The Bears / Pears 2010 Cricket Thread

[Chris Smith]

Just had a look at the table and only the leaders Notts have won more games than us this season but we've lost more than anyone else. As mentioned above we're really not that far from being a very good side.

[hilts_coolerking]

Just had a look at the table and only the leaders Notts have won more games than us this season but we've lost more than anyone else. As mentioned above we're really not that far from being a very good side.

Batting-wise we're miles away from being a very good side. It has taken Carter having a career-best season at the age of 35, Woakes having an all-round excellent season, and Tahir cleaning up on sporting wickets to allow us to even have a sniff of staying up.

The batting hasn't been a one-off. Shorn of Trott and Bell, which surely we must have planned for, our top 6 is desperately poor. In past seasons, with lifeless pitches at Edgbaston, they still have managed to just about be acceptable. Now, with better pitches, they are shown up for being well short of the class required.

We can't base our strategy around the lower order rescuing the top order on a regular basis. The entire top order must regard their places as being up for grabs. Westwood, Troughton, Maddy: these are our senior players and they simply aren't good enough to be relied upon. And because they have been so poor this season, it has left the youngsters we're trying to bring through over-exposed.

We need at least two international-standard batsmen in my view. And ideally one of them would also be captaincy material. The trouble is, I understand the cupboard is bare at Edgbaston and there is apparently conflict between Giles and Povey about the money that is (or should be) available for strengthening. Owais Shah, for example, would be an ideal signing: international-class, or just short of it, but probably no longer in contention so would be available all summer. But could we afford him?

We may also need a new 'keeper as Ambrose looks all in. Foster doesn't look capable of scoring big down the order so, as I said in a previous post, Luke Sutton could be good to bring in and we could rotate the two. But again, could we afford Sutton?

[Simon Ward]

Shah is a good shout and we should be going after Sidebottom as well as Rankin misses too many matches because of injury.

[Villan For Life]

Bell and Trott are in the squad for the vital CB game against Notts.

Trott will then disappear off for ODI duty but Bell should be in the side for the final LV game against Hampshire.

Hilts makes some very valid points. I question Povey's grip on the purse-strings which seems to be almost Doug-esq. We once had a reputation for recruiting top class overseas players (Lara, Donald, Pollock, Kallicharran, Murray etc etc etc). We've not made a landmark overseas signing for a while now.

Shah is a must but I really feel that we should steer clear of any player who is on a central contract. We'd be no further forward.

[Dave Cooper please]

I assume (but I don't know) that all the money is tied up in the redevelopment, which is vital to Warwickshire retaining Test matches.

[Rotterdam]

That's what I've been told Dave, the new stand's are costing around £30m!

[spangley1812]

Its all about striking a balance I suppose trying to get success on and off the pitch

I am sure the members will tell Mr Povey and Mr Giles how they feel at the AGM......

Mr Povey has to release some funds to get a couple of batsmen in and renew Carter's contract

[hilts_coolerking]

Luke Sutton has signed for Derbyshire so that's that.

[Simon Ward]

Anyone going to Scarborough on Saturday?

[TopDeck113]

Essex relegated; Kent-Hants is tight, but low-scoring. There will almost certainly be a result. I think a Hants victory would be the best outcome, as Kent will have to win at Yorkshire, who will in turn be after the victory to land the title.

[frank]

A second stunning win for the Pears in London in a week - Middlesex bowled out for 66 in their 2nd innings. Despite all our problems this season we're looking quite a good team at the moment, though promotion, which is still possible, probably wouldn't be too helpful just yet.

[Gareth]

A second stunning win for the Pears in London in a week - Middlesex bowled out for 66 in their 2nd innings. Despite all our problems this season we're looking quite a good team at the moment, though promotion, which is still possible, probably wouldn't be too helpful just yet.

:-)
Shakib & Mooen are looking like deadly spin twins!

[hilts_coolerking]

Bears in their 40-over semi-final today against Yorks at Scarborough.  We seem to picked up a bit of momentum after getting knocked out of the T20 so fingers crossed.

[hilts_coolerking]

Fabulous win and now we're in the final next Satruday!  Brilliant effort, especially after conceding 257 off 37 overs.

Anyone thinking of going to Lords next weekend? Apparently the Bears have an allocation of tickets in the Mound Stand for £30.

[cdbearsfan]

Every time Warwickshire get to a cricket final it clashes with a Villa home game! Is it selfish to hope it pisses down all Saturday in London so I can watch the game on the reserve day?