The Bears/Pears/County Cricket Thread 2015

[Villan For Life]

Would prefer Warwickshire but I have no problem with Birmingham Bears. There will need to be a massive overhaul of English cricket as propping up the archane county circuit is counter productive. The country cannot sustain 18 county teams in the present format and with specific regards to 20/20 it highlights where we're getting left behind. Successful proponents of the game have made it a cities affair and changed how the teams are seen and supported. We should give it a go and fully get behind the (abhorrent) game we created. Because it has changed 50 over cricket and likely to change the face of test cricket.

Pretty much sums up my thoughts too.

[Villan For Life]

Ian Bell has signed a 3 year contract extension.

He doesn't turn out for the Bears very often, but when he does he gives it his all.

[tomd2103]

Would prefer Warwickshire but I have no problem with Birmingham Bears. There will need to be a massive overhaul of English cricket as propping up the archane county circuit is counter productive. The country cannot sustain 18 county teams in the present format and with specific regards to 20/20 it highlights where we're getting left behind. Successful proponents of the game have made it a cities affair and changed how the teams are seen and supported. We should give it a go and fully get behind the (abhorrent) game we created. Because it has changed 50 over cricket and likely to change the face of test cricket.

Pretty much sums up my thoughts too.

Me too.  T20 in this country has to change and will likely be city based teams, so Birmingham Bears will fit in.  If that is a success then I can see there being calls for the 50 over game to follow suit as well. 

I don't think there is a real need to alter the two division county championship system, but I could see a case for players centrally contracted to the ECB are loaned to Division One teams if their county is relegated to ensure they are playing at the highest level possible. 

[adrenachrome]

Ian Bell has signed a 3 year contract extension.

He doesn't turn out for the Bears very often, but when he does he gives it his all.

PCA MVP Rankings ‏@PCA_MVP_Cricket 9h9 hours ago

.@Ian_Bell loves batting for @CricketingBears - in 2014 he hit 30% of the team's @LV_Cricket runs in his games, highest % of all players.

[Villan For Life]

Ian Bell has signed a 3 year contract extension.

He doesn't turn out for the Bears very often, but when he does he gives it his all.

PCA MVP Rankings ‏@PCA_MVP_Cricket 9h9 hours ago

.@Ian_Bell loves batting for @CricketingBears - in 2014 he hit 30% of the team's @LV_Cricket runs in his games, highest % of all players.

That is a fantastic stat.

[peter w]

Or not...

[Villan For Life]

Or not...

I'd expect a player of Bell's class to dominate county attacks and to his credit he normally does.

[Villan For Life]

Jeetan Patel has been named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the year.

Well done that man, richly deserved.

[adrenachrome]

Jeetan Patel has been named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the year.

Well done that man, richly deserved.

Well said. A class act.

[pooligan]

Yeah well done Jeetan Patel.Must admit,i was not to impressed when we first signed him,but he has won me over and is now one of my favourite bears.

[pooligan]

Welcome back to the Big Boys league you Pears,11-2 already off just 8 overs

[adrenachrome]

Warwickshire won toss and decided to bat
 
Warwickshire (1st Innings)    Durham MCCU (1st Innings)
414 for 3 (87.0 overs)   
5 Hours, 10 Minutes.   
Warwickshire (2nd Innings)    Durham MCCU (2nd Innings)
   
   
 
Warwickshire (1st Innings)
Batsman         Runs   Balls   Mins   4s   6s   S/r
V Chopra*   c RAM Gibson   b CM MacDonell   18   28   37   3   0   64.29
IJ Westwood   retd, out      155   187   272   22   0   82.89
WTS Porterfield      b D Ratanayake   59   85   88   9   2   69.41
LJ Evans   lbw   b WDB Phillips   52   85   82   8   0   61.18
SR Hain   not out      85   102   99   6   1   83.33
TR Ambrose+   not out      32   37   38   2   1   86.49
R Clarke                        
TP Milnes                        
CJC Wright                        
RA Jones                        
JE Poysden                        
Extras   4nb 0w 4lb 5b 0pen    13
Total   414   for 3

[Villan For Life]

I've got a feeling Sam Hain will score heavily this year. He seems to have it all; temperament, technique, concentration. People whose opinion counts more than mine say he is better than Ian Bell at the same age and that is some endorsement.

He qualifies for England in 2016 so let's make the most of him while we can.

[PGW]

Bears finished up on 553, Durham MCCU 62-3, a couple of wickets for Jones and 1 for Wright.

[paul_e]

I've got a feeling Sam Hain will score heavily this year. He seems to have it all; temperament, technique, concentration. People whose opinion counts more than mine say he is better than Ian Bell at the same age and that is some endorsement.

He qualifies for England in 2016 so let's make the most of him while we can.

From the little I've seen of him he looks a special talent, how calm he looks is incredibly impressive for his age.