April 2008 Archives

And at 5.08pm it is called off for the day. Just the 21.4 overs today. Warwickshire 197 for 4.

A rather unfulfillng first half to this contest but still plenty to play for. For example, when Warwickshire field, can they emulate the amazing effort by their predecessors in 1937 when, at home to Leicestershire in the championship, they delivered 193.3 overs in two innings and did not concede a single extra?

It is raining now. Umpires Harris and Illingworth are ambling round the square, assessing. Cloud all around but not that thick in places so the players can't relax yet. They might still have to get out and play a bit more.

Only some excellent cricket or collusion can salvage this match from stale-mate over the next two days.

The occupants of the press box, champing at the bit to do more work, are instead wrapping their grey cells round this one: Which two Warwickshire players made their maiden centuries in the champo against Sussex at Edgbaston in 1976?

Warwickshire 197 for 4 (71.4 overs). Trott 56, Ambrose 46.

Trott and Ambrose have batted very soundly and sensibly today and added 69 in 21.4 overs to give the Bears the upper hand.

Rain has just stopped play although the shower which caused the interruption has already thinned into very slight drizzle and they should not be off for too long. The key word in that sentence being "should".

Warwickshire 181 for 4 (64 overs). Trott 50, Ambrose 36.

After Trott's early streaky four, the ball has not beaten the bat all day. These two batsmen have so far added 79 in 26 overs.

We read a lot about what must be done to improve safety on the roads but surely a big step in the right direction would be to ensure that men and women undergo the same type of driving tuition and test. The current system, where blokes are instructed to drive a safe distance from the car in front but ladies are evidently told to drive within three inches of the rear bumper of the preceding car, can only lead to confusion.

The players have courageously waded out into the treacherous terrain, taken their lives in their hands and heroically begun to play cricket.

Warwickshire 146 for 4 (56 overs). Trott 36, Ambrose 15.

A streaky early four for Trott but otherwise solid progess so far. A total of 356 or more would give Warwickshire a chance to put Leicestershire under pressure if they bowl well.

A man in the press box has just said: "He's playing nicely is Mr Trott."

Peter Moores has acceded to Ian Bell's request to play for Warwickshire in the Friends Provident Trophy against Leicestershire on Monday.

Talking of Bell, by the way, chatting to various Bears followers in the last few days, I heard one or two - a very small minority, it must be said - express doubts about his commitment to Warwickshire. I must say that in every conversation I have ever had with Bell his commitment to the county has appeared total and never more so than the one I had with him yesterday, which is fully reported in today and tomorrow's Birmingham Mail.

By the way, this grass that has been so saturated that it was unsafe for cricket all morning - Warwickshire's players are now playing touch rugby on it. Spectators might possibly be wondering why the players, having scoffed their lunch, are not playing cricket on it.

A completely dry morning, culminating in a burst of warm sunshine, has left the umpires and cricketers with no option but to resign themselves to venturing out on to the field.

Play will start at 1.45pm, assuming there is no rain before then of course, which is entirely possible.

71 overs to be bowled.

The scoreboard has just flashed up: "Play will start at 12.15pm".

When Leicestershire visited Warwickshire in the champo in 1998, Ed Giddins bagged a pair.

The umpires have inspected and will do so again at noon. The grass is wet.

I have chuntered on this blog before about the issue of players' "safety" (i.e: the hideous, health-threatening risk entailed in running about on damp grass) so I won't trot it all out again.

Hopefully, if every last vestige of moisture has safely evaporated, we will get some play by August 2011.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

Start delayed "due to conditions" according to the scoreboard. We assume that means the outfield is too wet as it is not raining at the moment, although the clouds are thick in varying shades of grey.

Inspection at 11am.

A magpie drifts down from the sky above the City End like a harbinger of nightfall and settles upon a P.A. loudspeaker as the umpires check their light meters one more time, decide that's it for the night and head off to get ready for this evening's big game - Leamington v Rushall Olympic in the Southern League Midlands Division semi-final play-off.

The close: Warwickshire 128 for 4 (50 overs). Trott 24 (65 balls), Ambrose 9.