Bears/Pears/Domestic Cricket Thread 2012

[hilts_coolerking]

Just got back.  Great game and a great day out just a shame to lose it on the final ball.  Gutted for Neil Carter.

Thanks a million to Rutski for the tickets.  Me and the old man had a blast.

[aev]

Hey hilts....just read your comment on the Bears forum thingy too!

Just got back as well.....great game of cricket and my son managed to win a signed cricket bat and got Trott's autograph on his Bears cap which cushioned the pain at the end.

Loads of empty seats.....not like the old finals when it was packed out which is a shame.

[ACVilla]

Loads of empty seats.....not like the old finals when it was packed out which is a shame.

It's been the same for a few years now, its a shame. I went to many a final in the 90s when tickets were like gold dust.

Great game, pretty gutted to be honest.

Carter should not have been playing in all honesty.

Should Chris Woakes just focus on his batting and become a second string bowler?

[aev]

It looked a pretty good pitch and I guess Woakes and Carter, both the same speed, were coming onto the bat nicely.

I think Woakes's batting has more upside potential than his bowling, though at county level his bowling is still more than good enough.

Carter has been a wonderful player for the Bears and he obviously had a good semi final, but I do think Barker is a better bowler, batsman and fielder than him. A sad end to his Bears career.

[hilts_coolerking]

I think that's right - the spinners had the upper hand all through the day and I thought with Patel and Blackwell we had the better spinners and that we'd win but we were just unlucky on the final ball.  Such fine margins.

[aev]

Also thought their keeper had a good game....stood up well to Wood who also bowled nicely.

I guess we were also hampered by Wright's injury too.

[richard moore]

Great day for me as I whilst I am obviously a Villa fan, my cricket team is Hampshire!

Weird I know, but my dad who is a Brummie and Villla fan from a family going back generations in Erdington was doing his National Service in the RAF on Thorney Island near Portsmouth when I was born in Pompey. We then moved back to Birmingham shortly afterwards when his stint ended. However, after that, I continued to come down to Hampshire in the summer to holiday with my godmother and her husband used to take me a lot to see Hampshire and so they became my team - despite living within spitting distance of Edgbaston. Those were the days of Barry Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Trevor Jesty, Andy Roberts and Malcolm Marshall so it wasn't difficult to end up supporting them as a young impressionable teenager. Feel like a traitor in the camp!!!

[The Left Side]

Missed the game and just read the reports, gutted about the result and how it came down to the last ball but the championship softens the blow, still a great season

[avfcpg]

Great day for me as I whilst I am obviously a Villa fan, my cricket team is Hampshire!

Weird I know, but my dad who is a Brummie and Villla fan from a family going back generations in Erdington was doing his National Service in the RAF on Thorney Island near Portsmouth when I was born in Pompey. We then moved back to Birmingham shortly afterwards when his stint ended. However, after that, I continued to come down to Hampshire in the summer to holiday with my godmother and her husband used to take me a lot to see Hampshire and so they became my team - despite living within spitting distance of Edgbaston. Those were the days of Barry Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Trevor Jesty, Andy Roberts and Malcolm Marshall so it wasn't difficult to end up supporting them as a young impressionable teenager. Feel like a traitor in the camp!!!

Me too Richard...moved down from the midlands at an early age and my cricket was learnt here in Bournemouth. Has there been a better opening partnership than Richards and Greenidge? Then we are biased.

Was lucky enough to do the scoreboard as a kind when at school & met all the Hants players regularly...including the legend that is Malcolm Marshall. Top bloke and magnificent player.

[richard moore]

Great day for me as I whilst I am obviously a Villa fan, my cricket team is Hampshire!

Weird I know, but my dad who is a Brummie and Villla fan from a family going back generations in Erdington was doing his National Service in the RAF on Thorney Island near Portsmouth when I was born in Pompey. We then moved back to Birmingham shortly afterwards when his stint ended. However, after that, I continued to come down to Hampshire in the summer to holiday with my godmother and her husband used to take me a lot to see Hampshire and so they became my team - despite living within spitting distance of Edgbaston. Those were the days of Barry Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Trevor Jesty, Andy Roberts and Malcolm Marshall so it wasn't difficult to end up supporting them as a young impressionable teenager. Feel like a traitor in the camp!!!

Me too Richard...moved down from the midlands at an early age and my cricket was learnt here in Bournemouth. Has there been a better opening partnership than Richards and Greenidge? Then we are biased.

Was lucky enough to do the scoreboard as a kind when at school & met all the Hants players regularly...including the legend that is Malcolm Marshall. Top bloke and magnificent player.

Funny there should be at least two of us and just shows what an influence people and places can have on who you end up supporting. On the odd occasions that Richards and Greenidge were on song together - which didn't seem to be that often in my mind - it was absolutely fantastic to watch. Somehow more appealing that watching Dennis Amiss opening the batting at the time though Warwicks had some fantastic players too. Did Kalicharran (sp?) and Kanhai both play for them?

[Dave Cooper please]

though Warwicks had some fantastic players too. Did Kalicharran (sp?) and Kanhai both play for them?

Certainly did. Kanhai scored over 11,000 runs at an average of over 50  for Warwickshire.

[Villan For Life]

The Bears including Villa fans Bell and Woakes will be parading the trophy at half time on Sunday:

http://www.edgbaston.com/1126/bears-to-unveil-lv-county-championship-trophy-at-villa-park.html

[The Left Side]

The Bears including Villa fans Bell and Woakes will be parading the trophy at half time on Sunday:

http://www.edgbaston.com/1126/bears-to-unveil-lv-county-championship-trophy-at-villa-park.html

Great stuff, COYB

[tomd2103]

Good to see them at HT of the game.  I am biased, but I still think Bell should be out in Sri Lanka opening for England.

[The Left Side]

me too Tom