The Bears/Pears/County Cricket Thread 2015

[Villan For Life]

So the new county season is almost upon us, with the traditional MCC v Champion county match starting on Sunday in Dubai. The first Bears game starts on 19th April and I've got a feeling that there's a distraction elsewhere that day.  The first Pears game is a week earlier.

So what are your hopes for the season?

I'd like to see the Bears build on a good season last year and compete in all formats. I'd take another Championship title and a one day cup. We have a strong squad and if they stay fit and in form we are a match for anyone.

[AVH87]

Last season went very well for us (Warwicks). One piece of silverware and 2 runners up medals. Hopefully we compete on all fronts again. With the season creeping up on us it can't be long before I do my Telegraph Fantasy Cricket team for the year, good fun.

[The Left Side]

Can I just say... Come on you Bears!

[paul_e]

I want to see Sam Hain continue his incredible progress as part of another very strong season.

[frank]

I can't see the Pears winning anything, especially without Moeen, but I think we're just about good enough to stay up.

[spangley1812]

I want to see Sam Hain continue his incredible progress as part of another very strong season.

This and hopefully the fast bowlers i.e Wright, Barker and OHD to stay clear of injuries

[Richard]

Those 3 plus Rankin Woakes Clarke Gordon must be the best seam attack in the country

[cdbearsfan]

If we could play in the Champions League, I'd prioritise defending the Twenty20, but as we can't, I'd most like to see us win the County Championship, if I could choose. Realistically, I'd settle for any trophy, so long as we don't get relegated.

[Villan For Life]

If we could play in the Champions League, I'd prioritise defending the Twenty20, but as we can't, I'd most like to see us win the County Championship, if I could choose. Realistically, I'd settle for any trophy, so long as we don't get relegated.

I was wondering why we weren't in the Champions League?

[cdbearsfan]

The ECB couldn't come to an agreement for our domestic season to finish before the Champions League started. Nothing to do with Warwickshire, they'd decided beforehand.

I think the ECB need to reconsider, and think about either allowing England players to go to the IPL or create something similar over here. England are lagging behind in shorter forms of the game and a large part of the reason is that their players are rarely competing at the elite level (apologies for digressing).

[Villan For Life]

The ECB couldn't come to an agreement for our domestic season to finish before the Champions League started. Nothing to do with Warwickshire, they'd decided beforehand.

I think the ECB need to reconsider, and think about either allowing England players to go to the IPL or create something similar over here. England are lagging behind in shorter forms of the game and a large part of the reason is that their players are rarely competing at the elite level (apologies for digressing).

Thanks for clearing that up.

I agree re the IPL and it's been discussed on the other cricket thread.

[cdbearsfan]

Cheers. I'll have a butcher's.

[adrenachrome]

Edgbaston

Warwickshire v Worcestershire, Friendly

The rules for the match were day 1, Warwickshire to bat 64 overs and Worcestershire to bat 32 overs. On day 2 it will be the reverse of day 1

Day 1

After winning the toss and batting first at Edgbaston against Worcestershire, Warwickshire’s opening pair of skipper, Varun Chopra and Ian Westwood scored freely against the new ball attack of Chris Russell and Joe Leach before Chopra 30 chopped Russell back into his stumps when one short of their half-century opening partnership.

Ateeq Javid 4 lbw and Laurie Evans 0 caught behind by ‘keeper Joe Clark, quickly followed to  the bowling of Ed Barnard from the Birmingham End before Westwood, now partnered by Sam Hain, took Warwickshire to lunch on 119-3 with both batsmen unbeaten on 39.

After lunch Westwood and Hain extended their fourth wicket partnership to 188 from just 41 overs with Westwood completing his century before Hain was bowled by Russell for 94 from 124 deliveries.

Westwood was undefeated on 121 from 194 balls with 16 fours and a six as the Warwickshire innings closed after 64 overs on 263-4

With the weather deteriorating, Worcestershire began their reply but lost captain Daryl Mitchell lbw to Keith Barker in the fifth over for a single, while fellow opener, Richard Oliver collected five boundaries in his unbeaten, run-a-ball 24. Bad light brought an end to the day’s play after nine overs of the Worcestershire reply with the visitors, 31-1 at stumps with 23 overs were lost in the day.

[pooligan]

Decent start to the season for the Bears.In the friendly against our neighbours the Pears we ended the day 263-4 with Westwood 120 odd not out and Hain making 94. We then got rid of Mitchell for 1

[pooligan]

Sad to read that Paul Best has had to retire due to injury. Before his injury i had high hopes for this lad of becoming a important member of our first team squad.