Bopara in the frame

Following Warwickshire is a little like following the Villa now, you hear news of potential exciting new signings but few of them ever come to anything. I suspect Villa will be linked with Messi and Nobby Stiles this Summer but they won't be in the claret and blue next season and i suspect nor will Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara be in whatever new colours the Bears wear next season.

Morgan Bear?

Warwickshire have made an approach for Middlesex's Irish England star Eoin Morgan. It would be a good signing though the way he is going he probably wouldn't get to play for the Bears much!

Earthshattering news

Imagine my shock, when perusing a book i had bought on Warwickshire in 1790 (as in the county not the team, they were not that good back then) then according to a reproduced map Birmingham was not in Warwickshire back then! It seemed to be nestling on the Worcestershire - Staffordshire border. Indeed though the map was a bit unclear (Google Maps doesn't go back that far) Edgbaston may have indeed been in Worcestershire. Clarification from anyone around back then would be great, a few of the older members look like they could have been.

What is an even greater shock is that Warwickshire might be going down the Kolpak-ish route and have signed an Aussie pro for the rest of the season. Michael Dighton is his name, he seems a bit of a fringe player in the Aussie first class scene though is probably a very good solid pro. The batting needs shoring up, at times it looks as fragile as the shelves i put up a few weeks ago.

Lawrence Booth: Trott a victim of media narrative

"The cover line on Monday’s g2 – the Guardian’s supplement – had prospective London mayor and former Labour MP Oona King complaining: ‘As a black woman you have to be ten times as good to get a tenth as far.’ While leaving that one to the sociologists – and retreating inevitably into a cricketing analogy – I was put in mind of Jonathan Trott: the white South African who has to score twice as many runs to get half as far.

This is to simplify of course (neither is it intended to belittle Oona King). But it’s possible that no England Test double-centurion has been greeted quite so lukewarmly since Geoff Boycott was dropped after taking 183 overs to score 246 against India at Headingley in 1967..."

Get your hands off of our man!

Surrey, whose fingers were apparently not burned in signing Chris Lewis a couple of seasons ago, are going for another 40 something who hasn't played for ages. This time it is the Warwickshire legend Brian Lara (i believe he may have played for the West Indies too). It may be a ploy by BCL to increase his value because he has been rumoured of going to try IPL. I'd rather he came here though, i never saw him playing for the Bears (except on TV).

Angry man suffers injury setback

Darren Maddy has suffered a setback on his return to the team following a knee injury last year that saw him miss most of the season. He suffered a facial injury in a nets session during the Warwickshire pre-season trip to South Africa. He will now require an operation. Its not known when he will be able to return to the team. Get well soon Darren!

Calum MacLeod to be in documentary

Warwickshire's young Scottish bowler will be featured in a BBC Alba documentary about young Scottish sports stars next week. Cothrom Spòrs: A Sporting Chance’ will be broadcast on Monday 8 March at 9pm.

Jimmy Anyon leaves the club

As expected Jimmy Anyon has left the club after signing a 2 year deal with Sussex. Good luck to Jimmy with his new club!

Anyon to go to Sussex

Out of favour seamer Jimmy Anyon could be on his way to Sussex. He has already been told by the KOS that he is not in the boss' future plans for the Bears so has been looking for a way out. It did seem all of the possible escape routes had been closed but Sussex missing out on Hoggard has now sent them after Anyon.

Vote for Naq!

Big Hitter magazine is running a poll for the best English qualified player of Asian heritage. I voted for Naqaash Tahir who is a good shout for the best considering he was easily the best performing British-Asian bowler last year. Please vote!

Varun Chopra signs

Former Essex opening batsman Varun Chopra has signed with the Bears! The 22 year old has signed a 3 year deal. With him signed and Maddy coming back next year hopefully the top of the order should be a bit stronger next year.

Releases and signings (updated)

Its that time of year, the season comes to an end and fringe players and those at the end of their contracts wonder if they are in the coach's plans for 2010 and beyond. I'll pin this article to the top of the blog for a bit.

Outgoing

Jimmy Anyon - been told he is free to talk to other counties. He does have a year on his contract though but his chance of a further career at the Bears is unlikely. He was in talks with Sussex. He now says he may stay and fight for his place.

Navdeep Poonia - released, not surprising really as his form has been rock bottom. He does have a lot of talent though so maybe he can start again elsewhere.

Shaaiq Choudhry - released, not sure if he ever made the first team?

Tony Frost - out of contract, will resume his ground staff work. Thanks to Frosty for being a True Bear!

Sreesanth - overseas pro, already left to play Indian domestic cricket. He has really looked the part, hope to see you again Sree!

Staying put

Naqaash Tahir - signed a new 2 year contract with a 3rd year option.

Stefan Piolet - signed a new 2 year contract.

Incoming?

Maurice Holmes - Kent leg spinner did arouse interest but concerns about his action cooled interest.

Ajmal Shahzad - Yorkshire bowler offered a contract but turned it down
Stephen Moore - has been spoken to by the club and been made an offer we understand but went to Lancashire instead
Paul Best - already in 2nd XI, will get summer contract next season
Imran Tahir - Pakistani - though SA qualified - leg-spinner could be the overseas pro next year... and indeed is the overseas pro now.
Varun Chopra - Essex batsmen has rejected a contract with Essex and will move to the Bears.

Possible

Matthew Hoggard - probably going to Leicestershire, Monty Panesar, Kabir Ali - he is going to Hampshire, WG Grace, Uncle Tom Cobbley.

Imran Tahir signs for Bears

Finally a signing! Pakistani leg-spinner Imran Tahir has been signed as the overseas professional next year. He was at Hampshire last year and may indeed play for them again in 2011 but for 2010 he is a Bear!

8 "key players" sign 3 year contracts

Eight Warwickshire players, including some of the key members in the side, have signed 3 year contract extensions. They are Ian Westwood, Jonathan Trott, Darren Maddy, Chris Woakes, Naqaash Tahir, Richard Johnson, Boyd Rankin and Ateeq Javid. Ian Bell will also discuss a contract extension when he comes back off holiday. Two new signings are also expected and will announced soon including an overseas spinner. Tim Ambrose has only signed a 1 year contract extension interestingly.

Ramps accuses Warks players of getting special treatment with England

Mark Ramprakash has attacked England's selection policy. He especially seems to think the KOS' role as selector as well as Warks coach means that Warwickshire players get picked for England instead of himself. I thought it was because he was nearly 40 but silly old me.

The Captain extends his contract

Ian Westwood has signed a contract extension keeping him at the club for at least the next 3 years. He is also likely to be the captain for the forseeable future as the KOS is very happy with him. One problem for Westy that still puts a question mark over him (apart from his far-to-middling batting ability) is his tact. Lets hope he doesn't run down women's cricket and make the girls cry again at an awards presentaton again!

Update : however he has apologised for that so that makes it all right then...

Trott gets incremental contract

Jonathan Trott has been awarded an incremental contract by the ECB as central and incremental contracts were renewed. Ian Bell retains his central contract while Tim Ambrose, Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar miss out entirely. As Graham Swann now has a central contract and Adil Rashid an incremental it may be a tough road back for Monty.

Player merry-go-round

In the past cricket squads were quite settled, you might have the odd player change now and then but it was nothing like now with dozens of players rumoured to be making moves between counties. Warwickshire have of course been linked with every player recently bar WG Grace (who i believe is going to the Pears). A number of players are rumoured to be leaving too such as Tahir who is out of contract and Richard Johnson.

Stephen Moore and Gareth Batty are among the Worcester exodus (Steven Davies has already gone to Surrey), both have been linked with the Bears though Batty may go to Surrey instead. Of course a lot depends on the Bears staying up in division 1.

Hot to Trott!

No doubt a newspaper tomorrow will have that headline! Trotty showed the rest of the world what Warwickshire fans know, he is a class player and his debut century for England in his debut test was excellent. He didn't look like he was on debut though, he had the assurance of a player on his 50th test. A long career beckons hopefully.

Trott for England!

With Freddie looking fragile and a possible risk too far for the next Ashes test starting today could it be time for Jon Trott to step in at #6, thus moving Prior-y down to 7 and allowing Harm-y to be bought in to replace Broad-y? If it happens when was the last time there were 2 Warwickshire batsmen playing for England? I have no idea!