NatWest T20 blast

Dozen Wicked Words

Of limited interest but since the mighty Steelbacks are current holders I couldn't resist starting thread (particularly after their horrific start to County Championship campaign).

Got their defence of the title under way with an exciting win away to Yorkshire. Chased down 162 with ball to spare.

Go Steelbacks!

Rjd2

Is their any reason White is not back with ye?He was a beast last year and is pretty handy in all formats, ye bloody need players!:o

He doesn't even have the IPL this year as a distraction and was not picked up for the West Indies t20

Dozen Wicked Words

Rjd2 wrote: »

Is their any reason White is not back with ye?He was a beast last year and is pretty handy in all formats, ye bloody need players!:o

He doesn't even have the IPL this year as a distraction and was not picked up for the West Indies t20

I wondered myself, finances probably, great shame he's not back, considering he was with us the year we only won once prior to last season's victory. Levi is back and we signed a Kiwi, Butler. Tough group this year. Notts my favourites for whole thing, serious number of internationals.

djimi

Only got to see the first innings of the Notts Lancs game earlier but it was entertaining stuff from the Notts batsmen. Taylor in particular looked excellent; somewhat unlucky to get out how he did but was playing some fantastic shots. Great knocks from Lumb and Patel also.

Rjd2

Would have thought ye would have a few extra quid after winning it last year and White missed out on the IPL as well, dunno if he put himself up for the West Indies T20. Its a strange one, could be money,although maybe he just wants a break? Must be loaded by now.

Notts always mess it up though! Doubt they will see much of Broad either and outside chance of Taylor been called up.

Hampshire look strong despite their loss earlier, and if they get Maxwell in his current IPL form:eek::eek:

Still,they will miss Carbs and of course their has to be a chance Vince is called up as well, quality player.

The rest are all reasonably similar, could make an argument for Somerset, Surrey and even Yorkshire especially if Finch fires.

Essex are my darkhorses, always good in this format and Ryder if he can avoid the booze could smash a lot of bowlers and of course Tendo is a class act.

Also got Napier as well, one of my favorite English domestic players to watch, so much fun indeed.:o

Rjd2

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

I wondered myself, finances probably, great shame he's not back, considering he was with us the year we only won once prior to last season's victory.

Supposedly its visa issues, he has not played enough internationals to qulaify this time around.

It makes sense really, ye have money and he spoke very highly of his time their before.

Dozen Wicked Words

Rjd2 wrote: »

Supposedly its visa issues, he has not played enough internationals to qulaify this time around.

It makes sense really, ye have money and he spoke very highly of his time their before.

It's such a shame, we missed out on Trent Copeland in the long form of the game for the same reason, he got us promoted, with his bowling, and awesome tail end batting.

White was just a fantastic influence around the place. Two of the best overseas players we've had.

Mary Earnest

Morgan, Balbirnie, Stirling, Joyce all played in Middx. v Sussex. Is that a record number of Irish-borns playing for English counties in a single match?

Dozen Wicked Words

Steelbacks win again, David Willey batted like a lunatic tonight. Shame they have zero form in the County Championship.

Rjd2

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Steelbacks win again, David Willey batted like a lunatic tonight. Shame they have zero form in the County Championship.

Ye are dead in the county championship sadly.:(

Its a shame and a bit of a surprise he has been left out of your 4 day team recently isn't it?

He was in the England squad before which is reassuring as he deserves a go in the limited over stuff, as does James Vince of Hampshire.

Is Ian Bell or even Michael Carberry better batsmen than either in T20?

Dozen Wicked Words

Rjd2 wrote: »

Ye are dead in the county championship sadly.:(

Its a shame and a bit of a surprise he has been left out of your 4 day team recently isn't it?

He was in the England squad before which is reassuring as he deserves a go in the limited over stuff, as does James Vince of Hampshire.

Is Ian Bell or even Michael Carberry better batsmen than either in T20?

Think Vince is a terrific player definitely deserves to get a decent crack in the England team

Willey has struggled with injuries, as have half the team, and bit too hit and miss, in theory, to play the 4 day stuff (whereas rest of team are just miss!). It might not do him any harm avoiding the shambles that is the 4 day team.

Hope Willey gets a go with England or he will probably move on to another County to seek recognition.

Rjd2

Ye were meant to be on the telly last night, rain cancelled it, Willey refusing to shave until he plays 4 day cricket again, he looks bloody rough now:P

ClashCityRocker

Is this "Birmingham Bears" name a new innovation? What's the thinking behind that?

Dozen Wicked Words

Rjd2 wrote: »

Ye were meant to be on the telly last night, rain cancelled it, Willey refusing to shave until he plays 4 day cricket again, he looks bloody rough now:P

Yeah gutted it got abandoned, don't get many chances to watch them, there were some serious puddles on the outfield though. Willey is a head the ball! Great to have local lads in the team.

Dozen Wicked Words

ClashCityRocker wrote: »

Is this "Birmingham Bears" name a new innovation? What's the thinking behind that?

Marketing I suppose.

Rjd2

ClashCityRocker wrote: »

Is this "Birmingham Bears" name a new innovation? What's the thinking behind that?

Their you go, I can understand some peoples annoyance but ultimately bills have to be paid.:o

I know they also want to try and get a stronger Muslim attendance at the T20 this year, thus they have also signed "all rounder" Shaoib Malik after his epic showing in the big Bash and The World Cup. :pac:

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/cricket/bears-would-left-edgbaston-without-6374841

Warwickshire would probably have had to leave Edgbaston if Birmingham City Council had not loaned them £20million to redevelop their stadium, chief executive Colin Povey revealed today.

Defending the club’s decision to compete in next season’s Twenty20 as “Birmingham Bears”, Povey insisted the council’s ongoing support has ensured the famous cricket ground is an asset for the city rather than its “problem child.”

The name change, requested by the council, acceded to by the club and sanctioned by the ECB, has enraged many Warwickshire fans.

Supporters in Coventry and Warwickshire are justifiably aggrieved while cricket followers country-wide are concerned the switch could set a dangerous precedent. It is the first time a first-class county had ditched the county name for a senior tournament.

But, while respecting the feelings of the move’s opponents, Povey argues the club must move with the times – and reckons that without the council loan for Warwickshire these times would be very hard indeed.

“Without redeveloping the stadium and the support of Birmingham City Council we would not have retained international cricket,” he said. “And without that this club could not have survived in the way it was.

“We would have a dilapidated stadium rotting on its stanchions and would probably have had to move away. That is the reality.

“It is self-evident that the relationship with the city council has been positive. It has put us back on the map with the ICC and ECB and driven all our youth cricket, girls cricket, disability cricket and schools competitions so that, instead of Edgbaston being the problem child for the city, we are starting to be a big asset again.

“There is a whole set of local-based initiatives around this name change and it centres around our relationship with the council.

"They stuck their hand in their pocket to the tune of £20m, dilapidated stadium rotting on its stanchions and would probably have had to move away. That is the reality.

“It is self-evident that the relationship with the city council has been positive. It has put us back on the map with the ICC and ECB and driven all our youth cricket, girls cricket, disability cricket and schools competitions so that, instead of Edgbaston being the problem child for the city, we are starting to be a big asset again.

“There is a whole set of local-based initiatives around this name change and it centres around our relationship with the council.

"They stuck their hand in their pocket to the tune of £20m, have continued to offer support by restructuring the loan and also invested in the ICC Champions Trophy package.

“Off the back of that, they said ‘we see a good opportunity to drive up attendances at Edgbaston – would you consider rebranding the T20 team?’

“That had quite a bit of appeal to us. The ECB is revamping the competition and pushing initiatives to increase participation and Birmingham is a critical hub for that.

“We know from our own research that Edgbaston is less successful at dragging in the very local population than places like Old Trafford, Trent Bridge and The Oval. So these things are coming together: relaunching the competition and furthering our partnership with Birmingham City Council.”

The club’s debt to the council is clear. But is it reasonable for the council to ask Warwickshire to ditch the name represented with pride by hundreds of players over the last 130 years?

The change will only apply in Twenty20, of course. And, who knows, maybe only for one season. But it rankles. An on-line petition opposing the switch rapidly attracted more than 1,000 signatures.

But Povey insists opposition from within the club’s membership is relatively small.

“I don’t think anybody was kidding themselves that some members would not like this,” he said.

“But of 50 emails and letters the club has received over this issue, nine have come from members. A lot of signatories on that petition are not from Warwickshire but elsewhere, worried about the trend being followed.

“What I don’t want to do is ignore those genuine fans who are our members and aggrieved by the change.

"I met the guys behind the petition on Tuesday and had a genuinely constructive meeting. We talked about the wider context. I respect their views but also they have to understand we are looking at the wider benefits.

“Birmingham Bears is one thing. It’s got us talking about it so it’s on people’s radar. Is it, in itself, the magic ingredient? No. But the tournament is getting relaunched and we need to get people to think about it in a different way.

"We have to find ways to widen our appeal and get more revenue from this competition.

“The Friday-night slot is welcome and we will be looking to do a whole host of initiatives to pull in new audiences. This is a good chance to drive a larger local audience from a wider spectrum of people.”

Therein lies Warwickshire’s challenge: To attract more people to T20 matches than they have alienated by shedding the county’s name in it.

“During the Champions Trophy we engaged with a population that we have not been able to access before as a county club,” Povey said.

“There are a lot of people out there in the city who are passionate about cricket and therefore ought to be, if not necessarily candidates for membership, candidates for coming down to Edgbaston and watching cricket.

“Our fanbase is loyal and consistent and appreciated, but it is not a natural T20 audience so we are trying to widen the appeal

“When is Edgbaston most vibrant and healthy? When we get a crowd above 10,000.

"Even with a regular Sunday start we are not going to get 10,000 for championship cricket but if we get the right fixtures with the right prices and promotion, for T20, we could get 10,000 for perhaps two or three games next year.

“We need to get heavy footfall through the place beyond ticket-promotions and the Worcestershire rivalry.”

Rjd2

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Yeah gutted it got abandoned, don't get many chances to watch them, there were some serious puddles on the outfield though. Willey is a head the ball! Great to have local lads in the team.

its a bad one as apart from North and big Chesney Derbyshire are pretty weak, most of your rivals in that group will expect to beat them no matter home or away.

Surrey against Middlesex on the telly later, KP rocked up for Surrey, Amla also playing, they look quite strong in this format, Middlesex have been dire so far but at least we get to watch Stirling have a slog.

Not sure if Finn will play though.

Also Flintoff back for Lancashire, curious to see how this pans out.

Dozen Wicked Words

Rjd2 wrote: »

its a bad one as apart from North and big Chesney Derbyshire are pretty weak, most of your rivals in that group will expect to beat them no matter home or away.

Surrey against Middlesex on the telly later, KP rocked up for Surrey, Amla also playing, they look quite strong in this format, Middlesex have been dire so far but at least we get to watch Stirling have a slog.

Not sure if Finn will play though.

Also Flintoff back for Lancashire, curious to see how this pans out.

Flintoff never struck me as someone who would have kept in shape at height of his career, let alone now. He may well prove me wrong though. Smacks of gimmick to get bums on seats.

Rjd2

Oh its definitely a bit of a gimmick but Lancashire bowling in the blast apart from last night has been dire so even if he is 50% the player he was, he still would be able to justify his place in that team very easily.

Dozen Wicked Words

Worcs. comfortably chasing down Northants score tonight. Might all change but not looking that way.

Rjd2

Poor effort from the middle order after Willey get ye off to a flyer. Azarullah, got trashed, injured? Still think Butler is a massive step down in class from White last year.

Surrey beat Middlesex easily enough on the telly, and Hampshire continue to look strong.

Not sure how Glamorgan found the money for Darren Sammy though?:pac:

Dozen Wicked Words

Rjd2 wrote: »

Poor effort from the middle order after Willey get ye off to a flyer. Azarullah, got trashed, injured? Still think Butler is a massive step down in class from White last year.

Surrey beat Middlesex easily enough on the telly, and Hampshire continue to look strong.

Not sure how Glamorgan found the money for Darren Sammy though?:pac:

Sammy must have cost a fee bob.

Butler was about attempt number 5 at getting an overseas player, desperation was setting in I think, he might come good, just not as good as White.

Mary Earnest

Graeme McCarter an excellent five for (35) tonight v Sussex in Hove. First the prize wickets of Luke Wright and Ed Joyce, then three in the final over to give Glos the win.

Rjd2

Usual suspects pulling away at the moment, Hampshire look powerful batting wise but will struggle bowling once Abbot goes, Essex and Surrey I like the look of from an all round viewpoint. Notts always handy. Wessels for England:D

Northants, not happened sadly, they and Glamorgan underwhelming massively for me.

Middlesex seem to have dropped Stirling.:(

Dozen Wicked Words

Going over to watch the Steelbacks capitulate against the Bears next week. Looking forward to going despite the inevitability of the result. Levi scored a few in first innings of our current drubbing at Lancs in County Championship.

Rjd2

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2014/content/story/755861.html

A fascinating article from Dobell from cricinfo, a guy who really knows his stuff.
Tonight Middlesex played Glouc who batted first and they limped to 105 runs off 20 overs, bowling was good andd Glouc are missing players but just a really hard pitch to score runs on.

t20 is about entertainment and big hitting and you need big scores, sixes to keep the casuals happy.

I think the ECB have not released the English internationals to play t20 tomorrow neither, shame as their is a world cup coming up and the fans would love to see their star players especially Yorkshire who host Lancashire in a derby, Root, Plunkett and Ballance all missing.:(

Dozen Wicked Words

Just in from seeing the Steelbacks fight back with fantastic win over the Bears, brilliant evening, Northants proper professional outfit off the pitch now, with decent little ground, just need to get it right on the pitch more often. Graeme White the difference tonight. My kids first cricket game and they were delighted with it.

Rjd2

So who is having a better blast KP or Maxwell.:pac:

Jason Roy for England talk has begun again.:eek:

Rjd2

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2014/engine/match/693253.html

Take a bow John Hastings, 80 of 26:eek:

Poor Northants can't catch a break, supposedly sniffing after Cobb, if they could get him and get his arse into gear would be a good signing. Good player but like most just rotting away at Leics.

qfs

Lancashire v Glamorgan

Surrey v Worc

Essex v Warwickshire

Notts v Hants.



The last one looks the tastiest, serious batting on show their and quite a few players trying to push for England cricket playing, Vince, Carberry, Taylor, Hales, Patel and Gurney.

Essex have no bowlers at the moment so they may struggle even if their batting is powerful. Warwick 7/4 with Powers may be a bet.

Surrey should beat Worc, although they have been very good all season, and Lancashire will be favs against Glamorgan. Although any side with the insanely under rated Jim Allenby always got a chance.

All next weekend.:)

Rjd2

Rjd2 wrote: »

Poor Northants can't catch a break,

Could be worse, could be a Notts fan:pac:

Another season easily the best side in the group stages and again miss out on finals day. They set Hampshire 197, and it was cruised. James Vince who I rate really highly got the job done.

Warwickshire beat Essex as I fancied, not a penny on it though.:(:(


Supposedly the Test boys will be playing finals day, makes sense, if England are serious about t20 and last few world cups they have been a shambles they need players to play it more often. Bell and Woakes will beef up Warwickshire, and Anderson and more importantly Buttler back for Lancashire.

Lancashire v Hampshire

Surrey v Warwickshire

the semi finals.


Very hard to call really. Surrey will want KP to do something, he is on massive money and its Roy who has been their star. Nice chance for Bell to prove he can adopt to t20 as well.

Should be a cracking day, always working around this time of year so no chance of going, envy those that make the trip.

August 22rd btw.:D

Dozen Wicked Words

4 of my least favourite teams are there (only Essex that aren't), hopefully Lancs v Warwickshire final with Bears sneaking it.