Birmingham Mail

Warwickshire continue to battle through the jungle of red tape required to get Kolpak signing Vaughn van Jaarsveld registered. Faxes, e-mails, phone calls and pigeons galore have been despatched from Edgbaston to the Home Office and the ECB.

Of course there is one 24-carat way to evade all this kerfuffle. You don't need any of this registration malarkey if you follow the advice of my dear old Uncle Ron. And "grow your own".

"Grow your own," Ron always used to say. "Grow your own".

THE German bombs that pounded Birmingham during the bleakest days of the Blitz nor the IRA explosions that brought bloodshed three decades ago achieved their aim of intimidating the people of this city.

Nor will the current wave of terrorist attacks. We are too resilient, steadfast and courageous to be so readily cowed.

It's been pouring down in Cardiff since half past five and has just about stopped. Sophia Gardens is drenched but the floodlights are on and the groundstaff are looking purposeful.

There's talk of a 7.15pm start, though that would be a Herculean effort from said staff.

If there is play, Luke Parker will replace Nick James in the Warwickshire team.

7.30pm start, weather permitting. No overs lost.

Warwickshire's quest for ever-more inane warm-up exercises reaches new grounds with a strange, war-dance type activity not unlike one of the early Terpsichorean offerings of Pans People.

Still drizzling.

A 17-overs-a-side contest will start at 8pm. They are trying, bless 'em.

Trouble is, it's still raining and the sky looks full of it.

To compound a somewhat dreary scenario, the P.A. is playing Bananarama.

A 15-overs-a-side contest finally begins at 8.20pm and Neil Carter promptly edges the first ball to slip.

1 for 1 off 1 over.

Glamorgan won the toss.

Warwickshire 43 for 2 off 7. Maddy 22, Ambrose 15.

Troughton sent up a skier and was caught. Batting is tough in damp conditions. Both batsmen relying heavily on the nurdle.

With Warwickshire 73 for 2 from 10 overs and Ambrose having just clouted Croft for 4 and 6 off successive balls, the heavens open again, this time perhaps terminally.

This bizarre evening hurtles onward. Warwickshire went back out and clattered another 21 off an over to finish with 94 for 3 off 11.

Glamorgan are chasing a Vera Duckworth of 83 off 9.

They are 9 for 0 after 0.3 overs.

Warwickshire have qualified for the quarter-finals after a 9 run (D/L) win over Glamorgan.

Paul Harris somehow managed to bowl two overs for seven runs in a nine-over slog and the catching from all the Bears fielders was immaculate.

IN A world that has grown increasingly unfazed by images of violence, today's pictures showing the murder of Lozells shopkeeper Mohammed Basharat retain a chilling power.

Few readers will be unmoved by the photographs we publish showing the killer, sinister a dark hood, striding into the store and cold-heartedly opening fire with a sawn-off shotgun. Some may be offended.

THEY are cute. They are charming. Their smiles gladden the heart.

We send our congratulations to Regan Smith, Inaaya Khalifa-Morgan and Jay-Jay Boyce, three bundles of fun who are today named the winners of our Baby of Year competition.

A CRITICISM often levelled at the West Midlands' movers and shakers is that they fail to provide the strong political leadership this region needs to prosper, that they do not shout loud enough and fight hard enough on our behalf.

This is a deficit that has - we hope - been addressed by the appointment of Liam Byrne, to the new post of West Midlands Minister.

TODAY'S release of the British hostage Alan Johnston from captivity in Lebanon is a cause for celebration.

For him, for his family, for his friends, for colleagues and for all of us.

I do love it when readers get specifically involved with the rights and wrongs of the words/descriptions/headlines we use in the Birmingham Mail. Today I received this email: "May I complain at the use of the word 'executed' on pages 1 and 3 of todays paper [Tue July 3]. Surely the correct word is 'murdered'. My dictionary defines 'execution' as ' The act of....putting to death by law'. Mark Cowan's use of the incorrect word may almost imply some justification in the killing which I am sure was not intended! Regards, David Hidson". I think he's right, and my reply was: "Point taken, and thanks for the comment. We used the term to describe the style of the murder, but perhaps should have been more explanatory about that. Best regards. S"

BIRMINGHAM'S council leaders are throwing their arms up in alarm as they struggle to find ways to solve the crisis that surrounds this city's ageing swimming pools.

They face a bill of up to £90 million to modernise ramshackle Moseley Road, Harborne and Wyndley pools. More money will be needed to repair the city's other sites.

IN THE space of a few yards, you will be able to sample curries, posh nosh, Italian food and Oriental dishes.

The second Taste of Birmingham festival, which opens at Cannon Hill Park tonight and runs until Sunday, provides a unique opportunity to sample cuisine from some of this city's best eateries.

THE tide has turned in the debate about the rights and wrongs of letting Birmingham's voters decide whether they want an elected mayor.

A increasing number of influential figures, from politics, business and the voluntary sector, have spoken out in favour of a referendum.

To repeat an earlier question which appeared to stump all you esteemed Bears experts:

Which legendary Warwickshire bowler owned a spaniel called Fifi?

Not Willis, Small or Obuya,

Some reflections on Warwickshire's successful Twenty20 group campaign.
1. They fully deserve to go through, having batted solidly, bowled well and fielded brilliantly.
1 (b) Although, to be picky, the direct-hit-from-shies-at-the-stumps quota was rather low.
2. Tim Ambrose's batting continues to be of the highest order.
3. Paul Harris bowled cleverly. Of six hauls of four wickets or more by Bears bowlers in Twenty20 history, in fact, five have been by spinners. Spin-bowlers are the cool dudes of cricket.
4. Something MUST be done about that alleged scoreboard at the Pavilion End at Edgbaston.
5. Let's have a Twenty20 game at Stratford-upon-Avon next season.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. The Rose Bowl is sparkling in the sunshine and it's hot already, (although it probably won't last - showers are forecast for later today and the next few days).
The ridge of trees above the Pavilion End, crisply outlined against the deep blue sky, looks magnificent. Hampshire are playing football while, on the other side of the square, Paul Harris is warming-up with a few gentle deliveries to Steve Perryman. Other Bears knock a football about while early arrivals in the press-box grapple with this teaser: To what are we referring here: Kent 9, Glamorgan 8, Essex 7, Somerset 6?

Warwickshire win the toss and bat against a new ball which, in the initial overs, is moving about all over the place.

5 for 0 (4 overs). Westwood 1, Maddy 4. Maddy fishes fecklessly at his first ball from Bruce and is beaten then edges his second through the slips for four.

A streaky start but it's the first boundary - and as Chairman Mao said: "Every great march begins with a first step",

Warwickshire 39 for 0 (14 overs). Westwood 20, Maddy 17.
The Bears starting to lay a solid foundation which is a good effort because Hampshire's seamers have found plenty of movement. Westwood (four fours so far) looking compact, Maddy slightly less comfortable.
Trott is back for the Bears as is Mascarenhas for Hampshire. Tahir, rested for the Twenty20, returns to the bowling attack.

A cloud the shape of a rabbit is passing above the ground.

Hampshire make the breakthrough when Westwood nicks Mascarenhas and Pothas takes a fine catch behind the stumps. Westwood goes for 23 from 59 balls in 70 minutes but yet again perishes after setting down roots. He has now played 42 championship innings since his last century.
Warwickshire 66 for 1 ( 25 overs). Maddy 28, Trott 8.

Warne has just brought himself on, his first ball met by an immaculate forward defensive by Trott which, for some reason, prompted half an appeal from the bowler.

Lunch: Warwickshire 99 for 1 (36 overs). Maddy a workmanlike 43, Trott 22, having picked off several full tosses and long hops from Warne.

A good effort from the Bears. Batting never totally straightforward with help from the wicket for all bowlers.

Just before lunch a cloud in the shape of Juliet, leaning over the balcony to address Romeo, wept imperiously across the ground.

Warwickshire 152 for 1 (56 overs). Maddy 71, Trott 42.

On a difficult, slow pitch a total of 350 might be pretty good - 400 would be commanding - so this is a good effort from the Bears. You wouldn't call Maddy's innings a creation of beauty but it's a real captain's innings of application and fighting spirit. Trott is playing with patience too.

The Rose Bowl is looking handsome in its tree-lined bowl. Shame the imminent developments will radically enhance its capacity while possibly just as radically reducing its charm.

Hampshire turn to the part-time spin of Carberry and he strikes. Trott leans forwad and is caught off bat and pad at short leg for a very patient 50 with just three fours.

Carberry, not renowned for his hostility, also makes a ball lift so violently that it smashes into wicket-keeper Pothas's face. He has to go off for treatment, Crawley taking over the gloves.

Warwickshire 173 for 2 (66 overs). Maddy 81, Troughton 1.

Tea: Warwickshire 207 for 2 (75 overs). Maddy 99, Troughton 12.

Maddy is just 82 runs short of the highest score by any Warwickshire player in Hampshire - the 181 by Wasim Khan at the old Northlands Road ground in Southampton in 1995.

Warwickshire 248 for 2 (83). Maddy 112, Troughton 40.

Maddy's ton, from 229 balls with 14 fours, is amongst the scrappiest century of this or any season but a real triumph of concentration and application on a low, slow track. Support has come from all the rest so far with Troughton batting watchfully and sensibly.

A cloud the shape of a penguin playing a trombone has just drfited across the sky towards the Solent.

Showers lopped off the last 50 minutes so Warwickshire close the opening day on 267 for 3. Maddy 121, Loudon 6.
Maddy threaded some fine strokes among a fair few streaky ones. But his focus and purposefulness were immense. He has batted for 343 minutes, faced 263 balls and struck 16 fours, not all of them to third man.
Suddenly, clouds have closed in. Time to go. Another night on the lonely, hostile old road covering the Bears up and down the country beckons. As country and western legend Don Williams always used to say: "And now I'm gonna take my hat off".

NO-ONE should doubt that this country faces a grave threat from terrorists intent on spilling innocent blood.

But there is no room for alarmist stories that exaggerate the risk.

OKAY, we may never see Bruce Willis or Julia Roberts sauntering through the Bullring in their Ray Bans.

The word "Brummiewood" will probably never be spelled out in giant letters alongside the M6.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Despite morning showers, play will start on time.

By the way, the loss of the last 14 overs yesterday was quite bizarre. There had been a bit of rain but the sun was out again and the grass can not possibly have been more than slightly damp. During the preceding two weeks, several Twenty20 games had taken place on sodden ground in heavy drizzle, which shows what's possible. But they couldn't call it off quickly enough yesterday. Championship cricket supporters are still taken for granted in a quite astonishing way.

Warwickshire advanced to 279 for 3 (Maddy 123, Loudon 14 [Loudon, on 6, dropped by Mascarenhas at extra cover]) before the mother, father, grandmother, uncle, another uncle, second cousin and niece's hamster of all downpours arrived.

Throw in the truly feeble attempts of the groundstaff to cover the ground quickly - and some pretty modest covers - and, even though the downpour was quite short, this could be quite a stoppage.

Lunch to be taken at 1pm, the umpires to inspect thereafter.

It's stopped raining and a mop-up operation is underway but the grass got a lot wetter than it should have done.

If you ever saw Laurel and Hardy attempting to shift that piano up a flight of stairs, then you will have an idea of how efficient and successful Hampshire's groundstaff were in unfurling covers for the square as the rain swept down.

Inspection at 1.30pm with a view to playing "fairly soon after that".

Play has resumed. Warwickshire 297 for 4. Loudon 22, Ambrose 6.
Maddy's long stay ended at 123 with a nick to the wicket-keeper. Ambrose was caught at third slip off a no-ball before he had scored.
Readers of this blog might remember that, with an eye on the forthcoming visit to Kent, I recently cancelled my booking at an old coaching inn just outside Canterbury after being informed that it was haunted.
The fearless George Dobell, of the Birmingham Post, intends to check himself in there.
Hope he doesn't regret it. Yours faithfully, C.Custard.

Warwickshire 350 for 5. Loudon 41, Streak 2.

Ambrose was bowled off-stump by a beauty from Mascarenhas for 32. Good batting as a unit by the Bears though, with partnerships so far of 60, 106, 86, 31 and 60.

Hampshire have not bowled very well. If Warwickshire bowl straight on a pitch that sometimes keeps low, they could win this game. Weather forecast for the next two days not too bad.

Rain. It has haunted this cricket season, it wrecked Warwickshire's first championship visit to the Rose Bowl in 2001, ruined their last championship visit to Hampshire's old Northlands Road ground in 1999 and, accompanied by spectacular thunder and lightning, has stopped play here again today. Warwickshire taking an early tea at 353 for 5. Loudon 41, Streak 5.

Even the nasty rain was, however, powerless to prevent members of Southampton Astronomical Society enjoying a fascinating talk entitled: "Bang - The Complete History of the Universe" at their meeting on May 10 this year.

4.35pm. Called off for the day. Warwickshire 353 for 5.

But they can still win this match if the rain stays away and they bowl well.

"BORDESLEY Green isn't the right place for these people to be rehabilitated," says a resident fighting plans to open a psychiatric unit which opponents claim will house dangerous patients.

Without wishing to appear unsympathetic to the concerns of people who live nearby, where, then, would be a suitable location? In some else's neighbourhood?

POLICE walk a tightrope as they attempt to tackle the terrorism that haunts Britain.

Crack down too hard and they risk inflaming passions. Adopt a more relaxed approach and they risk failing to prevent bloodshed and mayhem.

Laura. Otherwise known affectionately as Wangers.

Or, to the less kind, the pointless waste of space that has spent more than half of the last 800-odd hours of Big Brother 2007 in bed.

BB bosses made a serious foul-up by choosing her as one of its housemates.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. The start will be delayed as it is raining and the ground is already wet anyway. Looks like a no-play-before-lunch scenario at best.

This rain really is starting to grate. Everywhere we go, it rains. Not much fun.

Lunch to be taken early at 12.45pm. The sun has come out so hopefully play will start 2pm-ish - although, of course, further rain would change that.

Months of rain-enforced inactivity are taking their toll on the media. One reporter in the press box is sitting in a corner with his underpants on his head and a pen up each nostril. Another is on the floor over by the tea urn chewing the venetian-blind cord.

Meanwhile, in the upper pavilion, about 80 spectators sit avidly watching the grass dry. Strange.

The umpires took a look at 1.30pm and reported that the ground was drying only slowly so they will look again at 1.45pm.

This really is a strange state of affairs. Apart from one brief shower it's been dry all morning and, while the grass is no doubt less than perfectly dry, is it really dangerous?

The spectators remain patient but really sometimes you can see why many punters don't bother to attend championship cricket.

The umpires have inspected - and will inspect again at 3pm! This really is ludicrous and, judging by Shane Warne's body language as he and Darren Maddy spoke to the umps out in the middle, he reckons so too.

Man down in the press box. One scribe has just peeled off his clothes, fled to the window, yelled: "I can't stand it any more, I'm a banana" and jumped out. Eight of the nine us left now have our underpants on our heads with pencils up each nostril. Only the chap from the Guardian holding out.

At 3.07pm, play is abandoned for the day because the ground is too "wet".

So it won't dry in the three remaining hours scheduled for play? Not a drop of rain has fallen since 11.30am.

Simply outrageous

It is a sunny morning in Southampton, in fact the sun has been out virtually all the way through since dawn so surely they can't possibly find a reason not to commence playing cricket at 11am.

As for what awaits then, well there has been talk between the two camps about a possible agreed target for Hampshire to chase but, of course, both have their own ideas of what a fair target would be. We'll have to see if they can reach agreement.