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May 1, 2008
Poonia to the rescue for Scotland
Posted 1 week, 4 days ago in Warwickshire
Navdeep Poonia will help Scotland by filling in for their captain Ryan Watson in the FPT double-header at the weekend, away at Derbyshire and Lancashire. Warwickshire agreed to loan the big-hitting Poonia, who has played for Scotland's international side, as Watson is expecting the birth of his first child any time.
April 29, 2008
Journalists get on their bike
Posted 1 week, 5 days ago in Miscellaneous
How do you get from the Brit Oval to Lord's without crossing the Thames? Six intrepid cyclists are about to prove it can be done and all in a good cause.
They are cycling from Kennington to St John's Wood the long way round, taking in all 18 first-class county headquarters - a trip of more than 1,000 miles over 16 days.
The tour has been devised by two cricket writers who spend most of their time pedalling opinions on the game: David Lloyd of the London Evening Standard and Colin Bateman of the Daily Express.
Continue reading "Journalists get on their bike"
March 21, 2008
Westwood named Warwickshire vice-captain
Posted on 03/21/2008 in Warwickshire
Ian Westwood has been appointed vice-captain of Warwickshire for 2008.
“Obviously, I was delighted and felt very proud to be offered such an opportunity," he said. The club is very important to me and I am honoured to be able to play a role going forward in this exciting time for us. I will offer my support to Darren [Maddy] along with the rest of the lads and am looking forward to a successful season.”
March 9, 2008
Donald couldn't resist call of the Bears
Posted on 03/09/2008 in Warwickshire
Last summer Allan Donald was the man who had the problem of trying to sort out Steve Harmison as he began his spell as England bowling coach. By all accounts he was making a good impression - hardly surprising for someone with 330 Test wickets - but when it came to taking the job full time he said 'no thanks'. After a brief spell back in the media he returned to coaching with Warwickshire, the county where he made his name as a lightening young quick. George Dobell from the Birmingham Post caught up with him and found a man very content with his decision.
"To be honest with you, I wouldn’t have taken the England job even if this role at Warwickshire hadn’t come up," Donald says. "Working with the England team was fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed it and feel I made a positive impact. And, I have to say, the ECB were brilliant. They are a highly professional organisation and, in many ways, everything about the job was great.
"But I’ve been on the road for years. At some stage you have to put the family first. I want to see my children grow up.
March 7, 2008
Cancer Tests for England cricketers
Posted on 03/07/2008 in Miscellaneous
All first-class cricketers in England will be tested for skin cancer this season. In an initiative by the Professional Cricketers Association about 400 players will have checks for the disease.
December 21, 2007
Maddy and Ambrose extend Warwickshire contracts
Posted on 12/21/2007 in Warwickshire
Darren Maddy has extended his contract with Warwickshire by three years to keep him at the club until the end of the 2010 season. He was also reappointed as captain.
“Darren has been such an asset to the club since joining last season," Ashley Giles, Warwickshire's director of cricket, said. "It is great to secure his services for the next 3 years. He is a professional who leads by example which is why he has been handed the captaincy for the second year running. He has vast experience in the game and I am looking forward to working closely with him next year.”
Tim Ambrose has returned from India with the England Performance Programme squad and has also extended his contract to 2010.
September 19, 2007
Time for salary caps?
Posted on 09/19/2007 in
A fascinating report in The Guardian looks into how county cricket pays for itself… if it does… and whether or not salary capping is a good idea.
September 18, 2007
Few will mourns Greatbatch's going
Posted on 09/18/2007 in Warwickshire
Mark Greatbatch’s time at Warwickshire has been far from happy, and with his contract about to be ended with a year to run, it would be easy to dismiss his departure as just another example of someone jettisoned because of the failure of his team.
But George Dobell of the Birmingham Post has followed his two years as coach closely, and he reports that this is no simple case of a county finding a scapegoat.
Continue reading "Few will mourns Greatbatch's going"
September 11, 2007
Shantry and Barnes released by Warwickshire
Posted on 09/11/2007 in Warwickshire
Warwickshire have released Adam Shantry and Michael Barnes with effect from the end of the season.
The club's chief executive Colin Povey said: “It is always a tough call to release players at the end of the season. I wish the guys the best for their future careers and welcome them to Edgbaston at any time in the future.”
September 1, 2007
Botha signs for Warwickshire
Posted on 09/01/2007 in Warwickshire
Ant Botha has signed a two-year contract with Warwickshire after turning down an extension with Derbyshire.
"It has been a very difficult decision," Botha said. "At this stage of my career, I feel this is the right move for me and an exciting opportunity that I might not get again."
John Morris, Derbyshire's director of cricket, admitted he was "very disappointed" to lose Botha mid-season but stressed it would give him a chance to "assess players in the remaining matches this year who are going to be a part of Derbyshire's future".
August 20, 2007
Troughton and Groenewald extended deals
Posted on 08/20/2007 in Warwickshire
Jim Troughton and Tim Groenewald have signed new two-year deals with Warwickshire to take them through to the end of the 2009 season.
“I have been with Warwickshire since I was 12 and I I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time with the club," said Troughton
Troughton is averaging 46 in the Championship this season with three centuries but Groenewald has taken only nine wickets and 47 to go alongside seven at 39 in the Friends Provident Trophy.
Mark Greatbach, the director of coaching, said: "They are both well-liked and well rounded members of the squad who I will continue to enjoy working with next season.”
August 3, 2007
Carter set to leave Edgbaston
Posted on 08/03/2007 in Warwickshire
Warwickshire have said they are unlikely to offer allrounder Neil Carter a new contract when his current deal expires at the end of the season.
He joined the club in 2001 had has enjoyed reasonable success in one-day cricket where he is often used as a pinch-hitter. However, he has been pushed aside by younger players and no longer commands a regular place.
“The Club are unlikely to offer Neil another contract at the end of the season and would not stand in the way of an approach from any other counties at this stage," said chief executive Colin Povey.
"[He] has been a really valuable member of the squad for the last seven years and a great ambassador for the Junior Bears. I am sure everyone at the club wishes Neil all the best in his future career.”
July 23, 2007
Some county players earn less than minimum wage
Posted on 07/23/2007 in Miscellaneous
In The Sunday Telegraph , Steve James highlights the disparity between the high earners in English cricket and those at the bottom of the food chain.
The Professional Cricketers' Association estimates that a cricketer works about 50 hours a week (including play, travel, training and time spent away from home). This means, in broad terms, that a player needs to earn more than £7,000 per season to be over the minimum wage. There are definitely players earning less than that; indeed there are players earning as little as £3,000 per season.
July 6, 2007
Lara returns to Warwickshire
Posted on 07/06/2007 in Warwickshire
Brian Lara is coming out of retirement for a one-off Twenty20 match in August, as part of the 125th-anniversary celebrations for his old club, Warwickshire. Lara, whose explosive batting helped lift the County Championship in a memorable 1994 season, will be joined by Allan Donald and his former captain, Dermot Reeve, in a Warwickshire Greatest Ever XI against a PCA Masters XI at Edgbaston on 31 August.
“Playing at Edgbaston again is going to be a very special day - especially with all the guys that are making themselves available,” said Donald. "It will be quite something and will bring back memories of some of my greatest ever years with the club. I had a wonderful time at Warwickshire and I’m really looking forward to renewing some old rivalries and friendships. To play in front of the Edgbaston crowd once more will be a real honour.”
June 14, 2007
Hampshire put semi-final tickets on sale
Posted on 06/14/2007 in Hampshire
Hampshire have announced that tickets are on sale for their Friends Provident semi-final against Warwickshire on June 20.
Tickets can be purchased from the county’s ticket hotline 08705 321 321 or by booking online at www.ticketzone.co.uk.
Tickets are also available in person from The Rose Bowl between 9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.
May 24, 2007
Steyn stays
Posted on 05/24/2007 in Warwickshire
Warwickshire have managed to extend Dale Steyn's time at the club until June 21st, meaning he will be available for two extra Friends Provident fixtures and an additional Championship fixture. If Warwickshire make it to the FP semi-finals he will also play before joining up with the South African squad in Ireland. Paul Harris, Steyn’s South African team-mate, will make his first appearance for Warwickshire in their opening Twenty20 match against Somerset.
March 13, 2007
Giles named vice-captain
Posted on 03/13/2007 in Warwickshire
Ashley Giles has been named Warwickshire's vice-captain for the 2007 season although he retains ambitions to fight for his England place after the World Cup. He will provide support for club captain Heath Streak starting with the pre-season tour of Grenada this month.
Giles missed the whole of the 2006 season with a hip injury and although he regained his Test place at the start of the Ashes series he was dropped after two poor matches. He then flew home after the Perth Test to be with his ill wife who'd been diagnosed with a brain tumour. He hasn't played for Warwickshire since the 2005 C&G final at Lord's.
Giles said: "We have a strong squad in place and I know we can be challenging for trophies this year. I hope to pay a big part in the success both in my performance and my leadership."
October 17, 2006
Hard going under Greatbatch
Posted on 10/17/2006 in Warwickshire
If Mark Greatbatch was not aware of the high expectations that come with being Warwickshire’s director of coaching when he replaced John Inverarity last year, he is now. He inherited the nucleus of the squad that won the Championship in 2004 and reached the C&G final in 2005, yet the county struggled to mount a challenge in any competition. Senior players failed to perform in an unhappy dressing room, described by one as “like a cesspit”. Players must ultimately take responsibility for their performances but the dour Greatbatch must also accept some blame for failing to create an environment in which they felt able to express themselves. Having replaced almost every senior manager last winter, Warwickshire are likely to keep faith with Greatbatch – but on the understanding that performances must improve next season. The loss of Daniel Vettori to a back injury after one game was a blow but the South African slow left-armer Paul Harris was a capable replacement. Finding one for Nick Knight, retiring after 12 years of heavy, unfussy run-scoring, will test Greatbatch’s recruitment skills. Losing Moeen Ali, the highly-rated England Under-19 batsman, to Worcestershire was another sign that all is not well.
Paul Bolton The Wisden Cricketer
Hard going under Greatbatch
Posted on 10/17/2006 in Warwickshire
If Mark Greatbatch was not aware of the high expectations that come with being Warwickshire’s director of coaching when he replaced John Inverarity last year, he is now. He inherited the nucleus of the squad that won the Championship in 2004 and reached the C&G final in 2005, yet the county struggled to mount a challenge in any competition. Senior players failed to perform in an unhappy dressing room, described by one as “like a cesspit”. Players must ultimately take responsibility for their performances but the dour Greatbatch must also accept some blame for failing to create an environment in which they felt able to express themselves. Having replaced almost every senior manager last winter, Warwickshire are likely to keep faith with Greatbatch – but on the understanding that performances must improve next season. The loss of Daniel Vettori to a back injury after one game was a blow but the South African slow left-armer Paul Harris was a capable replacement. Finding one for Nick Knight, retiring after 12 years of heavy, unfussy run-scoring, will test Greatbatch’s recruitment skills. Losing Moeen Ali, the highly-rated England Under-19 batsman, to Worcestershire was another sign that all is not well.
Paul Bolton The Wisden Cricketer
September 22, 2006
Last link broken?
Posted on 09/22/2006 in Warwickshire
Suspicions that Mark Greatbatch, Warwickshire’s director of coaching, is to sweep clean the Edgbaston dressing room seemed to be confirmed when Dougie Brown was dropped for the Championship game against Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston.
It was the first time in six years that Brown had been left out of a Championship side for anything other than injury or illness, a moment described by the grizzled allrounder as “the biggest disappointment of my career”. Typically he wasted no time in making a case for a recall. He made a century for the 2nd XI the day after he was dropped and then took five wickets for Scotland in a first-class match against Ireland.
Brown, who joined the county in 1990, remains popular with supporters as the last link with the Lara-inspired side that won county cricket’s first treble in 1994. He has a year left on his contract but is aware of rumours that Warwickshire would be interested in Dominic Cork if he chooses to leave Lancashire and seek a county closer to his Derbyshire home.
Paul Bolton, The Wisden Cricketer
September 15, 2006
County look to quell Greatbatch unrest
Posted on 09/15/2006 in Warwickshire
Warwickshire are holding a series meetings aimed at defusing tension between their players and Mark Greatbatch, the county’s director of coaching.
A report in The Daily Telegraph claims that complaints have been made about Greatbatch’s style. It added that he wanted to put more players on short-term contracts to sharpen up their performances. He was appointed to the role on a three-year contract in Spetember 2005.
Warwickshire have made an offer to Justin Langer, and have also confirmed that Heath Streak will return in 2007 as an overseas player.
August 23, 2006
Harris lands on feet
Posted on 08/23/2006 in Warwickshire
Warwickshire were quick to capitalise on Paul Harris’ disappointment at being overlooked for South Africa’s tour to Sri Lanka. The 27-year-old slow left-armer took 49 wickets for Titans last winter but, to the surprise of many South African observers, did not make the cut for the tour.
His decision to spend the summer playing club cricket for Fleetwood in the Northern League proved blessed. Warwickshire needed to sign an experienced slow bowler to fill the gap left by Daniel Vettori and Harris was signed on an 18-month contract after impressing during trials at Edgbaston. “It was the biggest decision that I have had to make,” Harris says. “I needed a bit of time to think it through and make absolutely sure that I was making the right decision. I was disappointed with not being picked by South Africa but coming to play county cricket has nothing to do with proving anything to South Africa. I have signed for Warwickshire because I want to do well for them.” Harris was the only player for the county to emerge with credit from an innings defeat by Yorkshire at Scarborough where he took 5 for 134 and made 32 in a last-wicket stand of 79 with Heath Streak.
The Wisden Cricketer, Paul Bolton
July 30, 2006
Players thrive on steep earning curve
Posted on 07/30/2006 in Derbyshire
Steve James, the former Glamorgan and England opener, has revealed that the average salary for a county player is around £40,000. Surrey top the pay league, with their players earning an average salary of £60,000, and that excludes the bumper earnings of their overseas recruits. Yorkshire are at the bottom of the pay league, with an average salary of £30,000.
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, James's article has gone a long way to dispelling the belief that county cricketers are sports paupers. While they still might to be able to hold a candle to any footballers in the Premier League, their pay is not as bad as it once was.
Click here for the full story.
July 15, 2006
Moeen Ali to leave Warwickshire
Posted on 07/15/2006 in Warwickshire
Worcestershire have made an approach to Warwickshire regarding the former England Under-19 captain, Moeen Ali, who is looking for a move away from Edgbaston. Despite some promising performances, including a half-century on Championship debut, Ali has struggled to gain a regular spot in the team even though Warwickshire have struggled this season. Naqaash Tahir, the young seamer, is also rumored to be heading to New Road.
July 7, 2006
Paul Harris joins Warwickshire
Posted on 07/07/2006 in Warwickshire
Warwickshire have offered a contract to the 27-year-old South African Paul Harris. The club has agreed a deal for the remainder of this season and for the 2007 season.
Harris, a slow left-arm bowler, trialled with the Warwickshire 2nd XI last month whilst over in England playing for the Lancashire League Club Fleetwood. Paul has played first-class cricket in South Africa for the Northerns, Titans and Western Province.
He said: “It was a very big decision but I am sure I have made the right one for my future and I look forward to playing for the Club for a long time.”
Warwickshire's director of coaching, Mark Greatbatch, said: “ Due to the exceptional circumstances of the season so far with the injury to Dan Vettori and Nick James in addition to Alex Loudon being called up for England duty we have done a lot of research into a suitable replacement. Paul is a very experienced player and will add value and depth to the current squad.”
June 30, 2006
Knight back for Warwickshire
Posted on 06/30/2006 in Warwickshire
Nick Knight will be available for Warwickshire’s Twenty20 Cup clash against Gloucestershire at Edgbaston on Friday evening, after recovering from a groin strain. The match starts at 5.30p.m and those who wish to watch the World Cup game between Germany and Argentina which kicks off at 4pm will be able to in the bars around the ground.
Ashley Giles and Lee Daggett are still injured, as is Nick James, the England Under-19 player, who broke his hand recently.
Knight has been sidelined for the last three games with a groin strain and will be keen to get back to the Twenty20 Cup action. Ticket sales for the games at Edgbaston have beaten all previous years with a total of 22,000 tickets pre-sold over the four games.
June 20, 2006
Don't step on Ashley's tutu
Posted on 06/20/2006 in Warwickshire
The Daily Telegraph reports that Ashley Giles - once described as having the mobility of a wheelie bin - is being sent to work with ballet dancers in an attempt to speed his recovery from hip and groin operations.
England, the report says, have referred Giles to the rehabilitation unit of the Birmingham Royal Ballet where he will begin work this week, training alongside injured dancers.
Wagh wounds
Posted on 06/20/2006 in Warwickshire
“Is Mark Wagh still injured?” was the most asked question around Edgbaston in the first month of the season. The answer was that the former Oxford University captain, included in England’s extended one-day squad only two years ago, had recovered from the knee injury that restricted him to a single Championship appearance in 2005 but had been banished to the 2nd XI.
The club gave Ian Westwood an extended run as Nick Knight’s opening partner but rejected Wagh’s request to be loaned out to another county. “Getting dropped isn’t something that has happened to me for a long time and it’s not something I’ve enjoyed,” Wagh says. “I know that I have no divine right to a first-team place just because I am a capped player. It’s made me take a hard look at my own game and I hope to come back a stronger person.”
Paul Bolton, The Wisden Cricketer
June 19, 2006
Warwickshire look to Harris
Posted on 06/19/2006 in Warwickshire
The Daily Telegraph has reported that Warwickshire are interested in signing Paul Harris, the South African slow left-arm spinner who plays for the Titans, who has been overlooked for the tour of Sri Lanka.
Warwickshire have just lost the services of Daniel Vettori, who has had to return to New Zealand with a stress fracture of the back, and their spin options are very thin without Ashley Giles (injury) and Alex Loudon (England).
The county have offered Harris a Kolpak deal and the spinner is considering whether to leave South Africa behind. "I am going to Warwickshire on Thursday for a trial," Harris told supercricket.co.za. "If anything comes of it then I will have a big decision to make. It would mean me giving up my right to play for South Africa and that would be a big decision to make.
"I haven't had the best of luck with the national selectors so far. I was passed over for the Sri Lanka tour which didn't exactly fill me with confidence."
June 14, 2006
Junior Bears
Posted on 06/14/2006 in Warwickshire
Warwickshire today announced that the Junior Bears membership has doubled since 2005. There is now a record 1,004 Junior Bears who enjoy the great package that comes with the membership.
The Junior Bears have exclusive access to the outfield on one day matches (excluding Twenty20) at Edgbaston and also enjoy a coaching session in the Edgbaston Cricket Centre before each game. Each session has a guest appearance from one of the Warwickshire squad to pass on tips to the youngsters. This is on top of being able to watch all Warwickshire games at Edgbaston, an excellent membership pack and a free ticket to Sunday’s match against Nottinghamshire to treat their Dad’s on Father’s Day.
Neil Carter, the Junior Bears captain, is not surprised by the growth in membership. “Cricket had a huge boost last year with the Ashes and this is one of the positive results. It is great to see all the kids on the outfield during the lunch intervals as I can remember doing it myself at Newlands.”
May 2, 2006
Knight to join Sky commentary team
Posted on 05/02/2006 in Warwickshire
Sky Sports have announced that Nick Knight will join their commentary team this summer. Knight, 37, who retires at the end of the season, has worked for Sky in the past and will become a full-time member of their set-up.
“I’m coming to the end of my career and though my commitment and desire to Warwickshire remains as strong as ever this summer,” Knight said. “I can’t wait to get working with Sky.”
Barney Francis, executive producer for Sky Sports said: “As soon as we heard that Nick was retiring we wanted him in our team. Anyone that has followed his television work for Sky Sports will have witnessed how he has matured into an eloquent and insightful expert. I’m sure will grow ever popular with our viewers.”
April 15, 2006
Westwood claims first ton
Posted on 04/15/2006 in Warwickshire
The honour of the opening first-class century for the 2006 season went to Ian Westwood, the 23-year-old Warwickshire batsman, who struck 124 against Cambridge University at Fenner's. Westwood took 151 balls to reach the hundred, his second in first-class cricket.
April 12, 2006
Nick Knight to retire at end of season
Posted on 04/12/2006 in Warwickshire
Nick Knight has announced that 2006 will be his last season of in first-class cricket. He has spent 11 years with Warwickshire after joining them from Essex in 1995. Click here for full story.
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