Allen Stanford

Well you can read about the Allen Stanford mess here, here, here and here.

I'm not going to comment on it. I'm sure a lot of the media pack will be crowing. Personally i have nothing against rich Americans. My best friend from college migrated there and is now a rich American, for some reason he didn't want to remain here a slightly less rich Brummie. He does own a Jag though, living the dream!

Update : i must admit though i do find it rather amusing that he tried to flee the US but his credit card didn't work!

Benaud to quit

The "Voice of cricket" Richie Benaud is to finally retire from commentary at the end of next year. He has already stopped working for the BBC and other non-Australian providers of course though continued working for Aussie TV but said he will quit at the end of next year and do "other things".

No Bell Watch : 3rd test vs West Indies

Was the 2nd test the shortest one ever with actual play? Anyway for that and the hastily arranged third test Bell lost his place to Owais Shah who scored 57 out of 566-9dec. A fairly flat pitch by all accounts and Bell could have cashed in there, unfortunately he lacked the dirty runs when conditions were not as favourable to take advantage.

Greatest Uncapped XI

Wisden Cricketer Monthly is going to select a "Greatest Uncapped XI" from postwar England county players who never got picked to play test cricket for England. 6 Bears are in the 65 strong short-list including Andy Moles and Dougie Brown. People are invited to write in their XIs. Of course the key to this is considering the times the players played in and whether they were better than the players who actually got picked for England.

This all reminds me i got my latest copy of WCM at the weekend and haven't opened it yet.

AGM will be web streamed, audio anyway

The Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 25th February, i probably won't go (never have actually!) However this year audio from the AGM will be presented on-line the following week. I applaud the club with it's nervous steps into new media.

Now all we need are club blogs, a Flickr photostream, Youtube channel, Social networking links, Twitter feed et cetera...

Kim Jones aims to win place on general committee

Kim Jones, Warks supporter and regular contributor the the Bears forum, is trying to gain election to the general committee. I think it will be a good thing to have a "normal" supporter on the committee but he needs more votes than one of the five existing members up for election.

“I just think it is vital that opinions of the rank-and-file membership are properly heard,” Kim said.

Indeed. Well i got my yearbook and various member voting things today so he has my vote!

Bell watch : 1st test vs West Indies

England closed at 236-5 on the first day of the first test against the West Indies at Sabina Park. Bell made 28, looking comfortable until yet again falling in the 20s and 30s. Got to say the pressure must be on him now to get a big score and soon. KP Nuts got 97 before trying to slog and getting out in a way only KP can. Still its better to keep getting out in the 90s than the 20s...