Warwickshire match thread ( moans happily accepted)

[Durhamfootman]

no he shouldn't, I agree. When Durham won the CC the year before an ashes summer, we signed Ian Blackwell and he utterly completed the team, tbh. He was hungry for it too, after leaving Somerset (no pun intended there, btw), and sniffing after an England recall, so he worked really hard that year. We had Harmison hoping desperately for one last ashes hurrah, and so he was working really hard, and Graham Onions was on the cusp of test cricket and he was working really hard too. Shiv was on the books to give us some second half of the season solidity when pitches started to turn, and so we ended up with a much better team than the one which won our maiden CC title the year before.

Now that hardly ever happens these days, and we were very lucky (or savvy) to have England quality internationals suddenly fired up and in the team on a regular basis. If KP had stayed fit and in some strange move, England decided to drop Bell in order to get Root into the England side, then that is kind of what we had. Imagine having Bell batting regualrly for you this year trying hard to get an ashes place back, and the effect that that would have on your 2013 season?

As you say, teams prepare different pitches hoping to gain an advantage this time around. Then they will try to grind out a draw against you because you are the county champions, whereas the year before they might have had a go at trying to force a win and open the door for you. It is very hard to replicate the season. Having a change of coach certainly won't have helped because DB won't have had much time to prepare for defending the title. Meanwhile Ashley 'Durham are coming so rake up a worn old pitch mr groundsman, please' Giles walks away looking like a hero into a plum England role instead of making sure that Warks have everything in place for another successful year of domestic cricket.

DB will be planning for next year, already (I hope). Working out where he needs to strengthen (every successful side needs to strengthen, every year). You'll be fine. Just keep your bowlers fit.

[Kim]

Agree with all that. The age taken to appoint the new coach didn't help (it was always going to be Dougie or Pop Welch) while it typified Dougie's luck that the only change this year - and IMo the only change needed - was Laurie Evans replacing Maddy who is in his last year - Laurie averaged 45 then got injured and hasn't played for 2 months. Hannon+Dalby was signed because Eng picked all the seamers for the Lions over the winter. Club has some good young seamers coming through (the youth system is better than for 30 years and is choca block with talent) who Dougie/Pop thought might be ready but didn't want to find out weren't ready half way through the year so OHD was experienced cover for Eng calls. The Eng calls came - but of course IHD had broken his arm.

Some years just aren't meant to be.

[hopeforthebest]

Our season started the way it seems to have gone on when in the very first game rain prevented an almost certain victory against Derbyshire.

[Kim]

Very true.

Champions Trophy is good for club financially (tho nothing like a test) but did mean lost of home fixtures early. Also, as ICC own the ground during the competition, players haven't been able to use the ground/facilities even for practice for about 6 weeks. Cant help.

[hopeforthebest]

maybe we can send Porterfield out on loan to Scotland for next year's ODI series.

[Kim]

Luke Wells of Sussex would be a decent signing.

[hopeforthebest]

The rain is lashing down here in South Holland and very windy and I know why, The Bears are here to play cricket.

[hopeforthebest]

What a surprise Netherlands v Warks game declared no result, pretty much sums up our season to date.

[Kim]

Darren Maddy retires

Which means more room for Hain

[hopeforthebest]

Darren Maddy retires

Which means more room for Hain

Maddy has been a great servant for us and it's sad to see him go but it was inevitable.

[hopeforthebest]

Warwickshire look a shambles at the moment, they seem to be unable to compete in YB40 or T20. My concern is these failures will carry over to the CC games. We might well be fighting to stave off relegation if they don't get their act together.

[hopeforthebest]

Six overs gone and Warwickshire are facing another defeat, this will do little for their confidence in next weeks CC match against Middlesex.

[Arthur Crabtree]

England have now snubbed all the Warks bowlers. So good news for them.

[hopeforthebest]

England have now snubbed all the Warks bowlers. So good news for them.

Only after they've help them lose form.

[Kim]

Warwicks will be effectively out of T20 before they've played a game at Edgbaston. Disastrous.