GerryShedd wrote:

Ah, yes, the 1991 allegations were made by Don Topley who played in those matches and was commentating at Edgbaston this week.
Mind you, Topley is allegedly not the brightest bulb in the chandelier. Those who heard Geoff Miller speak at the Cricket Society last winter will recall him telling the story of how Topley was bowling in a match. As he started to walk back to his mark part way through an over, he asked the umpire: "How many balls?" "Three" was the answer. He got back to his mark but, instead of running in, he walked all the way back to the umpire and said: "Is that three gone or three to come?"
Anyway, the allegations were never proved and, 32 years on, we don't hold grudges (well, not too much!)

Difficult to prove but then both umpires had umpired the previous days Sunday League game and could see the way it was all going. When the 3rd innings declaration came, Holder and Dudleston stood and looked at each other with Dudleston giving it the 'double Teapot' in a 'You are not serious about a target like that' scenario. I do hold that grudge and if you consider when Essex were struggling to buy their ground, Warwickshire gave them an interest free loan. That game as much as anything, gave the ECB food for thought about having 2 games involving the same 2 sides, running into each other and soon after the practice was stopped. Cannot see any reason why Topley should make up that story and I don't think any Essex/Lancashire players, at the time, came out in incredulity to pour scorn on the comment.

At least their tail having a wag, gave us a bit more of a day rather than when they were 7 down, I had visions of it being over before lunch. Another win though and if you consider we won only 2 CC games last season, this seems more like it. Let us hope that Middlesex can hang on v Surrey but I doubt it. The bowling is not a worry but the batting might be as the season goes on but good to see the skipper get a few. A few words said when Yates got out as Essex didn't like catch he took to end the innings. Tough, I didn't particularly like how Essex and Lancashire 'Swapped Wins' in a couple of Sunday League/CC games in 1991 to deny us the title so a catch they didn't like is just tough.

With the way Lawrence was wafting about like a schoolboy. it is debatable as to whether or not he deserves to still be in after way he played. great days entertainment, we looked so comfortable before lunch and that last wicket stand was superb and although it sounds like hindsight, I had a feeling about Hassan and his batting and fancied him for a good 30 but he went beyond. I feel we can get 2 more before they wipe off the deficit and feel it could be over tomorrow anyway.

Could have done without losing 2 wickets overnight but a chance for the skipper to get a few. 300 would be nice but I would be happy with 250.

So far this season, we are running out of things to say about Rushworth and I cannot think of any more words to describe what has become an incredible signing.

If Curran plays then it is a backward step for England, cannot see how someone who can't win games in the CC can be considered a Test standard allrounder.

With the rain delay, it might not matter who plays if we cannot get on the pitch. Would hate England to pick Woakes and then not play him, that has happened many times. I still think he should play, Broad has not done much so far,11 wickets in 3 games.

Reabank wrote:

Great result, made my day. Don't know who was responsible but (4 games in) looks like we made some really shrewd decisions over the winter. As for negative views of Warwickshire, seems to come with the territory - every time we've won the title in my life time it's been met with a mixture of backhanded compliments and downright whinging. Makes it all the sweeter when we come through.
I agree, there are always negative comments when we win anything, in 2004 we got a lot of comments because we won only 5 games. We did draw 11 but lost none and by July, it was obvious that a side who would go on to have a lowest score of 265 in the CC were not going to lose any games and during July we were so many points ahead of 2nd, that all we had to do was keep accumulating points. No other side had the nerve to declare too many behind and try to encourage us to set up a finish so what were we to do. In 1995, Mike Brearley said our pitches were green-tops prepared for our bowlers. If your first 3 bowlers are Donald, Small and Munton, you are going to win a few games and it doesn't explain how we played 2 spinners every game, any 2 from Smith, Davis and Giles. And in 2021 we got all the "They only won because it was a different format and Essex and Notts had better records" - Tough, all the counties knew the score from ball 1 and if they didn't play well enough to get in to the top tier and carry forward any points, then that is their hard luck. We have won more trophies during the modern era and if you take any block of a 5 year period going back to the mid-90's we are in the top 3 of trophy winners in EVERY period, I suppose the other counties think this is all a fluke as well. Happy Bank Holiday everyone.

Come on EB, stop slacking and remove yourself from 'Yer pit' and 'Seize the day'.

Love beating Hampshire after they gave Lancashire a MASSIVE helping hand in winning the title in 2011. A great win and losing play to the weather has made no difference just like the Kent game.

Please let us take this wicket as hearing Emily Windsor say 'Frew' and 'Fings' instead of 'Through' and 'Things' is driving me mad.

You can only think that Hampshire have managed to win games because of their bowling because as a lot of Hampshire fans will tell you, their batting looks poor.

Rushworth, what a signing, we know he won't get picked for England so should be running in during the CC games without playing in T20 and might not need to play in the RL cup, so he is ours for the season and he will take wickets. Mr reliable and so pleasing to watch.

I think we would have batted on regardless of whether Barnard was on 91* or not. I would prefer to bat on in that position, there are 2 ways of looking at it, I have seen sides close the innings earlier than they normally would because the ball is moving about and then come out to bowl and the ball does nothing. Batting on gives us the opportunity to make Hampshire have to bat longer to clear the deficit and might mean we don't have to try and get 110 in 10 overs if they got out for 250 and used up 85 overs in doing so. Either way it is a tough one for any captain but don't agree with the woman on the commentary who said declaring overnight was "brave captaincy", it has nothing to do with that, a captain has to do whatever it take to try and win the game.

In that case, Hampshire would have to get 280-300 and I cannot see them scoring that quickly.

Barnard, looking like a really good signing and not looking overawed by being in division 1.

This Hain/Barnard partnership is looking a good one and a decent rate. Holland/Dawson are very ordinary bowlers but you can bet that Abbas and Abbott will be a different challenge. A lead of 100+ tonight with a few wickets in hand would be a good day and then we will just have to hope we can get enough time left at the weekend to help us out.

Saturday, from what I have just seen, is the dodgy day and Sunday might see more play. Important tomorrow that we bat long and score at a good lick and get a good lead. If we could bat all day tomorrow, it might be that only Sunday gives us a chance to win.

This has turned out to be a good day. Well done us. This is 'Bearball', not 'Bazball'.

Glad to have broken that partnership but 186-8 is better for them than 137-7 and have we let another good opportunity to get a side out for less than 170, go again.