in an hour and a half batting !), so the jury is very much still out on him and Ethan B looked OK (though he had a cracking game in the previous 2nds match against Hants, so his future is assured).

Callum Hawkins looked good behind the stumps - and will probably compete with George Maddy, to take Kelley's role as our 'coming through' keeper.

55 for 5! That's it, season over!

Andy wrote:

Woakes is in. Johal drops out of the 13.

I hope management know the only change needed from the Hants game, is that Woakes should come in for Holder - and they don't keep him in, just because he's being paid big('ish) money as one of our (wonderful?!) Overseas signings.

Coming up to that time of year again. My thoughts:-

Not Retained - Ryan Sidebottom, Vikai Kelley, George Furrer and possibly George Garrett?

New Contracts - Jordan Bulpitt, Kiel van Vollenhoven, Karl Carver and possibly Michael Booth & Bradley Currie?

As speculated in the Ed Pollock thread, Hose really does have to watch out, he is getting dangerously close to serial failures - and the possibility of being released. I don't know how long he's got left on his contract, but if its up at the end of this season, he could be gone. He has done nothing in his time with us in the red ball game (including in the 2nd team - a duck again today) and has had a poor year or two in white ball. I know he has had injury problems, but that only compounds the doubts about his long term suitability for us. I think management will be seriously considering whether he should be kept.

We bowled Hants out for 164. We're on 101 for 3 at the moment - Ed P on 80 NO (in a red ball game) ! I'd love it he got a good ton and make management think about extending his contract. I'd hate it if he shot off to New Road and then started performing there.

Hose, AGAIN, a duck ! He really has to watch out, a release could be on the cards, depending on how long his contract is for.

Ed is 75NO in a RED ball game - playing for the 2nd's in their Championship match at Southampton. Perhaps there is a chance he might get a contract extension ! It is amzing he's given so few run outs in red ball games - there might be decent Championship batsman there, we'll never know. I'd hate it if he went to New Road and 'did a Libby' on us - ie show his old club what they were missing !