New ball tomorrow is the key. Woaksey needs to make in roads....

The Hampshire result last week is so frustrating. Ridiculous that we lost that game. Still all to play for now. Apparently, Woakes is very keen to play, but apparently it's down to England to decide.....have they ever done us any favours? They'll probably insist that he rests for this crucial match!!

coolerking wrote:

Is it the pitch? Or great bowling? Or bad batting?

The same pattern for years: Basically bad batting.

Pathetic batting yet again. Sack the coaches!

Same old batting weaknesses. This really needs to be addressed. What is the point of Holder? Another poor overseas signing. Who is making the decisions on these signings?

With exception of Hain and Burgess, (I'm exonerating Benjamin) the rest predictably caved in so poorly when they should've taken a grip on this contest. Rubbish batting as usual...!

Failure again by our openers. Luckily Hain and Burgess are digging in...

Well done to Liam Norwell! I see our new overseas bowler failed to pick up a wicket. Could be interesting tomorrow- I expect Benjamin to score quickly to give us a chance to bowl them out. Draw is the most likely outcome...

Getting bogged down somewhat this morning. Very slow scoring now Hain is out for 118. Currently 282/5 after 105 overs. 18 needed off 5 overs to secure a 3rd batting point.

BristolBear wrote:

Seemed a very weird decision to bowl first. But the bigger issue for me is how can the club have not planned for this and had an overseas here for the Quarter Finals.
The overseas selection in the last couple of years has been very odd. Surely finding a player to be here all season isn’t impossible?

Agree, very poor planning with Brathwaite. Kent had Adam Milne available. These things make a difference.
I thought the fielding was poor, the batting from the top order was shameful. The batting has been brittle for years. Some of the dismissals were plain embarrassing. Only Lintott, Bresnan and Woakes showed any fight.

Bald_Reynard wrote:

14 man squad:-

Rhodes, Benjamin, Bresnan, Briggs, E. Brookes, Burgess, Hain, Hose, Lamb, Lintott, Miles, Pollock, Woakes and Yates.

I would think Brookes and Lamb will miss out, but can't guess the other. Bresnan perhaps (though that only gives us 3 seamers), or Yates?

No Carlos Brathwaite? I thought he'd signed for the T20 for the Bears?

GerryShedd wrote:

Looks like he is becoming a short-format man for hire:
https://edgbaston.com/news/jake-lintott-to-play-in-cpl/

More disruption to the squad....

Unfortunately Central Contracts are the key. The ECB can dictate everything they want and the County have no say. Nonetheless Woakes has been messed around badly.

He's had awful treatment this year from England's management. They constantly prevent him playing for the Bears deeming protection and not overloading his schedule. To me this is detrimental as he's so short of match fitness and picks up injuries on the back of this lack of involvement.

Solbear wrote:

As I understand it, Chris is still on a rookie contract until the end of the summer. His performances are bound to start attracting interest from other counties - I hope we swiftly move to sign him up to a full time contract before he's lured elsewhere!

Yes, the Warwickshire management need to tie him down to a proper contract asap! Don't let the grass grow!

Chris Woakes absences are never really clear.

Well done to the guys for showing true grit and determination. However, what's happened to all our first choice bowlers? I know Olly is out for a long spell, Chris Woakes? Still injured?

Still a terrible collapse - last 6 wickets for 11 runs?

I presume the Bears have first option on Chris Benjamin? If so, a permanent contract is a certainly! Terrific innings tonight for Birmingham Phoenix!

Good win again today. I noticed Woakes was missing again? Not sure of the reason, Covid isolation? It seems the ECB have done their utmost this season to keep Woakes from playing for the Bears!